Child of Omens Ruination: Aftermath

Chapter 17: Burning with the Devil's Fire

Hawk looked out towards the SMC tower as the sun began to shine through the clouds of ash and soot. Turning around, he watches as the five huntsman finished saying their departing words to V. Ace walked up and stood next to Hawk as they looked towards the tower Winter had taken Falke to.

Ace: "Suppose you're getting your friend back?"

Hawk: "Would be quite rude of me not to."

Ace: "Look...I wanted to say sorry for saying that stuff about your friends. And to also say thank you for saving us."

Hawk: "Of course, and no need to apologize. I should be the one apologizing for them. I led them down that path."

Ace: "Hawk? What happened to you? What happened to make you...change so drastically? I mean, last time I saw you, well, we both know what I'm getting at."

Hawk: "Well, how do I explain this...you changed me, Ace." Ace raises his eyebrow confusingly. "Not 'you' you, but another version of you. The Ace from Falke's world. When I first arrived there, I was still...my darker self. So I declared war on the gods of Falke's world, which meant I also declared war on his world and its people. Long story short, due to a sacrifice on your part, you and I were at odds with one another, my Yamato..versus your King of Clubs."

Ace: "I don't like where this is going."

Hawk: "The battle was intense even for me, as I was at my strongest during that time. But the battle had been decided from the beginning as you were using your semblance to its fullest, which was melting your body from the inside out."

Ace was both frightened and surprised. He always knew his semblance had destructive potential but to hear that it could do that to him if he pushed it too hard.

Hawk: "The only way I could stop you before your semblance killed you...was to kill you. I'm sorry if this isn't something you wished to hear."

Ace: "No..no. I wanted this, and I'm guessing you aren't done?"

Hawk: "Correct. In your final moments, I don't know if it was from the damage from your semblance or if it was from the blood loss. But you told me of the past, where you came from and what you went through."

Ace: "I really did that?"

Hawk: "He said that he and I were partly the same. Our lives started rather depressing, but through our lives, we've gained new families and learned to live with our demons. Even if it could be considered barely living."

Ace: "*sigh* Look, we're getting really off-topic. Look, you got a plan?"

Hawk: "*sigh*...I apologize for making you uncomfortable. Anyway, my plan consists of speed and ferocity. I punch through their defenses and make my way to Falke." Ace was about to speak but the other four, Nero now carrying Wolf using his spectral arms, walked up to the two of them.

Summer: "What're you two talking about?"

Ace: "Hawk's whack ass plan. Can you believe he wanted to brute force his way into the tower." Hawk glares at Ace. "Hey! I can't help but tell you the truth."

Nero: "He's got a good point. That place is the legit fortress of fortresses."

Wolf: "Indeed. The schematics of the tower were specifically designed to hold out against your supposed true demonic form."

Summer: "True demonic form?"

Velvet: "Yeah, big scary demon thing. When he used it, he burst right through the city's main gates."