Chaos Will Reign

Chapter Eleven: Prepare for War

———

Chaos's small group of gods seemed to be having a meeting. Everyone was silent, as they waited for two more people to enter. Finally, Shannan broke the silence. "Suoh and Lady Erii seem to be late. I think it would be safe to assume they've been captured." He says.

"Captured? Erii? There's no way! She's way too slick for that! Right?" Anny looks to Chaos, who didn't seem bothered by anything. "Lord Chaos?"

"Eh. It's not that big a deal if they were captured." They say with a grin.

Shannan narrows his eyes, disgusted by this answer. "Suoh is one of us. The person you trusted to be the next God of Wisdom. And you say it's not a big deal?" He asked.

"Hah! One of us?" Kaiser spoke up next. "Good riddance, I say. He was useless anyway. So what if he's dead?"

"Somebody seems to be forgetting that he lost in a fight with a Chimera. Not even the Goddess of War." Shannan shoots back, making Kaiser slam the table.

"That was just a warmup! I couldn't use my powers to the fullest!" He says.

"Hey, hey! That's enough, you two!" Anny shouts with her high pitched voice, as Shannan remained seated.

"As I've said before," Chaos says, standing up. "It doesn't matter if they're captured. It doesn't stop or slow me down. If they're dead or alive, it doesn't matter! In the end, they're all pawns for me to use. So what if you lose some? As long as I, the King, remain, the number of pawns lost doesn't matter!" They say, the multiple voices increasing in volume as they speak.

"Pawns, huh...?" Shannan mutters, and stands up. "Very well then. If we aren't going to have a productive meeting, then I'll excuse myself." He says, exiting the room.

After Chaos's speech, even Anny seemed to be questioning her loyalty now. But as Kaiser left, Chaos gets her attention. "Anny, dear. With Erii gone, I have a gift for you. Do you remember the save data we duplicated?" They asked.

"The one Erii doubled? The God of Bugs' save data?" She asked.

"Correct! I knew duplicating it was a smart idea, just in case something like this happened. And I want you to have it!" They laughed, poking her tiny head with their slim finger.

This made the small fairy's eyes light up. "Yes! Thank you, Master!" She exclaims, completely forgetting about the speech already.

Anny quickly darts away to where the save data is held, as Chaos chuckles. "That's a good pawn..." They whisper, and start to relax in their throne.

All the while, Kheios stood by, listening from behind a corner with one of his black snakes. But he wasn't the only one listening in, either.

———

Suoh would groan, and sit himself up in a hospital bed, looking around. The interior was that of the Temple of Wisdom. He attempts to stand, but couldn't. His legs were still too weak.

"You are awake." MAKI speaks, wearing a little nurse hat on her head. "I will tell Lady Ava immediately." She would bow, and exit the room.

When she was gone, Suoh sighs. "Hey." Eri's voice calls to him. He turns his head to the glass jar that Erii was sitting in. "Guess we both suck, huh?" She asked.

"So it would seem..." He agrees. Although, he was confused as to why they haven't killed them. Or why Erii hadn't escaped.

"I know what you're thinking. No, I can't no-clip through this jar. Must be the same kinda stuff that pyramid was made of. Or at least covered in it." She answered. "As for why I'm still alive, I don't know."

"I see." Suoh nods. As they talked, Ava finally walked in, as Suoh looks her dead in the eyes. "So...you just wanted to execute me yourself?"

"That's not it." Ava shakes her head.

"Don't he ridiculous...! I don't want your pity...!" He growls.

"It's not that, either." She says. "I just wanted to show you the person you swore your allegiance to." She says as Yura appears behind her.

"I got the stuff you wanted, bestie!" She says with a gleeful smile.

"Thanks, girl!" Ava smiles, as Yura creates a small bubble in the palms of her hands. A dream bubble, if you will. And inside it, was Chaos's speech. It seemed to be in Kaiser's perspective.

"You...can't be serious...! It must be a lie...!" Erii says, clearly in disbelief.

"I may be the Goddess of Dreams, but I can't make things up out of thin air." Yura says with her hands up. "Welp, I'm gonna go now. Best of luck, Ava." She says and disappears again.

"I don't believe it... Master would... He never..." As Erii was having her breakdown, Suoh knew this was the case. He knew he was a pawn. But at the time, he didn't mind.

No. It's not that he didn't mind. It was more like he saw it as necessary. But actually hearing it hurt. As a tear drops from his eyes, it would soon create another. "I don't deserve your sympathy, Ava... I've sided with Chaos... I've already come this far... I'm irredeemably..." He says.

"That's not true." Ava says. "While it's not scientifically proven, I believe anyone can be a good person. They just need to try." She says. "I've done some digging... Suoh...isn't your real name, is it? It's the name of someone precious to you, right? The name of someone you don't want to forget."

His eyes widen, as more tears would stream down. "Suoh...!" He mutters, covering his face.

"I won't force you to make a decision. I just wanted to tell you...both of you...that we at the Temple of Wisdom will accept you. Once this is over, I'm making the same offer Lord Damien gave me, 15 years ago. It's up to you on if you want to take it." Ava says, and leaves the room to meet with the rest of the Gods in video call.

———

"Lord Shannan? Where are we going?" Dojimaru asked, as Shannan's group all leave the Temple of Chaos.

"Deserting." The black haired man answers.

"Just like that?" LaRissa asked next.

"And with the Goddess of Swords' save data, no less?" Genni tilts her head.

Shannan would chuckle as his group just left. "I got what I came for. Now, we just lay low, and go somewhere they can't find us."

"Then how about the Vollino family estate? There is plenty of room for us there." The dark elf, Zira, suggests to the group.

"Not a bad idea." Shannan agrees. "What say you, LaRissa?" He asked.

"Very well then, milord. I will lead the way for us once we arrive in my home world." She says with a pleased smile.