Klein stared at Alaric with a look that screamed, What's wrong with you? He pointed at himself helplessly. "Me, Sequence 7."
Then he pointed at Alaric. "You, Sequence 8."
The implication was clear: what was the point of two mid-to-low Sequence Beyonders discussing world-ending scenarios?
"Just a hypothetical, Klein. If I were ever forced into a corner where I had no choice but to take the world down with me, what would you do?" Alaric asked with a cheeky grin.
"Is that even a question? I'd take out whoever's forcing you, obviously. Then no one's making you destroy the world." Klein replied without hesitation.
"That's a solid argument." Alaric nodded, patting Klein's shoulder. "Good luck, then. The heavy responsibility of standing against the world is all yours."
"Huh?" Klein blinked, his face a picture of confusion.
"Just kidding, don't worry about it!" Alaric said with a bright smile, gesturing toward the projection. "Look, the fight's over!"
How long does it take to beat an Amon half to death? Different people might give different answers, but Alaric's was three minutes.
"Looks like Mr. Amon isn't as durable as I thought!" Alaric said, crouching in front of Amon with a grin. The trickster lay on the ground, battered to the point of barely maintaining human form.
Half of Amon's face writhed with the Worms of Time. He rolled his eyes, then propped himself up with effort, looking at Alaric. "What do you really want? Don't tell me this is just about revenge for the Zoroast family. That's not your style."
"What I want is simple. First, revenge. Second…" Alaric paused, locking eyes with Amon. "I want all the Beyonder characteristics you shouldn't possess. This isn't just my wish... it's your father's too."
"You need to atone for all the Marauder pathway members you've consumed over the years. Those characteristics will be used to save humanity. Can you accept that outcome?"
Amon froze, his eyes lowering as if lost in thought. Suddenly, he asked, "What are you all planning?"
"Just the liberation of all humanity." Alaric replied with a cheerful smile. "Like your father once did, we'll save those who are oppressed."
Amon stared at Alaric, his expression tinged with rare bewilderment, as if he hadn't expected such an answer.
"I… don't understand. You're not that kind of person. You're like me... you don't care about humanity." Amon said, his gaze piercing.
"That's why I say you don't get me at all." Alaric smiled, unhurried. "Sure, I don't love this world, but that doesn't mean I won't help people. I like good people, so I'm happy to lend them a hand. It makes me feel good."
"And I'm even more willing to help my friends. Whether it's Medici or Grisha, they're part of my circle, so of course I'll support them."
Alaric's smile was warm as he conveniently omitted the parts of his actions that served his own interests. He turned the question back on Amon. "Lil' Raven, do you have any friends?"
Amon froze again, instinctively glancing at Bethel nearby, then at Medici and Ouroboros, before lowering his eyes. "I don't need friends."
"And that's why you'll never understand humanity." Alaric concluded, his gaze almost pitying. "How sad, Amon. You idolize your father, but without true humanity, you'll never truly understand him."
Amon's eyes sharpened, and he sneered. "Is humanity supposed to be some great thing? If my father hadn't tried to save the world, he wouldn't have fallen."
"Humanity isn't inherently good. It brings both joy and pain." Alaric admitted, his tone steady. "But I fought tooth and nail to claim it, because it's what makes me me. Without it, what's the difference between me and a fragment of power?"
Alaric looked at Amon, his pitying gaze unwavering. He sighed. "Amon, do you really think someone who rejects humanity acts purely of their own will?"
"Maybe there never was an Amon. Maybe what's standing before me is just an animated uniqueness." Alaric's face lit up with mock realization. "Oh, that explains it! Your personality is like a second coming of the Celestial Worthy. So, Amon, your true essence is just a puppet of the Celestial Worthy!"
In a few words, Alaric had denied Amon's very existence.
Amon, a King of Angels who had toyed with countless others, couldn't stand such an insult. His sense of self was strong, and he sneered back, "Sorry, but I've always kept the Celestial Worthy's will firmly under control."
"Funny, that's what Bethel thought too, and then he was puppeted by the Celestial Worthy into building love nests for Tudors and the others." Alaric said, raising an eyebrow with a smile.
Bethel's mouth twitched, but he stayed silent. He had his pride, after all.
Amon, clearly aware of the incident Alaric referred to, froze for a moment.
"So, can you really say your will is your own? That's not so certain." Alaric said, patting Amon's shoulder with a grave expression. "For your father's sake, let me warn you: without humanity, you're just a snack the Celestial Worthy can gobble up anytime."
Amon's eyes flickered, his belief uncertain.
Alaric didn't care either way... his words were pure manipulation. He smiled. "That's all I'll say. Now, let's get to business. Do you want one of us to strip your characteristics, or will you do it yourself?"
"I'll do it." Amon said without hesitation. True to his ruthless nature, he began extracting his characteristics without a moment's pause.
He stripped them cleanly, and Alaric divided the spoils just as decisively. One Sequence 2 characteristic went to Pallez, one Alaric kept for himself, and of the remaining characteristics below Sequence 2, Alaric took only a small portion, handing the rest to Medici on the spot.
"There's fewer than I expected. You're not holding out on me, are you?" Alaric teased, glancing at Amon.
"I haven't recalled all my Avatars. Many are still out there, doing their thing." Amon replied, adjusting his monocle with a faint smile. "What, did you expect me to call them back and hand them over to you for free?"
***
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