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As they fought against the black tide, Okhema's sky turned scarlet red. Behind he could see Hyacine trying to heal wounded soldiers, while Anaxa protected her. At Phainon's side, Tribbie laid dead; gold draining out of her body. He didn't even have time to mourn her as he had to block the Flame Reaver's attacks.
See you tomorrow!
Somewhere else, Aglaea fought alongside Castorice. Eventually, they got outnumbered and their fight became fiercer. Phainon saw everything; the moment one of the Flame Reaver's shadows threw a blade towards Aglaea's back. No, he thought, desperation filling his mind as he ran. He never made it, Castorice took the blow straight in the chest to protect Aglaea. Warm golden blood gushed out from the wound, and yet, she smiled because she was finally able to save a life.
I want to be a normal person.
As many times before, Mydei fought by his side. Back then, Phainon thought that their strength could never be outmatched. How wrong had he been. Flame Reaver appeared behind Mydei, piercing him through the back, and stealing the life from him. Phainon couldn't do anything for his friend. It broke him.
Time to see who's better.
The ground opened under Aglaea's feet. Phainon ran as fast as he could, extending his hand for her to take. She did the same; their fingers brushed, but she slipped away. Golden fire ate her completely and Phainon could only watch. Despair corroding his soul.
After it's over, I'll open a tailor shop.
He found comfort in that fact that Hyacine and Anaxa were still behind him, but when he glanced at where they were, his eyes widened. The girl laid on her side, eyes wide open and golden blood falling from a cut on her neck. No. Memories from their time together at the Grove of Epiphany swirled in his mind. He had laughed alongside Hyacine and Castorice about anything and everything, but now they were gone.
He couldn't save them.
Beside her, Anaxa was sitting motionless with blood gushing out of his stomach.
No.
Phainon ran to his side. He put his hand over the wound, pressing to stop the bleeding. It was useless. He only saw Anaxa's life drifting away from his eye as blood fell from his mouth.
If suffering has an end why is there absolutely nothing behind me now?
Flame Reaver's figure remained floating in the sky. Unmoving, as if he was mocking him about losing all his comrades. It ignited rage inside of him; a fire that consumed him whole.
Why did you take them all away from me?
And then he opened his eyes to an endless blue sky. Phainon laid on the wheat fields that carried the freshness of mint. Aedes Elysiae, his homeland; the place he always wished to come back, but couldn't because it was destroyed. He had personally killed many of the villagers out of mercy. Phainon would never forget the desperation of seeing everyone dying and the smell of blood that filled his lungs. Yet, when he stood up, the place was as beautiful as he remembered.
And then he saw him. Anaxagoras walking on the wheat field with a soft smile on his face. The soft breeze swaying his hair, painting a beautiful picture that Phainon never wanted to forget. In front of him stood the man that he loved. The one that he had promised the world; that he vowed to protect. The one with who he swore to have a future together.
Anaxa was alive, smiling and looking as free as he should have always been. That's how he knew it wasn't real.
Phainon had seen him die in his arms, unable to do anything. Promises and vows cruelly taken away from them.
"Phainon of Aedes Elysiae, what is your dream?"
Phainon looked at the Sun up in the sky. He raised his hand to cover it. His dream? What was it again?
He had already forgotten.
"I just want…"
He didn't have time to think as he was pulled out of that fantasy by Flame Reaver gripping his throat. It hurt; his whole body felt like it was scalding from anger and adrenaline. Then his own chest was pierced, and somehow it didn't hurt as much as losing his loved ones.
He only wanted to protect the people he cared about.
His body laid limp on the ground. He saw his friend's corpses laying on the ground too. Phainon felt weak; his sight blurring.
This was it.
This is not how it ends. Come and leave the cave with me, and in that fable about the stars we'll pen the prelude of Destruction.
Phainon wasn't sure how, when or why it happened. His whole being felt scorching hot to the point it was unbearable. He couldn't stand the searing feeling in his soul, and thus, he opened up his chest with his own hands. His blazing heart exposed to the world, with blood gushing out and covering him whole.
With red and back matter surrounding him, Phainon bathed in gold, and was reborn.
