The Eternal Imperium

Chapter 28: The Very Very Very Strongest

Explosions rip through the Schnee manor as Shadow, Willow's Elite Bodyguard, dodges and evades the numerous inky black tendrils that give chase. Outside in the front courtyard, Yhwach sends wave after wave of destructive force toward the duo of Kreel and Red. Kreel utilizes his mirrors to slice and cut away the tendrils, trying to skewer the two; Red, on the other hand, uses his semblance, Conquerer, to push back and keep any tendrils that get by the mirrors from getting to them.

Yhwach, however, was intrigued by Red. While his full power allowed him to simultaneously gaze at every possible future granted to him by The Almighty. Even to go so far as to allow him to pick and choose which event will occur. For some reason, when it came to Red, there was no future he could manipulate. Every future he saw of Red's, he couldn't manipulate. He could see the events unfolding, but if Red was destined to decide, Yhwach could only watch it occur. In short, The Almighty had no power over Conquerer.

Red: "Uh...Mister Emperor? What's the big play here?"

Kreel: "Well, my wife utilizing the power of the Twin Gods to bring me and you here was part of it. But for now, our plan is for you to get close. Shadow can keep his attention split, but as long as he can keep you away, we aren't going to get anything done." Kreel says as he pulls more pieces of the Black Blade from his body.

Another hole is blown out from the Schnee manor as Shadow tears several tendrils that had stabbed into him. The wounds they created closed instantly. Stomping on the ground, he pulls free a massive boulder to, which he throws it right at Yhwach.

Red: "Where do you find a guy like that?"

Kreel: "A lady you may know as The Spider. But that isn't our concern now." Red nods as he refocuses his attention on holding off the constant assault by Yhwach.

Kreel's plan required multiple different things to happen in a specific manner. But at the moment, his focus was on something else entirely. He couldn't tell or even relay the plan to either of his allies as it could compromise the fragility of his plan. He had to do something he hadn't done in a very long time.

Trust people.

Shadow, after dodging several more tendrils, grabs a loose pillar from the manor and uses it as a battering ram. Plowing into the defensive line of shadows that acted as Yhwach's personal shield.

This one moment was one of very few that allowed Red and Kreel to push forward. Even if it was only one or two feet at a time, they were making progress. The two drop their defensive formation and immediately rush forward toward Yhwach.

Yhwach: "Foolishness! I already saw your attempt from the very beginning. It matters not!"

Yhwach waves his hand before him, blasting the boulder to smithereens. As the rubble from dissipates, Yhwach sees Red holding the remaining pieces of the BlackBlade, ready to stab into him. But Yhwavh could also see, with his future sight, that it was an illusion.

Yhwach: "Another foolish illusion? Can't you see that your efforts are futile? I know where and when you will be. Like right behind me."

In a fluid motion, he swings around and punches forward. Finding his hand pierced right through the real Red. Red coughs blood as he grabs hold of Yhwach's arm in a vain attempt to gain some form of upper hand.

Yhwach: "Was this your plan? Did you think I would not see through your illusions? Through your lies?! I see all that there is and all there is to be! Fate is nothing more than mine to control. Your reliance on this man's semblance would always lead to your failure, and now...it will lead to your destruction."

Red: "*cough* Heh...strange-"

Yhwach watches in abject surprise and horror as the illusion around Red disappears, revealing Kreel to be the one impaled by Yhwach.