Reborn: Apocalypse - Volume 2

"…and so that"s how we ended up here . " s.h.i.+n"s voice echoed energetically as he smiled up at Micheal . Several minutes had pa.s.sed as s.h.i.+n explained everything that had taken place, from his arrival in the First Layer, to his recruitment as a Sub-Executive, to his meeting up with Sophia, and the battle with the Nightrunners .

Micheal stared back, his thoughts and heart fluctuating as he processed everything . His mind was ablaze with ideas and planning as he centered in on the details, memorizing everything s.h.i.+n said .

While his plans to deal with the Dawning Six incident had seen great success, some of Micheal"s other carefully constructed plans had fallen into disarray . Even with knowledge of the future, sometimes things just didn"t work out .

It wasn"t a complete disaster, but he could already see how difficult it was going to be to perfectly put the pieces back together . He would need to adapt .

"How did Prime figure so much out?" He mentally cursed in his head, frowning fiercely . Micheal had meticulously worked on these plans to the best of his ability, using his foreknowledge as best he could .

He freely admitted that he wasn"t an absolute genius and that he could make mistakes .

But that couldn"t explain everything .

He couldn"t help but rebel at Prime"s freakish intelligence . He must have left behind enough minor clues for Prime to put things together, somehow . And, at some point, Prime or his minions must"ve gotten lucky too . That was the only thing Micheal could think of .

"General Pedro has been compromised now…" Perhaps the worst outcome to all of that was that the Grand Strategist now knew who the Brigadier General was .

General Pedro was supposed to be his secret weapon, his surprise tool to deal with Director Prime . Pedro"s unique powers made him the perfect ally to use against Director Prime"s specific powers .

Now, however… Prime would know exactly who Pedro was . The man couldn"t possibly know Micheal planned on using the Brigadier General to help counter and kill Prime, but just the fact that Prime was now aware of Pedro and his powers was enough to throw a wrench into Micheal"s plans .

He sighed, rubbing at his head as he turned his focus back to s.h.i.+n .

"It"s good to see you, buddy . " He put up a small smile as he stuck his hand out, trying to push aside his worries for a few brief moments . s.h.i.+n had jumped so quickly into his explanation that Micheal hadn"t had time to properly greet him .

s.h.i.+n was in the midst of catching his breath after spurting out a literal mountain of information . When he saw Micheal stick his hand out, he grinned mischievously and offered his floppy-sock-hand in return .

"I"m not shaking that . " Micheal"s smile turned to a flat poker face .

"Shake it . "

"No . "

"Shake it . "

"I refuse . "

"Shake it . "

Micheal glared at s.h.i.+n, all the while holding back laughter . The man never changed .

After a few moments, the mirth fled from s.h.i.+n"s face as his eyes grew serious .

"There is something else I need to talk to you about . " s.h.i.+n began as he nodded slowly . He leaned back in his bed slightly, a look of exhaustion fluttering across his face .

"Oh? What"s up?" Micheal replied, his eyes narrowing .

"It"s about Sophia…" s.h.i.+n quickly re-explained, in more detail, what happened between them and the Nightrunners . The trauma Sophia had suffered wasn"t something that could just be shrugged off .

s.h.i.+n had seen and heard about the injuries Sophia suffered from . But even more than that…

Towards the end of the battle, s.h.i.+n had felt as if something about Sophia had changed . He wasn"t sure exactly what and hadn"t seen or talked to her enough to pinpoint anything .

Advertis.e.m.e.ntStill, it made him worry slightly . He took the lives of his friends seriously, even if he took little else in the same manner . And Sophia was definitely someone he considered a friend, in this new, chaotic world .

"Hmm . " As he muttered aloud, his thoughts were set aflutter once more .

"Did history repeat itself?" In his own, original timeline, Sophia was a famed genius . However, she only truly transformed into that almighty warrior after she experienced several traumatic events that damaged her sanity .

Micheal hoped to avoid having her go insane in this timeline . Even if her development was slightly slower, she was still the same person . She absolutely would still have the potential to develop into a frightening genius .

"She likely has always had the potential to snap . My actions merely prevented it for a time . " He was mostly worried about how serious the ramifications were for her . He truly considered her a friend and ally, and wanted nothing but the best for her and her family .

He thought it over for a few moments, still frowning .

While he was thinking, s.h.i.+n rambled on about a few other things related to her . Apparently the two had almost broken out into a scuffle when they first met up due to a misunderstanding . The way s.h.i.+n phrased it made it apparent he took the blame for that .