If this is not the end, I'll keep walking, but I'll never submit to this idea of fate.
Once he killed Flame Reaver, he realized the world was far more than what he knew. Taking off the other's mask, he stared back at his own face, battered and broken, mocking him as if his life was no more than a terrible joke. He laughed. Lost himself in the absurdity that this was. Fate loved to ridicule and play with him.
Lygus appeared in front of him, he seemed happy, shouting to the world how he had made it. How he had created the prelude of Destruction. Phainon saw red. The Antikytheran (if that even existed) kept talking about a simulation and how his hypothesis of despair giving birth to a new Lord Ravager was proven correct.
He talked about his friends in a disgusting way while taking notes as if their suffering was some sort of sick and twisted experiment.
"EpieiKeia216 exhibited highly suppressed deviant behavior, following decision-making with minimal disturbance principle…"
"PhiLia093 began to learn and tried to became real life. Fool."
"OreXis945 operates on primal instincts prioritizing self-gratification as sole solution. An extreme contradiction between altruistic actions and its prime motive, ultimately choosing self-destruction."
"SkeMma720 a mutated signal that first uncovered Amphoreus' truth. Its evolution rate proves irreproducible, demonstrating Erudition's self-destructive tendencies during problem-solving. That annoying man Zandar just couldn't stay out of my business."
"It's over," Phainon interrupted.
The other smirked, "Is it?"
"I just need to start over and save everyone. I…"
"Unfortunately, this is not a game with fair rules. I have almost infinite time and patience. I can meet you again at the end of the world billions of times. However long it takes."
A game?
A fucking game?
How many times had he lived through this?
Ah, right! 33,550,336 times.
Well… not anymore. This was the last one.
"You had countless chance to persuade all the versions of me in the past… to lead me into the future you desired… but the result is 33,550,336 times to zero!" Rage clouded his mind. He struck Lycurgus down; his head flying somewhere Phainon didn't even want to know. Lygus laughed maniacally as Phainon's vision blurred. The image of a male with long, white braided hair, brown skin, and golden eyes flashing in his mind.
"NeiKos496 responds to destructive stimuli. Its hatred attracted Nanook's gaze, proving it became the perfect destruction factor. Refused to complete re-creation, resetting experiments while transferring memories to new selves, creating eternal recurrence to prevent Irontomb's emergence from Amphoreus. At the 33,550,336th cycle's end, it attempted to use Destruction against itself and the simulation, creating logical flaws in the anti-world path…"
Phainon closed his eyes. Lygus won.
His tears never had a chance to fall. Every time he reached the peak, he fell and shattered, over and over. As he gripped Flame Reaver's mask in his hand, Destruction's gaze fell over him, enveloped him and swallowed him whole.
Raising his head, he saw Aedes Elysiae. His home was just a few steps away; sunlight bathing the wheat field, promising a life full of joy. Behind him was a world tainted in red that carried nothing but darkness.
Phainon of Aedes Elysiae, what is your dream?
He smiled with sadness, "I can't remember anymore."
If we wish to welcome the new, then we must first embrace the end.
The tainted universe must be cleaned-up.
The choice was clear.
The world forgot him, left him in an endless simulation that ripped his heart out from him, so he gave his back to the world. He turned around from the light and walked into the world painted in red. If rage couldn't burn his twisted fate to ashes… then he would burn it with his own power.
All shall bid farewell to one, and that person alone will witness the miracle .
Amphoreus crumbled beneath his feet. The harsh reality burned him to ashes. There was no miracle. This was a tragedy.
Together beneath your gaze, we bear witness to a colleague's end. Be it coronation or demise, the end of their yearning is the same.
The Sun has risen from the end of time.
When Irontomb finally breaks its shell, Erudition's calculations will meet their end.
We salute thee, Blemished One.
Phainon embraced the Path of Destruction, and thus Lord Ravager Irontomb was born anew.
"NeiKos496 merged with Irontomb."
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"I had a terrible dream," Phainon said as he looked at the sky. With his head resting on his loved one's lap, he saw Anaxa reading calmly. The sunlight shone on his face, making him glow. He was as ethereal as he always was.
Anaxa caressed his hair softly. "What was it about?"
