Villain Retirement

Chapter 1146: Introduction

Chapter 1146: Introduction

A few moments ago, in a darkness that was not a void, and neither was it actually darkness—Riley stood alone, a white spot amidst all the black.

"Interesting."

Riley started walking across the field of darkness. He had never really thought he would feel nostalgic about something other than Italian Mafia Reborn, but here he was, somewhat feeling something as he once again found himself here after a long time.

And perhaps even longer was the last time he saw nothing.

…But here he was, right in front of him.

"Oh? You no longer have long hair?" And once again, Nothing was a reflection of him—well, not really—as he still had the long hair Riley had before, "Hm…

…Nah, I'm keeping the long hair. So, wow—several children, huh…that, I did not expect. What's up with that?"

"It has been a long time, Nothing," Riley nodded as he looked around the darkness, "Where were the pillars that were last here?"

"Oh, the collection of Creations?" Nothing shrugged, "I wanted to redecorate—I missed the minimalistic style. And besides, I accidentally touched one and I had to watch an entire multiverse be built and then die—it was like watching ice melt during summer, you know? It's interesting at first but then you forget you were ever watching it, and suddenly it's just gone. So, yes…

…I redecorated. But wow, look at you. All grown up."

"Do you know what has been happening out there, Nothing?" Riley completely disregarded everything that Nothing said.

"I do now," Nothing shrugged, "You finally reached the Grand Triangle, huh—or should I say, it took you so fast to find it."

"Oh…?" Riley tilted his head to the side, "Is the Grand Triangle important, Nothing?"

"It is. It is where the Supervirus originated from, after all," Nothing shrugged, as if he had just said something that was already common knowledge, "And by the way, there is only one in the entire multiverse."

"...But there are other supers in the other universes," Riley tilted his head to the side.

"Well, you know why—those kids want everything to be the same," Nothing let out a long and deep sigh while shaking his head, "They made their Avatars travel through the multiverses, spread the virus early—and there you have it. Powers there, powers here, powers everywhere."

"Interesting," Riley placed his hand on his chin.

"It is, it is very interesting," Nothing also did the same, almost reflecting Riley, "Why do you think the people here have abilities while the rest of the 'Unknown' universe doesn't? Supervirus. The Grand Triangle is actually as old as the Primordials themselves…

…you could even say that the entire creation itself started from the Grand Triangle—so, congratulations, Boy. You've reached the Origin."

"Hm. Thank you for the information," Riley nodded, "When Death said that there is something about the Grand Triangle, I realized that it could not be so simple—but to think that we are now where everything started is a really interesting fact to know, Nothing. But…

…it is also a useless fact. It changes nothing, Nothing."

"But is it, though? Is it actually useless?" Nothing looked Riley in the eyes, "Why do you think you could completely copy the powers of people when you are killed by that said person, Riley Ross? Hm? What is the Supervirus? What is the Grand Triangle?"

"If it is as you said that the universe originated here, then I suppose they are leftovers," Riley just shrugged, "And the reason why supers are capable of what they are capable of is because they share the power of the very same thing that created the universe, Nothing."

"...That is actually a good guess, wow," Nothing blinked a couple of times as he looked at Riley, "Mystery solved, Riley Ross…

…or is it? Eeeh. You're curious now, aren't you? Are you curious?"

Nothing then suddenly started disappearing and appearing from different sides of the darkness, making sure to annoy Riley as much as possible.

"I am more curious if Aerith'Ross truly is from the future, Nothing," Riley asked, "Or if all of this is just one big play by Paige—it is really hard to discern now—two of my children are also in trouble if disappearing since the world she created and the world that the primordials created are clashing."

"Hm," Nothing shrugged, "But why do you care, exactly? Your purpose is destruction and the end of all life itself, Riley—even if a lot has changed in your life, your purpose remains the same."

"Perhaps."

"It is," Nothing's voice turned cold as he once again stood in front of Riley, "You forget that once you are here, all your memories rush into me—all your feelings too. And I can feel it…

…I can feel the urge to destroy inside you, stronger than ever before. And that is because you are suppressing it. But of course, that is a talk to be had some other time. For now, the Grand Triangle. You want answers, correct?"

"I suppose."

"Then you will get some in this place," Nothing nodded several times, "Answers that might very well help you in understanding everything better–I am deliberately trying to be vague, by the way."

"Okay," Riley nodded.

"The Grand Triangle is one of the strongest elements in the entire multiverse, Riley Ross—so, do not be afraid to let loose," Nothing nodded several times too, "With the people you will be facing, you would need it."

"Oh?" Riley tilted his head to the side.

"Beings as strong as the primordials themselves," a very wide smile started to crawl on Nothing's face, "This will be very, very enjoyable for you–someone is coming too, someone you know."

"Hm…" Riley squinted his eyes.

"But I believe that is all the time we have," Nothing then started looking around, "It truly is nice to finally have someone to talk to."

"When will you reveal who and what you are, Nothing?"

"I have revealed myself from the very start, Riley Ross," Nothing just shrugged, "I am Nothing, and I will remain Nothing. There is no mystery to be solved here—there is, however, very much a mystery to be solved with your youngest son…

…Enel, was it?"

"Yes," Riley nodded.

"He has a bigger role in this, more than you will ever know," Nothing smiled, "Or perhaps, his role is in another. Sage is eye-ing him, I believe."

"Sage…?" Riley squinted his eyes.

"The person Van is searching for," Nothing shrugged, "The preprimordial who can jump through a different Verse altogether and send someone else too—that is what you call them, right? Verse?"

"I do believe that is what they are calling them, yes."

"Anyway, not your story—but I do believe Enel might be involved in it soon," Nothing smiled, "A being that could see beyond ours, perhaps another story yet to be written. The next main character of a new universe. Interesting, no? How do you feel about that?"

"I am hoping that all of them could be, Nothing."

"Pft, such a typical father response," Nothing waved his hand, "Anyway—off you go."

***

"Supervirus… what are you even talking about?"

Back in the present, Riley was still completely latched around Odun—his ribs, almost digging through his armor and flesh as he continued to whisper into his ears.

"I suppose it is something you will not be aware of," Riley let out a small but very deep sigh as he looked into Odun's eye, "But it is interesting, I thought your ability would be to see through the past and the future—but not at all. Your abilities are just simple, something I already have."

"Do not insult me, Child…" Odun started prying Riley's ribs open, causing a deafening noise to creak in the air, "...My knowledge is not something I was privileged to be born with, I earned it—my missing eye is proof of that. I looked into the deepest knowledge of the universe—and I would look again and sacrifice my other eye if it means more knowledge."

"Hm," Riley sighed, "Then I suppose you are useless, Odun."

"Enough of your nonsense!" A ripple formed from Odun, strong enough to cause the floor to change shape and the air to heat up—but that was all he could really do—Riley had them completely locked inside a telekinetic barrier, several layers of it. He had already learned his lesson from Esme, after all.

"Y—you…" And finally, Odun realized that the situation was not actually good for him—with all of his wisdom, he did not foresee that his arrogance would eventually lead to his downfall—his immediate, and brutal downfall as Riley's ribs were once again just slowly digging through his flesh and armor.

And everyone in the lavish hall watched as their supreme ruler was slowly… slowly being squeezed like spam. Literally.

That was what it looked like—like crushing meatloaf with your fingers. But perhaps even more disturbing was the sound—they never once thought that Odun would be capable of releasing such a sound.

Heli, seeing her father slowly dying like that… the only thing she could really do was close her eyes.

And finally, everyone was being introduced to Riley Ross… the real one.