Spectacular World

A War In The Future

"Did you really think I would let you die so easily?"

"Where am I?"

Nier tried to open his eyes but found that he couldn't. All around him, he saw nothing; he felt nothing. It was like being in the ocean suspended in water. He felt almost like he was floating. It was dark. No. It was pure darkness. A darkness that was looking back at him. A darkness that was holding onto him. A darkness that was going to save his life.

"I didn't say you could die yet. Rise, my Ruler. My Shadow. My Void. Wake up, Nier."

And so time would pass...

The heat was intense, like a roaring sun on the verge of exploding. Despite that, the fire didn't burn. It was something else—a gentle yet firm show of force. Even as the steam rose like newborn clouds and Lucifer's flesh melted off his bones, everyone else was fine.

Mr. Sini and Wano had stopped fighting. Their transformation was off, and they, along with all the other soldiers, both the Full Force and the Monarch Force, stared up at the mountain with wide eyes. Jackson was covered in so much fire it stopped anyone from seeing him. A bright blue it gushed out of his skin and formed a cloak around him. It wasn't even a battle. He had wiped Lucifer out in only a single attack.

Lucifer's robes were burned away, and he had been reduced to a blackened skeleton—no muscle or organs left. The villain still somehow clung to life, though. His title of leader of the Immortals was very clear. He clutched his book, and despite not having muscles or anything else, he managed to stand up. If he had eyes, they'd be glaring at the blue man before him.

"I am the Ruler of Death and Rebirth! I was handpicked by the Shadow! You are not the god here! I am!" Despite having no tongue, Lucifer somehow managed to run his mouth and scream. His skin regrew as shadows danced across his flesh and restored him to life. Full Monarch's body didn't even twitch or seem bothered as waves of Dead Virus smashed down into him, burning away instantly. The man wasn't even paying attention to Lucifer. He looked almost like he was in a trance, staring off into the distance. Full Monarch stared down at his hands, watching the trillions of mini explosions that went off, each as tiny as a molecule. "What the hell are you looking at?" Lucifer roared. His flesh was regrowing, and he stomped forward, glaring at the God before him.

"I am the Brightest Star."

"What?" Lucifer stopped dead in his tracks as his body fully put itself back together.

"I see it all." Full Monarch whispered. "Every molecule. The way this universe forms together. How it began and how it ended. This body isn't mine. It's a vessel. One that holds 'it's true form. The Brightest Star. I am the Brightest Star. The light in the darkness. The warmth in the cold. The energy in a still world. I think I have a way of beating you for good now."

The Dead Virus twisted and rose like hundreds of snakes. Inky and black, it was as if Lucifer's shadow had come to life. He let out a sound. It wasn't some proud battle cry that a warrior would give. No. This was a screech, the last desperate cry of cattle. He flung himself at Full Monarch, bringing out everything he had. He never stood a chance. It was over before it even began.

It started in the palm of Full Monarch's hand, twisting and growing. It wasn't fire, it wasn't lightning, and it wasn't anything found in this universe. Sparkling and bright, something brand new, smaller than a golf ball. It was a shard of golden metal.

The hero simply flicked it forward, and in an instant, faster than he could even react, Lucifer felt it stab deep into his heart. Then he felt it. A burn unlike anything life should have been able to endure. His molecules were burning. Even smaller than that, a bright flash gushed out, and cracks expanded across his skin as the shard in his heart began to hum with divine energy. Then he was simply gone. Nothing left.