What truly made Legend a Calamity-level threat wasn't his power. It was widely accepted and known that the strongest entity in the universe, besides Full Monarch, would always be the Beast from Space. It wasn't through sheer power that Legend was feared. It was due to the level of energy he gave off.
Almost akin to a type of radiation, Legend's mere existence created a void. A realm that held nothing. A place at the end of time in which everything had long since been brought to ruin. This realm would expand out of his body and rapidly grow, stretching out in all directions, and just like a black hole, it would pull anything into it. Harrison Avalon had used his powers and the vast resources he had when he had been working with the Hero Branch to create a secondary realm that had gone around Legend's area of expanse. This secondary realm was the size of a city, but on the inside, it was made to be infinite, never running out, and thus, Legend's realm would expand forever, trapped in Avalon's never being able to affect the world.
That was what truly made Legend so scary, since should he get out, his realm would eventually swallow not just all of Earth, but the entire known universe.
It was through a mixing of these layered realms that the Emperor and Lucifer planned their games, hosting it in the city, as well as Legend's endless world, which they had molded and changed forcing life in the sea of ruin.
Legend was never scary because of his powers... In fact, it could even be said that despite how much of a threat he was, he might be the easiest Ruler to deal with.
This was something the Victorian was taking full advantage of as her fist rammed straight through Legend's stomach, punching a hole in him.
Legend's eyes actually flashed with pain, and his metal body twisted slightly, showing emotions. "This can't be." He spat out. Even after everything that had happened, all that he was going through it wasn't enough. He wasn't enough. He was about to lose. Worse yet, it was to Full Monarch's child! "No! I will not let this happen! I am number one!"
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"̴̧̧̨̢̛̙̮̼̫̠̳̪͙̥͎͕͍͖̱̠̫͇͍̫̯̥̱̼̠̳͕͇͎͍̥͕͍͙͔̰̞̻͌̊̔̈̇̾̈̈̃̑̓̑̓͂̈́̉͛̽̄̑̈͛̀̋̉̋̀̔̂̀͐̚͘̚͠Ä̷̢̢̧̧̢̧̨̛̰̣̼̯̪̗̫̲̺̟̳̲̼̣͙͈͎͕̺͙͈̠̲͕̙͍́͒͂͂̊̊́̆̄͋̈̌͑̀̃͐̾̇̾͒͌͗̈͆͛͐̋́̈́̆̐́͘͜͝͝͝͝͠͝͝r̷̛̛̯͔̺̮͕͇̲̟̘̠͉̬̲̬̝͓̟̖̟̰̲̳̳̭͙̼̞̱̂͊͊̈́͌̅̏̄̆̽̃̎̈́͐̈́̀̑͂̎͐́͂̔̅̒̊̌͗̀͆͂̌͛͒́͘̚͝͝ͅe̷̡̢̢͎̟̺̺͉̰̩͇̼͚̯̰͚͈̼͍̹̖̹̖̞̥̹̟͕͖̻͖̖̒̿́͌̑̾̌̇͗̆́̈̽̀̂̄͂̀̉̾͐͐̃͘͜͝ͅ ̶̨̧̡̡̫̫͎̤̦̺͎͎͈͍͖͍̗̰͔͔̥̞͕̖̘̜̝͔̤̱̣̤̐͘ÿ̴̡̢͓̬̠͉̯͓̮̤͓̺̲̤̠̹͎͖̰̖̤̭̻͓̞̈́͛̿̈́̏̾̂̓͊̈́̆̈́́͗̓̒͛͐͑̀̂̾̀͐̾̈́͗̔̀̽͋͐͊̽̀̌̈́͌̓̋̽̕͠͝͝͠o̴̡̡̢̻̠̭̬͖̥̬̜͙̥̞͈̺͕̳̥͇͑͑̐͒̇͌̽̆̐̌́̽̎̑̓́̄̉̈́̎̌̈́͊̓̊͘̚̕̚͠͝͝͝͝ư̸̡̢̢̰̗̳͈̯̫͂̈́͊̋̇̌̉̊̆̌̒̈́͗̒̈́͗̀͒̃͛̈̅͒̾͘̚͘͝ ̶̡̡̢̦̞͚͚͎̳͙͈̹̖̬̦̣̜̠̹͓̮͍̙̮̙̣͚͓̪̺̗̹̘̰̰̮̠̞̫͚̩͇̤̫̮̟̩̗̊͌̈́̉̓͐̋̓̂̔̈́̃̈͛͗̄̅̆͊͋͒̊͋̈́́̉̍̈́͐̌̓̑̉̈́̿̚͠͝͝͝͝g̶̢̢̧͍̟̲̣̼̭̗̱̰̱̲̹̼̳̝͕̫̙̑̑̌̐̋̋́͒̑̐̌̈̏͊̑̋̔͒̆̄̏͊̏̌̐̌͑͒̋̉̂̃̽͋̒̏́͘̚̕̕͜͝͝͠͠͠ǫ̵̨̛͎͙͚̤̱͇̪̰̦̣̠̫̝̜̻̙̳̺͇̙͎̝̰̘̟̎͒͑̒̈́̌̔͌̿̾̐̍̅̏̈́̂͆̓̂͐͋́̓̓͑͛̀͋͘̕̕͠͝ḯ̷̡̧̢̡̤͎̖̦͔̣̥̪̪̰̝͓̖͙̭̫̰͕͎̪̺̇̏̈̇̇̃͒͌̓͑̍̑̊̀̏͊̂͂̐̐̋̿̏̂́̕͘͜͝ͅǹ̴̨̡̛̳͙̮̤̦̪̯̰̗̝̼͖̝̼̱͙͕̠̯̯̥̺̞̝̤͔̩͔̟̤̗̲̥͇̫̮͈̹͉̃̉͋̊͛̊̈́̽̌͌͆̔̿̆̃́̽͐͐͆͛͂́̅͆͌͒͆̒̐͘͜͜͜͝͠͠ͅg̴̢̳̤̥̞̹̖͕̥͚͕̗̖̯̘͇̘̬̥͕̩̗̳̞̪̱̿̈̇͒̋̈́̄̊̅̔͂̓̕̚ͅ ̷̨̡̡̢̠̪̺̭̪̬̘͕̩̤͍̩̟̠͍̻̣̮̣̟̪̀͋̈̓̑̓̋̓̉͂̒̏̾̈̃͒̄̂́͊̈̓̓̈́̓̈͒͐̓͘͝t̴̨͚̙̞̠̖̠̪͉̥̞͍͕͕͚͉͖̱̲̪͍̓̆̋̒̍̓̊̎̓̍̆͛̄͌̀̈́͛̀̂͐̐͆̈́͆̃͛͋̈́͘͘͠͝ơ̵̡̢̢̧̡̡͓̥̠͙̫̦̮̹̭͓̥̫͔̼̝̗͖̤͕͈͓̬̠̬̰̟̭̜̫̺̝͎̰̙̻̪̖͓̝̠̤͆̆̄́͊̎͒̎̏̇̉̅̈́̐̈́̔̆̀́̿̈́͆́́̅̊͠͝͝͠ͅ ̸̢̢̛̘͖̫̖͛̽̒́̈́͑̒͒̈̄̑̉͑̈́͒̐͑́̀̾̉̇̿̾́̓̈́̓͋͋̄̑͋̽̂̾̉̒̑̂́͝ḽ̶̡̨̡̨̛̤̦̬͎̹͎̝͔̼̭̭̪̞̦̟̼̻̥͇̭̦̼̯̤͕̔̍̃̔̑̃̍̈́͆͌̆̏͘͜ơ̵̻̣̤̻̐̾̉͑͌̍͌̓̔̄͂̃̔͘͝͠͝s̷̢̧̲͈̠͚͍̑ę̷̡̣͚̯̰̲͓̠̺̥͎̬̯̫̹̝̝͙̩̠̮̟̹̘̖͗̀̈́̽͑́̈́͛̍̇̂̆̽̎͗̑̃͛͒͒̅͂̀̽͐̀̄͘͜͝͝?