"Everyone died. I was left alone."
"I'm here."
"I know."
Phainon's fingers caressed Anaxa's face softly. A lovely touch that had the other leaning into it. Phainon pulled his lover gently from the nape and kissed him. Sweet and wonderful; he sighed against Anaxa's lips.
They ended up laying on the wheat fields; Phainon over Anaxa, kissing him breathless. He could get addicted to Anaxa's lips: gentle but fierce, just like him.
They laid together under the vast blue sky, looking at each other. Anaxa caressed his lover's face with the tip of his fingers earning a delighted sigh from him. "Come find me among the stars, Phainon." Anaxa said kissing him softly once more. "Let's have our future together."
He woke up.
Another dream. This one felt so vivid. If he closed his eyes, he could still remember the velvety feeling of his love's soft lips against his.
It felt too real. Now that he was outside he wondered if every cycle by Anaxagoras' side was a lie. He had been everything through all those cycles: his childhood friend, his lover, his husband, someone that never knew who he was, his professor…
That annoying man Zandar just couldn't stay out of my business.
Zandar One Kuwabara, Nous' alleged creator. The one that knew where the Aeon resided. What was his connection with Amphoreus? What did he know?
Come find me among the stars, Phainon.
"I'll find you. Just wait for me."
But where to start looking? He didn't even know which planet he was in, but he also didn't care. The screams and wails reached his ears, but he paid them no mind. His calculations had been enough to bring that planet into an intellectual collapse.
The Legion did the rest while he only watched.
"Let's go. We will lead the Antimatter Legion's attack to Herta's Space Station. Be prepared, Irontomb," the white-haired woman said with a calm voice. Their army moved out, but he remained impassive.
Irontomb. That's who he was now.
The Sun had died and rose again with a new purpose in life.
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Anaxagoras had many regrets in his life. He regretted leaving for the Grove of Epiphany and leaving his sister alone to die. Regretted leaving Amphoreus to seek his own greed. He regretted being powerless, his teaching ingenium chained unable to do anything against Lygus' plans other than watching.
Anaxagoras also regretted not having a future alongside him. It was too late now.
He gazed at the endless space reflecting in the window. Was he out there somewhere?
A voice pulled him out of his thoughts. "To what do we owe the pleasure, Genius Society member #1, Zandar One Kuwabara." He almost snorted. What was she talking about when it was her the one that asked him to come to the station?
"Lady Herta, it's been a while. You look good."
"Good? I'm young, beautiful, and attractive. If Nous hadn't gazed at me first, I would be an Emanator of Beauty…" He ignored her antics and walked by. "As rude as ever," she said with a pout.
Herta guided him through the endless halls of her space station. He almost snorted at all her look alike puppets flooding the station. What a vain woman. They finally arrived to her office where Screwllum was already waiting. Unlike Herta, he greeted Anaxa with that characteristic elegance of him. Those two were truly opposites when it came to their personalities.
Like Herta said, Screwllum was better than her in logic and finesse, while she was better in talent and achievements. They stood toe-to-toe as equals. An impressive team.
Anaxa crossed his arms, "What do you want to discuss that I had to come here personally?"
"The source of Amphoreus' tragedy."
He did his best to keep his calm. "What about it?"
"It was an Emperor's Scepter that became the cradle for the birth of Irontomb. That ugly Lygus guy used it to bring Irontomb back, using a human as a vessel…"
"And guessing from the recent attacks in different planets, he succeeded," Screwllum finished for her.
Anaxa felt a cold shiver running down his spine. That's not how he wanted things to go. Soft baby blue eyes and a pretty smile came to his mind and he felt like crying.
Fate was so unfair.
"For all we know, that guy might be another Rupert," Herta said. Screwllum remained silent.
"Polka is already on the move."
"I still don't get why I needed to be here in person."
She snorted and rolled her eyes, "Why do you think? Irontomb works in direct opposition to Erudition, attempting to reverse all calculations."
"You're the only one that knows Nous' location."
"Unfortunately."
She huffed, "Why did they even chose you? Geez."
"I created…"
She rolled her eyes once more. "Yes, yes, I know."
