High in the sky within green encapsulation, Klyson underwent the operation which would change everything.
The Null was being inserted into play.
At the 10th hour, post-surgery, as Ian waited for Klyson to awaken from his dormant state, an unexpected visitor had made their appearance.
"Someone is coming," Seris said. She rapidly spawned a series of Obeli in a scatter surrounding the main dome. It was meant to diverge whoever was approaching in the moment.
"They're here." Seris stuck her hands out, ready to contest the intruder.
Suddenly, a rush of wind rushed through the field of Obeli, avoiding each one. Seris immediately began summoning more in retaliation for the individual who was somehow dodging her Fractal's attacks. That was before they suddenly appeared outside the main Obelus' wall, hovering there as a wall of white.
Ian's eyes grew wide upon recognizing who it was.
"Let your guardian know that it's no use. I have the All-Knowing Eye."
The one who had come to greet Ian up in the sky was none other than Overseer Chamuel himself—one of the four leaders of A.X.A, and the one who was known to have All-Knowing Vision, the unparalleled form of clairvoyance. He had used his wings to fly up towards them. Threatened by his evasiveness, Seris stuck her hand out once more, attempting to wrap an Obelus around his head to implode his brain. But Overeer Chamuel had already read that move before it was executed, avoiding the attack altogether.
"Stand down," Ian told Seris. "He can read your moves before you even carry them out."
She put down her hand.
Overseer Chamuel nodded in approval. "It's rather shocking to see what you've built and become, Ian Sedia. I thought—we all—thought that you and the other Sins had died back then. After all, that's what we had sent Midas to do."
The long-forgotten, familiar name of the past sparked something within Ian. A sentiment of some sort for the infamous Sin of Greed.
"What are you here for?" Ian asked. "This barrier between us is indestructible, Chamuel. Nothing currently stops me from using my Fractal on you."
"There'll be no use in that," he said. "I'm just here as a messenger."
"Then say what you need to say."
Overseer Chamuel crossed his arms. "Three days from now, we will release the Sin of Wrath back out into this world. The General said that this is the repercussion of Klyson's refusal to cooperate with us."
"Refusal to cooperate with you?"
"He didn't tell you about it?" Overseer Chamuel smiled. "Declining such an offer, I thought it was out of loyalty to you."
Ian furrowed his eyebrows. "And what kind of offer was that?"
"The General offered him a position as an Overseer among us in return for information about you, your Seris over here, and your organization Heathen."
At first, Ian felt upset about the idea. But soon after, he noticed he'd never said Seris' name.
Of course he would already know her name, he scoffed with realization.
"Why in the hell would you seek information out of Klyson when that All-Knowing Vision already tells you everything you need to know?" Ian sneered. He understood the manipulative implications. "You people are awful."
"Indifferent to your doings, Ian." Overseer Chamuel scoffed. "But you're right. We never actually needed that information from him. I already know everything by now."
"So you were just trying to get him back on your side, weren't you? Temptation with power."
Overseer Chamuel nodded. "You would know that all too well, wouldn't you?"
"And so what? You've just come here to warn me about the inevitable? Provide the mercy of preparation time? Make an offer with ulterior motives the same way you did to Klyson?"
"Sure, yes. Although, there are no offers to be made. Not even surrender. We now know who the Sin of Discrimination is and her Fractal's abilities. We know of the grand scale of crimes you've committed. And we know of your numbers, and their whereabouts. No other threat in the short history of Melysia has been more inviting to the Sin of Wrath than Heathen's doings. We're going to give you what you've been asking for, Ian. You should have died a long time ago."
"If that third eye of yours really is 'All-Knowing,' then you should know why I'm doing all of this."
"I don't care that MONA's latent consciousness is in your mind. If She has a problem with what we've done using the gifts that She's given us, then who is really to blame? She no longer resides in this realm to punish us. The fact that She relays her intent through you says enough about how much power She has left in this world. MONA officially passed a century and a half ago. Tell Her to let it go."
Ian was infuriated upon hearing such words spoken about his goddess, especially since it was from those who previously worshipped Her. But lashing out would do nothing. He contained the bruteness of his words.
"If it weren't for Her, none of you Overseers would be alive today. How could you speak so lowly of your own savior? Especially when every ounce of power you've all gained until now has come from Her directly?"
"Systemized as a whole, A.X.A. is now stronger than MONA ever was. You don't continue to worship a higher-being once you've exceeded them."
That's blasphemy, Ian thought to himself.
"It's the truth," Overseer Chamuel replied, having read his mind. "I won't stay any longer just to debate nonsense. I've delivered my message."
"Then so be it." Ian stood firmly. "Send out Wrath. We'll be waiting, and ready."
Overseer Chamuel smiled. "Trust me, we'll be ready too."
In a heavy flap of his wings, and an aggressive gust of wind, Overseer Chamuel propelled backwards and flew off into the distance, leaving Ian behind with a direct proclamation of war from A.X.A.