Abruptly, Micheal"s thoughts jarringly s.h.i.+fted tracks as he heard something that made his heart freeze .

"Wait a moment… hold on a second…" Micheal held up a hand, his eyes blazing as he looked at s.h.i.+n .

"You said Sophia wanted you to mention something to me about a… seed of darkness you saw?" His mind went straight to the only thing it could when he heard that .

The Vile King .

"Oh, yeah . " s.h.i.+n hurriedly nodded, taken aback by Micheal"s huge reaction .

"After I helped cure Head Cameron, Admiral Cardell was constantly helping guard the G.o.dfather . He never seemed to leave the man alone, not for long . At one point, I inadvertently saw something pretty odd . " s.h.i.+n went on to describe exactly what he saw, detailing how a small blip of darkness shot out from Cardell and was absorbed into Head Cameron .

s.h.i.+n hadn"t gotten a very clear or consistent view of this and had dismissed it as nothing . Still, when they talked about Sophia, it reminded him that Sophia said he should tell Micheal about that and, as a result, he remembered the occurrence .

Micheal"s heart began to pound as he heard s.h.i.+n .

Admiral Cardell was one of the elite 6 Executives of the G.o.dfather Organization . Him standing guard for the newly recovered Head Cameron wasn"t unusual at all . In fact, it was perfectly normal .

"Cardell also went on to become a super powerful S Ranker, in my timeline, renowned for his great strength and overbearing power . " A sinking suspicion filled Micheal"s gut . Pieces of the puzzle began to click into place .

"s.h.i.+n…" Micheal returned slowly, his eyes boring into his close friend,

"Where is Head Cameron now?"

. . . . . . . . . . . .

In a room several floors distant, but in the same building…

A pristine, gently decorated room could be seen . This room had a few cheerful paintings on the wall, a lush, pink bed, and a window that was covered up for privacy . The room had an obviously feminine tone to it, one of the rooms where female patients were held .

Sitting cross-legged on that lush, pink bed was a short-haired woman . She wore, just like s.h.i.+n, a set of patient gowns that one might see in a hospital . Several distinct bruises and cuts covered her visible skin, making her look almost like a victim of domestic violence .

As she sat on her bed, she was currently in the midst of meditation . A small, wooden sword rested in the palm of her hands, the center of her mental focus .

"Sophia . " A warm, calming voice broke into Sophia"s meditation, distracting her . She looked up, staring over at the entrance to her room .

A man with a large, grey beard that looked to be in his late 60s gave her a friendly, boisterous smile . The man was large, standing nearly 6 foot 5 (2 meters) in height . He had a short head of grey hair that was sharply cut, with a weathered face that practically screamed of experience and wisdom . He had a blocky, square jaw and steady looking grey eyes . His nose was prominent, but not overt, solidifying his appearance .

He currently wore a professional suit that perfectly covered his muscular figure . His back stood straight with immaculate posture and the man carried himself with a demeanor that held a tremendous amount of presence . Just looking at him made Sophia feel slightly nervous, as if she was staring at a grand, famous figure .

And, she technically was .

Head Cameron, the second strongest S Ranker in the Main Cl.u.s.ter, known to many as the G.o.dfather .

"Head Cameron . " Sophia replied demurely, nodding at the man . When she saw him, she couldn"t help but feel a trace of warmth .

The Head of the G.o.dfather Organization himself had appeared before her, not just once, but twice now . The first time was a few hours ago, after she regained consciousness from her injuries . She hadn"t actually taken any injuries that were as bad as s.h.i.+n"s, most of hers could be easily treated given a couple of days .

"How are you recovering?" The man walked up to the side of her bed, maintaining a respectful distance . His words carried genuine concern, imbued in a deep, graceful tone that instilled confidence .

"I"m doing alright . Just trying to meditate and bring back my focus . I can"t thank you all enough for the help you provided me . " She thanked the man for what felt like the hundredth time .

The fact that they were housing her and treating her, with just a few minor, non-consequential questions asked, was already well beyond her expectations . She figured it had something to do with s.h.i.+n"s existence as a Sub-Executive, but she was still grateful, nevertheless .

"Good, good . I"ve looked into your family personally and I can tell you that my men are still actively searching . I"ve put your request on high alert and will let you know when I get anything back . " Head Cameron"s smile grew grave for a moment before as he talked about her family .

Sophia"s face remained emotionless when she heard this .