Anaxa ignored her again, she puffed her cheeks in indignation. "They can't find where Nous are. They still haven't finish their calculation about the essence of the universe and its ultimate solution."
"Which is why they can't get their hands on you."
Screwllum, "Sir Zandar, we need you to be safe. The Nameless agreed to help us. They are going to protect you. They'll come tomorrow so we can formulate a plan alongside them." The Nameless? What could some people that couldn't save Phainon even do?
Anaxa sighed, "Fine. I understand." He did. If the Antimatter Legion got to him, it was over. Yet a part of him, longed to see Irontomb in person.
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Anaxa stood in front of a big window where he could see the boundless space. Herta had been generous enough to lend him a room with such a sight. She made fun of him saying that she knew how much he loved looking for something that wasn't there. He didn't say anything, because she was right. Though, he wasn't looking for something, but rather, someone. The vast void seemed cold and dark, it wasn't a place for him.
"Where are you?" He whispered softly in his solitude.
One of the monitor screens inside his room buzzed a little. He sighed knowing well who it was. "You shouldn't be eavesdropping, Stephen," Anaxa said, eyes never leaving the window.
The cute little blue bird with a white mustache appeared in the screen, "I wasn't."
"You were. Why are you here?"
"We're exchanging ideas for the Simulated Universe."
Anaxa hummed. "Herta won't like you roaming around her station."
The bird remained silent for a few minutes. "Who are you looking for, Professor Zandar?"
"Weird for you to be interested in something other than games."
A snort. Still looking outside, Anaxa smiled. Stephen Lloyd was a genius with no interest in using his abilities. He spent most of this time in his adoptive father's fruit shop playing games and slacking off.
They met back when Anaxa traveled all over the universe seeking for new things he could research. A shy kid that lived with his adoptive father and had an incredible mind. He was exceptionally good in math and physics, so Anaxa took him in as his student while he remained in that planet. It made him remember how much he liked teaching and how good it felt to see his students surpassing themselves; a feeling he hadn't felt since Amphoreus.
Some time later, Stephen created the Genius' Frequency Catcher, a pair of gloves that could capture specific frequencies and confine all light and sounds within a designated area. It was the groundbreaking invention that got him into the Genius Society, but still, he had no interesting in sharing it with the public, because he did it for his own curiosity.
The kid was still very shy. Heavily intimidated by public speaking, he preferred being behind a screen. Anaxa was probably the only member of the Genius Society that knew what he looked like.
His smile vanished as he said, "Stephen… be careful." He wasn't sure about what, but he didn't want to see another one of his students suffering.
"I should be the one saying that, Professor Zandar."
A sigh, "You heard."
"Take care." With that the bird vanished leaving Anaxa once again alone with his thoughts.
Talking with his cute shy student made him remember his days at the Grove of Epiphany. He remembered Castorice who was shy, kind and didn't get close to others because of her touch of death. She was a good student, full of perseverance; Castorice always gave her best. Then there was Hyacine, his assistant. A pure soul that loved helping other people. She had a brilliant mind that always amazed Anaxa.
Lastly, he thought about Phainon. He was an unforgettable student. Kind and compassionate, but fierce and full of courage when it came to defend his ideals. More than once he overthrew classes against Anaxa and challenged him in debates even when he knew he didn't have the upper hand. Won many debate wreaths and gifted every single one to Anaxa.
How could he forget him?
The man that stole his heart with his beautiful smile. The one that made his cold heart flutter. The one that promised him a future together.
Phainon, the love of his life.
Phainon, the one he abandoned on Amphoreus.
Phainon, the Sun set to die.
His biggest joy and his saddest regret.
Anaxa closed his eyes as he laid his open palm on the window. "Where are you?" He repeated. Suddenly, the lights inside his room flickered. And when he opened his eyes, he saw him. Shocked golden eyes looking back at him.
"Phainon," he whispered as if he would scare the man at the other side of the window away. But he wasn't. He put his hand over Anaxa's at the other side of the glass. The latter couldn't keep his eyes away from the other. He read Phainon's lips: found you.
He was different, but there was no doubt that he was his Phainon.
The lights inside the room turned off. Darkness swallowed everything, but they kept looking at each other, neither wanting that moment to end.
