Spectacular World

The Ruler That Would Devour The World

Heavy bags rested under Nier's eyes. The man's shoulders were slumped, and his clothes were soaked down to the bone. He stared past the glass of a store selling various different TVs. They were all on and played the same thing.

"-the newest sidekick of the number one Hero has made her appearance! The one and only Ruby Admiral!" The image on the TV showed Full Monarch saving a city that was burning to the ground. Joining him in the air was a young child who flew alongside him and helped save the day with a smile on her face. Dressed in her red costume. This, however, was something that never actually happened. Ruby Admiral sadly never got to fight alongside her father, nor could she fly, and eventually ads like these would stop showing, and soon the world would mainly forget about the 'hero' Ruby Admiral.

Nier's eyes were hollow and sunken as he stared at the screen in complete silence. "So instead of trying to permanently stop the Beast, this is what you've decided to do, Jackson. I see where your priorities lie."

'I told you to forget about him.' A voice hissed in his ear. One he had heard many times now. It was the voice of the entity that called herself the Prettiest Flower. Something which had taken root in his head and had begun to speak to him shortly after the death of his family. 'Focus on our mission. You need to let me in more. I can make a new body for her. One that can house the perfect child you seek, once you figure out how to actually make a soul. Are you listening to me, boy!'

Nier took a sip from a flask he held, doing his best to drown out the voice that was inside of his head. It was getting harder and harder for him to figure out who was actually talking and what thoughts were his own. "I give up. I tried to bring Sky back, but it didn't work. Jackson... The look he gave me." Nier reached up and rubbed his face.

He had tried to bring his wife and daughter back, but even though their bodies came back to life, the thing that was in control of them weren't the people he loved. They were monstrous and feral. Even if they looked mostly the same. They kept coming after him.

He had been arrested a while ago for his crimes but managed to escape after the Beast came back down for a second time. That had truly broken his will and spirit. After all, it was now clear that thing was going to keep coming and would target humans over and over again. If he even dared to try and create his monsters to fight it off, the Branch would throw Jackson at him.

Not like it mattered though. He had failed to save his daughter after all. He couldn't bring back that soul that once existed. Not yet, at least. His life basically had no meaning.

'Listen to me! Obey me!'

"Just shut up." Nier sharpened his fingers into claws with his power and brought it up to his neck, ready to slit his throat. "It's time this story comes to an end."

'No! If you die, I'll go back to the Pod! At least find a willing body for me to go into, please, Nier!'

Then it happened...

From a nearby alleyway, Nier heard the sound of a can being kicked. He turned his head and raised an eyebrow when he saw someone standing in front of him. The boy was dressed in baggy clothes and had shaggy red hair. He was shivering from the cold, but there was a look in his eyes. The same look Nier had seen in dozens of soldiers during the war with Lucifer so many years ago. People died so someone like this kid could live. It was a fifteen-year-old boy, one that seemed determined.

One of the teen's arms was wrapped under the body of a small brown puppy. The animal was barking and growling as it glared at Nier. In the child's other hand, he clutched an old, rusted switchblade. "E—Everything in your pockets," the young boy announced, and his stomach growled loudly. "Your wallet and everything. Now!"