The powerful leader of the G.o.dfather Organization continued,

"When you have recovered, I"ve asked Executive Riana to a.s.sist you in some training . She is a capable Ability user that has a power very similar to your Fairy Eyes, the Vast Gaze Ability . The experience and knowledge she can share should prove invaluable to your growth . " He nodded at her gently .

Sophia stared back at Cameron for a few seconds before slowly responding,

"Why are you helping me so much?" There was a gleam, deep within her eyes that couldn"t be covered up . One that was harsh and cold, ruthless . This gleam was newly born, full of brutal willpower .

She had mentally promised to never let herself fall into such a perilous situation again, no matter the cost .

"Why?" Cameron shook his head slightly, his tone carrying a hint of amus.e.m.e.nt,

"Why do you think I worked so hard to form this organization, rescued so many children, and keep trying to reunite lost families?" His gaze seemed to pierce into her very soul as he went on,

"I want to save humanity . I want our children to one day look upon a world where they can rest safely . A place of safety and tranquility . And right now, this world is far from that . " He sighed and paused for a few moments, as if in deep contemplation .

Sophia listened and watched him quietly, not offering a response .

"A few days ago, after my recovery, I had a sort of epiphany . A thought came to me that I simply could not rid myself of . " Cameron raised his right hand,

"The young talents of our race are indispensable . In the future, we will rely on those like you to ensure our survival . " He motioned at her with his raised hand,

"I"ve read the reports on you and seen the results of your talent firsthand . If you hadn"t been there, it was very likely that our newest Sub-Executive would have died . " Cameron wasn"t aware that Sophia, and ultimately Micheal, was the reason s.h.i.+n was going there in the first place, though it wouldn"t have changed his opinion much even if he did know .

"This… this is my way of giving back . A way to work towards the survival of our species . You have shown incredible talent and a good heart . That is enough for me . " Cameron"s voice was full of pa.s.sion .

"I know things are rough now, for you, and for everyone . I"ve come to think of that as a good thing . After all, without great hards.h.i.+p, humanity will never grow strong enough to defend itself . And thus, here I am . " He finished speaking, his voice resounding in the small room as he smiled warmly at her .

Sophia"s eyes were wide as she heard all of this . In her heart, a seed of genuine appreciation appeared . The harsh facade she had built up slid open a little as she cracked a small smile, the brutal gleam in her eyes fading .

After a few seconds, she replied,

"Thank you . " Her voice was quiet as she laid back in her bed, exhaustion visible on her face .

"Of course . I want nothing but the best for you, my young friend . Now get some rest and worry naught about any more enemy ambushes!" Cameron gave her one last smile as he turned around and headed for the door, leaving her with one final line,

"Nothing within these walls can escape my sight . " His words echoed off with a mysterious meaning as he turned his head down slightly, glancing off to the side .

Sophia watched him leave and then sighed, snuggling up in the covers of her bed . She withdrew her smartphone and left a message on the forum for Micheal and s.h.i.+n to read before she closed her eyes, sleep taking her .

. . . . . . . . . . . .

Some amount of time later…

In a distant skysc.r.a.per, Director Prime slammed his fist down onto a wooden table that was sitting out in front of him .

The table instantly shattered, wooden shrapnel pelting the air as the Shop-purchased edifice was obliterated . A slew of papers scattered off it, cascading into the air . Several large books flipped to the side, tumbling down to the ground with resounding thumps .

His body shook for a brief moment as he took several deep breaths .

He slowly opened the fist that he had just punched down with, revealing a cracked and broken Goldsteel Communication Bracelet .

"Failure . " His voice was cold and emotionless as he spoke aloud to himself, as if he had not just obliterated his desk in a spurt of rage .

"The path to success is paved with the miseries of failure . " As he spoke, he tapped on a Spatial Ring he wore on his right hand . Instantly, another bracelet Artifact appeared, one he promptly put on and activated .

"Twice now, I have failed those who relied upon me . " He kicked off the particles of wood that sat in his way, pulling out an entirely new desk and placing it on the ground in front of him . He then bent down and picked up the sheets of paper that had fallen aside .

He carefully stacked the papers, leaving three specific ones spread on top . Prime"s hand rested on these pages, his eyes gleaming eerily as he stared at them .

Emblazoned at the top of the pages was a largely lettered t.i.tle .

"Main Cl.u.s.ter Ranking List - Updated for July . " It was the most recent Main Cl.u.s.ter Ranking List, one that had just come out within the past day, fully updated as of a few hours ago . He"d a.s.signed Number 13, a man with several powerful "Psychic"-like Abilities, to make contact with the Seer and gather it as soon as she finished creating it .