The station's alarms resounded alerting everyone that they were under attack. The sound startled Anaxa who turned around to look at his room. Seeing nothing amiss, he looked back to the window.
Phainon wasn't there anymore.
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Anaxa moved through the endless corridors of the space station with Herta's office as his goal. But was it really? The alarms kept ringing, alerting everyone of the Legion's attack. He knew he should go with Herta and Screwllum. He knew he shouldn't fall victim of his desires… but Anaxa couldn't erase shocked golden eyes from his mind.
So he searched for him, just like he always did in that atrocious simulation. Ran through the whole place, shooting hostile, malevolent monsters that got in his way. Looking, searching and longing.
"Where are you?" Anaxa mumbled feeling breathless and powerless.
"Looking for someone."
He knew that voice by heart. How many times had it mumbled sweet words to his ear? How many times had he heard it wailing with despair?
Anaxa turned around faster than he had ever done in his life. His eyes widened; the urge to cry becoming unbearable. Phainon stood with a blank expression a few steps away from him. Cautious, as if getting close would hurt him.
They stared at each other for what seemed like ages. Neither of them looked as they did back in the simulation. The blue that he loved was no longer there; replaced by golden. The same with his hair, no longer white, but more of soft golden tone. A large gash on his chest along with multiple smaller wounds all over his body with gold seeping through them. Just like the Blemished One. There was a bright halo crowning him, evoking some sort of celestial authority. Wings sprouted from his back, one black and one golden wing, a sign that he wasn't human anymore.
Anaxa was different too. In this world he was Zandar One Kuwabara, member #1 of the Genius Society. His red eyes shined in the darkness; the green and magenta stare gone. There was no eyepatch covering his left one either. His hair had the same mint shade, but it reached his waist, tied in a braid that fell over his shoulder. Anaxa's clothes were different too. He wore a backless white ruffled blouse, black fitted pants that hugged his waist nicely, and black heels that weren't enough to have him at Phainon's height.
And yet it was them. Finding each other like they always did.
"Is it really you, Anaxa?" Phainon asked with uncertainty, scared to hear the answer.
"No…" Anaxa said. He saw the other's expression falling with sadness, but he smiled softly and continued, "It's Anaxagoras."
Hope and joy flashed through Phainon's eyes. It suited him. He was never fit for Destruction. Those emotions vanished quickly, sadness painted in his face again.
"I'm no good anymore."
"You're good enough for me."
"That's… I walk the path of Destruction now. You wouldn't say that if you knew what I've done."
It hurt. Phainon looked like he wanted to cry, but tears never fell, so Anaxa did it for him. And just like always, Phainon moved in front of him, wiping his tears with delicate fingers that held the power to destroy.
"Don't cry."
"What do you want?"
"I…" Phainon hesitated. He sighed, "I have to destroy the Erudition. That's my…"
"That's not what I asked?" Anaxa grabbed the other's hands between his own, covering them, protecting them from the universe. "A blank slate holds infinite potential. It can be anything because of that potential. That's who you are, Phainon. Someone with independent thoughts. Someone that can do whatever he wants and not what me, Lygus, the Blemished One or even the world expects from you."
Tear finally fell from Phainon's eyes only to vanish into steam. "Why is it always you?"
"You're always the one that looks through me. Not Chrysos Heir, not Deliverer, not Flame Reaver and not Irontomb… just Phainon from Aedes Elysiae. You said we would walk different paths, yet you always come back to me."
"What is your dream, Phainon of Aedes Elysiae?"
Phainon smiled. Caressing Anaxa's face lovingly, he answered, "In another life I would have really liked to lay on the wheat fields and talk about the world with you."
Anaxa leaned into his loved one's touch. "Why not do it in this one?" He asked.
"Is that a promise?"
"No. It's the future we always wanted."
Their silhouettes merged together in a tender kiss. Warm and soft. Both had longed for that moment for years, and now that it happened, the wanted to savour every second of that reality. Phainon pulled Anaxa closer from the waist, the latter's arms encircling Phainon's shoulders, never wanting to let go.
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"Screwy this is bad… They took Zandar."