̷͍̪̳̘̜̩̠̙̮͕͍͓͎̘̦͕͉̞͈̥̦̭̤̮͓̥̜̭̝͉̘͛̑̒̀̍͜͝ ̴̨̬̟̘̳̹̈́̀̀͛̉̽̿̍̍͂̃͒̊͜͜͠͝͝H̷̹͇̜̳͆̒̇͆̓͐̐̈́̒̾́̔̎͋̓̃͌͐͂̄͘̕̚͝ȩ̶̨̧͉̺̝̦̲̪̦̦̙͍̤͙̫͕̦̤̜͖͇̰̗̱͕̲͙͓̜̄̅̋̇̂̂́͆̓̎̊̆͐͛̐̾̎̔̀̀̑̓͑̽̋̓̊̇͗́͌͘͘̕͠͝ŗ̴̹͍͚͎͉͓̲̻͈̙̱͕̪͈̣̞̬̤̙̪͌̀̿̆̓̇̐̀͒̔̏̈̍͛́̏̈̀͜͠͠͝͠e̵̡̛̪̪͎̮̭͛̍̋̅̿̏̚.̸̢̠͔͔̭͙̩̟̫͉̱̺̱̻͇̱̩͍̺̜͚̣͓͗̋ͅ.̷̨̡̢̰̲͉̜͕͙̞͑̈̾̎̑̇̔̔̈͊̆̈́͊͒͒̅̈́̒̀̀̄͝͠.̵͉͓͖͉̯̦͈͍̻͎̃͒͋͑̓ ̵̡̛͈͇̖̙̩̯̜̯̫̪͔̝͉̙͓͍̓̓͊̀͂́̈́̍̈́́̀͛̇͑̌͂̽̔̃͋͛̇̔̇̾̽̚͠L̶̨̢̲̹̝̱̟͓̬̈́̀͐͜e̵̛̛̛̙̦̜͗̾̉̀̒̄̇̓͂̔̈̀̍͊̓͊͛̋̋̈́̀̅̌͊͒̊̔̇̇̈́͒̃̄̆̒̊͋̕̕͘͜͝͝͝͝͠ţ̷̧͕̳̠͙̦̦̳̻̰̪̭̗̬̰̲͉̫̙̖̹̥͆̈̃̈́̐̈́ ̴̡̢̢̨̧̨̜̯̺̥͈̞̱̣̳͍̮̯̳̣̺̩͉͗̈́̅́̓̔̉̑̈́́̃̓̋̈́̇͆̈́͑̏͐͛̓̀̏̓̾̃́̆̚̚͜͜͜͝͝͠ͅm̶̱͍̟͎͙͕̹̥̺͍̦͚̯̼͒̉͊̓͂̈̑̍̌̃̔͝͝ë̴̢̨̧̛͕̮̖̰̫͔̤͚̲̘͔̖̭͚͍̩͚͖̗̼̙̺̭̱̱̜́͒̆̈̈̈́̈̓̒̑̀̏̊̏͐̄̿̀̿̑͘͝͝͝ͅ ̵̛͓͍̭̬̱̲̿̈́̅̆̊̃͝͠h̶̨̨̩͖̰̪̱̗̼̆̉̂̑̑̌̈́̎̒̍͗͆̑̋̃̾͛̊̎̆̋́͛͛̍͒̾͘̕̕͝͠͝e̶̢̨̛͉͈͕̬͉̭͙̣̤̜͙̫̦̘̦̥͔̖̪͍̲̣̪͎̐̅̂́̒̀̀̓͛̋͛̉͑́̐̈́̉͌͛́͂̀͛͒̆̀̈́̈́̽̒̄̐̉̉̀̈́̍̊͘̚͝ḻ̵̡̢̧̨̛̛̛̻͎̳͇̺̤̠̮͖̜̤̺̺̜̤͎͓͖̖̙̫̟̙̭̯̻͈̲̥̻̯͓̲͕̯͔́̎̔̀̀̀̏͐̽̒͒̏̿̊͋͋̈́̀̎̔̋̒̾͂͒͐́͌̉̚͘̚͘͘̚͜͜͜͝͝ͅͅͅͅp̴̧̧̛̼̜̜̳̦̺͎̻͔̗̭̥͇̹͓͓̀̊̈̈́̌́͊̆̅̒̎̃̓̂̊̃̓̎̉͐̈́̀̆̑͘͘̕͜͝͝ ̵̛̛͚̠̜̫̘͚̙͇̻̦̟̓͛̏͑́̿̾̎̃͒͋̅͌̌̔̇́͆́̎̌́͘̚͠͝͝ỷ̷̨̨̛̛̛̜̙͓̮͇̻͉̝̗̱̥͚̜͖̱͕̮̫͚͖̤̦͖͉̰̗͓͉̮͙́͛͆͐̊̇̽̾̆̌̈́̿̄̑̈́̈́͛̀̈̀͛̑̅͂͂͋̆͒̍̏̑̈͒̃͛͐̈̚̕͝͠͠͝ͅo̵̢̥̼̙̼͌͆̌̌̄͒̑̈́̓̂̈̽̀͗͗̉̋͐̒̎͒͆͛̈́̓̾͝ų̵̛͈̙͕͙̮͇̗̖̭̟̯̩̰͚͕̤̤͈̬̱͇̞̖̬͉͓̖͚͎͙̩̋̓͗̔͑̄̉̂́̃̂͑̔̓͛̾͌͒͊͂͑̄̏̓͠͝͝.̴̨̧̖̳̜͙̻̫̤̝̻̜͙̥̜̩̈́͂̇͐̽̍̇͊̎͒̋͋̾͒̎́́̍̃̏̑̀̉̇̾̽͑̄̓͗̋̈̍̉̅͐̓̀̓̈́́͐̀̈́̕̚͜͠͝͝͠"̶̢̡̨͓̪̦̘̗̪̥̠̙̣̙͙̳̞͓̤̲̫͍͎̼͍͍̣̣̻͙̟̏̅͊̐͊̈́̽̑̈́̏́̀̽̈́̃́͊̑̀̿̏̔͒͊̊̃̏͛̕̕̚͝͝͠
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'Full Monarch saved another city.'
'Full Monarch beat the clone of Golark.'