And now, he had it opened up and had pulled out several specific pages from it .

The Seer could gather a huge amount of information in a very short time . However, much of the tidbits she gathered could only be used to help create a vague ranking . Life was not binary, just because someone was ranked higher than someone else did not mean they would automatically win in a fight .

As this thought flashed in his mind, he turned his complete focus to three specific new names that had appeared in the Main Cl.u.s.ter Ranking List .

---

"New Addition - Rank 79 - Heron"

"An elite warrior who displays incredible potential . While his stats may not be up to par with other Supreme A Rankers, this powerful fighter displays unworldly talent and possesses a mult.i.tude of powerful Abilities .

Affiliation: Unknown

"Known Abilities: Life Orb Master, Advanced Sword Mastery, Ki Cultivation - Earth Tier"
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"New Addition - Rank 196 - Sub-Executive s.h.i.+n"

"A powerful, teleporting sharpshooter that has power far exceeding normal bounds due to a unique and previously unknown synergy . "

Affiliation: The G.o.dfather Organization

"Known Abilities: Warping Phaser Type, Expand, Ki Cultivation - Mortal Tier"

---

"New Addition - Rank 217 - Demon Fairy"

"A mysterious expert that possesses extremely powerful willpower and an Ability that is the first of its kind in the First Layer .

Affiliation: Unknown

"Known Abilities: Fairy Eyes, Wind Sweeper, Ki Cultivation - Mortal Tier"

---

"There will not be a third time . "

. . . . . . . . . . . .

In a skysc.r.a.per not far from Director Prime…

"Incredible . " Garen looked at a small, cracked orb that he held in his left hand . The orb was black and contained just the slightest hint of a mystic or energy-full aura, as if it had once been a part of something grand .

He was standing in a random meeting room used for secrecy . The room had a large table and a seat of chairs, and little else .

"Simply incredible . " In his right hand, he held up a second cracked orb . A second Nest Core, not the one Micheal had given Sophia, but a new one . This one looked near identical to the first .

"And you said it not only boosted your Soul stat and a hidden "Soul Quality" stat, and potentially allowed you to exceed the Points Wall, but it also sent you a message?" He turned his attention forward to the masked warrior standing across from him .

The man wore a set of tight, black leather armor, with several dark grey stripes crisscrossing on it, and stood a couple of meters away from Number 1 .

Number 6 shrugged .

"Something like that . The message sounded like it came from the creator of the First Layer, if I had to guess . Breaking the Core was extremely difficult and required me to use my ultimate technique . " He replied hoa.r.s.ely .

"Incredible…" Garen repeated himself, turning his attention back to the cracked Nest Core .

"If we combine the Nest Feeding Program with this, we won"t need to form a large army of elites . Just a few ultrpowerful elites would be enough . A full squad of S Rankers . " Garen lowered the two Nest Cores and stored them in his Spatial Ring .

"6 . Carry a message to Number 13 for me . He should be with the group from the Purgatory Church still . " The most reliable method of communication was directly in person . Garen didn"t trust anything else, not if he wanted it to remain a secret . Director Prime was far too scary when it came to his ability to process information and ferret things out .

A few moments later, Number 6 left the room, moving with purpose, and leaving Garen behind all alone .

Garen walked over to the table in the middle of the room and sat down, leaning his legs up on it . He brought one of the Nest Cores out of it again, musing aloud,

"If a Temporary Core can do all that… what will a Permanent Nest Core give us . . ?"

. . . . . . . . . . . .

In a place that was very far from the First Layer…

A vague shadow of a man could be seen sitting alone at a campfire, in the middle of a forest . This man looked deeply into the rippling flames, not moving a muscle as time flew by .

The forest around him was the picture of quiet stillness . No birds cried, no animals roused, nothing at all shook the dim night air, lit only by the light from the man"s simmering fire .

Abruptly, the man spoke aloud .

"The pieces are all in play, Heron . " The Vile King"s voice sailed from his shadowy, hidden figure as he went on,

"It"s up to you now . I can"t afford to waste too much more of my focus on the First Layer . " A small smile could be seen, barely visible due to the man"s unclear appearance .

"Do or die, this is it, my young friend . The final act has begun . " Constantine Lancaster began to disappear, vanis.h.i.+ng from the light of the campfire,

"Do not disappoint me . "

.