'Full Monarch managed to expand the ocean and get it cleaned up.'
'Full Monarch fought off the Beast again.'
'Full Monarch stopped the sun from collapsing and ensured it'll keep burning for a few million years.'
'That Emperor fellow seems tough, but we all know Full Monarch will beat him!'
'Full Monarch saved the day.'
'Full Monarch is the best.'
'Full Monarch is number one.'
Full Monarch this, Full Monarch that. No matter where he went, no matter what he did, it seemed that was all that he heard. Over and over. On repeat. Again and again.
He didn't know that he could feel pain. Ever since he had changed, it had stopped. Yet now, in the moment, it came back in full force as the Victorian's fist rammed through his gut. Legend coughed, his metal lips spitting up a wave of black liquid. His eyes narrowed as he stared into the glaring face of the number one hero. The Victorian was wrapped in a literal galaxy that formed her dress, and she twisted her arm, ripping it out of him. With his remaining hand, he attempted to cover the gaping hole that was now in him and sent his clones rocketing toward her. They struck out, but their fists simply exploded on the woman's body as she looked back at him unimpressed.
"To think you're so heartless that you would actually strike someone that looks like your own father." Legend sneered slightly.
The Victorian cocked her head and casually walked past Legend, not even bothering to look at him. "You might look like my dad, but you're not actually him. Don't even try to play that card." The woman reached Cinder and grabbed the other girl.
"Uh, what are you doing!" Cinder asked in a panic.
"Hey, Paragon!" The Victorian smirked and threw Cinder. "Fix her up!"
Paragon groaned, her beaten-up body made all the worse as Cinder rammed into her. "S- Sorry," Cinder grunted.
"Why is she the woman you look up to the most!" Paragon said, a little salty.
"She's hot."
"Damn it, Hope..." Paragon grumbled and began to heal the other girl as fast as she could.
The Victorian turned back to the wounded Legend and folded her arms. More of the clones tried to attack her, but they couldn't get her to budge. Not anymore. Some attempted to go after the others, but in this new state, she could actually see them, and she casually blasted them apart with air pockets launched at high speeds before they could reach anyone important. "So, do you just want to give up, or-" Legend launched forward and rammed his fist directly into the Victorian's face as hard as he could. Her head twisted back a bit, but other than that, she didn't move an inch. Her eyes stayed locked onto him, and she flashed a smile. "Sweet. You want to do this the hard way."
Legend was sent blasting back as her fist connected with his side, ripping part of it off. He rammed through dozens of buildings and rolled across the ground in a heap.
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"̵̧̨̛͓̩̤̖͇̪̳̹̼̬͈̟̼͕͇͚̻̗̲͎͌̆̋̏̑̅̊͋͗̆̓́̏̇͂̈́̅̄̇̔̀̓͘͘̕͝͝I̷̧̧̢̧̼̮̝̭̞̤̙̙̲͚̳̝͕̯̰̲̺͎̓́̎̾̑̉̿̑͒̉̋̒͝͝ͅs̸̺͇̳̺̮͇̤͉̹̺͓͓͇̭̪͖̒̆̉ͅ ̸̨̨̹̼̮͚̙̯̰̞̪̬̫̻͚͕̤͉̪̭̈́͑̇̿͋̈́̀̇̃͠͠ͅi̵̳͒ţ̸̢̡̞͙̰̞͍̮̘̻͎͔̱͕͇͉̗͓̙̾̓̄̎̀̽̔̍̾͑͘͘͠ ̸̧̢̢̱̘̦̪̬̦̗͍͔̥̩̦͎̲̟̦̥̮̝͎̭̘͒̋́͝͝͠͝ͅs̴̘̯̿̀̂͐͒̄̈́̋̒̕͠t̵̢̢̛̰̜̻͍̠̼̹͖̜̿i̵͓̎̈́̍͌̀̍̂͛̓̐͛͑̄͑̉͝l̷̛̻̬̹̩̪̤̍͜l̶̡̧̢̖̪̙͍͔̙̼̪̙̟̥̝͊̾ ̵̣̱̞̖̻̐̉̀̈́̈́̂̎̃̋̀̌̍̋͆͠͠n̷̺̦̩̲̍̓̿͊̔̓̑̽͆́͋̔̇̏̅̓̌̌̑̈́̿̔̚͘͝͝͠͠ȏ̶̢̡̩͉̗̺̰͇̭̣̭̬͕͍̙̹̦̯̮̊̚ͅț̷̢̞̪̺̦̯͔̰̺̩̜̞̜͙̱̟̭͉̜̬̰̆̍̽͛̔̍͗͛͂̈́̐̆̋̍͊̈̿͆̇̌̔̽̚̚͜ ̶̧̧̡̡̤̙̟͖͈̩̭̹͈̦̹͖̦͍͚͙̖̭̱̠̺̩̈̾̐̿̾̓ē̸̡̖͖͈̤̥̘̩̯̠̭̪̖͚͔̘͕͕̺͎͔̱͚͚͙̜̯̤̋̓̔͗̋̒̑͗͋̅͐͊̅͋͗͊͛̄̓̄̚̕͝n̶̨̨̛̫͙̙̞̗̬͈͚̭̫̟̝̽̀͆̂̒̐̍̽̀͋̀͜͜ó̷̻̭̪͎̰̦̥̹͔̪͘u̷̬̬̩̖̪̲̼̱̖͆̽́͝͝ͅg̸̡̡̟̦̙̖̞̗̺̣̫͚͉̬͕͍̜͕̲̞̫̺͖͈͂͛̓̈́̈̉̈̆̔͂̅̌̒̆̚͝͝ͅh̷̨͉͓̼̬̺͖̞͇̝̜̙̟̰͎̲̹͔̬̯̘͗̈́͂̐̍̀͆͆̋̈́̂͌́ͅ?̸̛̩̯̻̩̱͔̫̗̇̐̏͒̔͘͝"̵̨̢͍̖̭̝͍̻̩̩͈̳͙͙̤̫̟́͊͛̎̒̌͂̚ͅ
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'It's Full Monarch! He's here! We're safe!'
'Full Monarch will beat the threat for sure!'
'Full Monarch! We love you!'
'Out of everyone in this universe, without a doubt, Full Monarch is the strongest being.'
'You are number one, Full Monarch! You, and only you, stand at the top!'
Legend felt his teeth grind together, sparks flicking out from between metal lips. He didn't know why he was starting to remember all those damn phrases said about Full Monarch, but it was seriously starting to piss him off. He thought just like with pain, his emotions had faded. They had certainly been gone for the past three years, yet now, all of a sudden, he found himself forced to recall everything that was said, his thoughts flowing over his brain like liquid lava or something. With some effort, he picked himself up and glared up at the number one hero who floated above him in the air.
She was almost as bad as her father.
"It's kind of funny that you look like this." The Victorian folded her arms and floated down, her stern look growing. "You know, at first I thought I'd have some qualms about fighting a guy who was previously on my team, but now that we're actually doing this, I feel nothing for you. Looking back at it, you were always a horrible person in a way."
"I am number one!" Legend hissed. The villain launched forward, and his clones swirled around him and began to cloak over him, forming a new golden arm that he used to punch the Victorian. Her galaxy dress cracked a bit, and she actually gasped as the fist hit her. He then used his other arm and slammed it directly into her chin, blasting her into the air. "Die, die, die, die, die!" An orb of energy formed between his hands, which he blasted out, but the number one hero swirled out of the way of it at the last second. "Why won't any of you just die? Where was this effort to win when we needed it most!"
"You should know better than anyone that heroes don't give up easily!" The Victorian declared and blasted forward as fast as she could. She flew past Legend and grabbed onto his long hair. It cut into her hand a bit, splitting past the galaxy dress, but she ignored it and began to fly up, getting higher and higher. "It's our job to keep fighting! To push forward no matter what happens! I'm sorry for what happened to you! I truly am, but I'm not going to let you hurt anyone else. As someone who was once on your team and worked under you, I'll be the one to put you down and save your sons the trouble!" She swung her fist up and let go, sending Legend rocketing past the clouds and into the space of the realm they were fighting in.
"Don't speak as if we were close!" Legend spat out. Despite being in space, the two of them had long since passed the realm of normalcy and so could speak unhindered. "After Full Monarch's death, I got to rule for only a bit before you swooped in and stole it from me."
"Stole it from you?" The Victorian's nose wrinkled a bit. "I beat you fair and square?"
"Lies!" He didn't know why, but it was finally all pouring out of him. At first he had only been able to say a few things here and there, but now the pain, the hate, and all of his rage came to the surface like a sun going supernova. No matter how hard he tried to fight it, he just kept thinking about the number one hero. The real one.
"What do you mean lies!" The woman huffed.
He remembered every detail about Full Monarch. The way the man walked, the way he held himself, the way he fought. He recalled the way Full Monarch looked, the power he held, the way he spoke, and that look in his eyes.
All of it pissed him off.
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"̶̛͈͍̺́̈͊͗͝A̷̛̰͚̫̯̫̞̫̦͒̇͑̈̄͊͜͝l̶̹̾̚͝m̵̨͔̳̦̪̬̦͓̲̜̮̌̇͝͝o̷̟̼͇͓̜̜̜̪̊̃̒̏̊̏̒͌̊͌͜͝s̴̡̜̤̘̬̞͔̋̓̀̌́͠ͅț̷͙̠̇͊̉̿̐̀̑͂̒.̵̼̫͙͓̮̥̹͇͛͐̈̂͋̚ͅ.̸̡̛͍͚̙̝͔̘̪͚̫̽͋̑̕.̴̡͙̖͇͙̮͒̉̓̆̏͘"̸̻̖͙͋͗́̋͋͊̐͂͂͌͛̈́̔̕͠͝
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'Full Monarch is going to make sure the Emperor stays dead for good.'
'Full Monarch is the hero that defeated Lucifer.'
'Wow Legend, you're so lucky always getting to be around Full Monarch all day.'
'Full Monarch can do anything he sets his mind to!'
'What would we do without Full Monarch?'
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"̷̲̖͋̆͜͝A̶̺̗͈̲̮̞̾̐̽̓̃l̸͕̜̍̍͛̓͝͠m̵̜͎̝̌͊o̴̝̗̞̜̪̾́̂̋̾ṣ̵͚̈́͌̎̓̚ͅṯ̷̗͈͋͒̂.̴̧̻̭̪̤̩̐̇̈́͗.̷̳̗̥̗̟̈́.̷̩͉̣̹̈̍̄̀͊͝"̴̖͇̗̽̈́
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"I am number one! Die!" Legend opened his arms out as far as they would go and began to unleash a wave of energy that blasted out in all directions. "Go and join your father in hell!"
The Victorian cursed and began to dodge and weave through the orbs of energy. "You know, you really do look a lot like the statue of my father that is hanging up in the Enforcer tower."
"Shut up!"
"It's kind of funny since everyone knows how much you hated him." The woman dodged out of the way of more of the orbs and smirked slightly. "You always grumbled about him, and anyone with enhanced senses could hear the things you were saying. Of course, Dad heard them as well, yet never said anything. After his death, you were one of the only heroes who hadn't shown up at his funeral. I would have beaten your ass back then, but you were a seriously good hero. Shame you're such a shit father."
"Shut up!" Legend yelled again.
The Victorian decided to keep talking. "I heard about some of the things you did to your kids. Always pushing them further and further. You screwed Fable's body up. He's barely human now. All because you were mad that you were never able to reach number one. You must hate how you look now, huh?" She zipped over to the man and struck out as hard as she could, no longer having to worry about holding back since she was in space. Her blow instantly tore a chunk of Legend's body clean off. "You hated my dad, resented him every step of the way, all because he was something you're not? I think it's kind of funny that you look like him now. You're a walking monument to everything he was. My dad died protecting our world. That statue is something that he would view with honor, and for you to look like that really is fitting." The woman's smirk grew, and she wound up her fist and struck out, ramming it into Legend.
His eyes rolled back, and he was sent rocketing off into space.
*
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"̸̮̹͉͐̈́͌A̷͕̓̎́l̷̦͙̰̃̐̿m̷̲͛̀o̸̟͒͂́s̶͇̋̍t̶͕̰̀͆.̴̣͛̽͘.̵̱͛͜͝.̸̺͙͂̋̀"̷̥̗͝
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'Hey, Legend, did you hear Full Monarch stopped the moon from flying off into space?'
'Hey, Legend, why weren't you there at the Beast fight? Don't tell me you got scared and let Full Monarch do it all.'
'Hey, Legend, what's it like fighting alongside Full Monarch?'
"Hey, Legend, do you know where Full Monarch is?'
'Hey, Legend, I know you're strong, but you're not as strong as Full Monarch. Do you think you could have him come instead?'
It just wasn't fair.
He was born as a member of the Thaddeus clan. They were a long, ancient clan, one of the few remaining human groups that could trace their line all the way back to the old world before powers existed. Most of his clan lacked powers and instead served as scholars. Those few who were blessed with superpowers, however, got to live a truly glorious life, taking on the forms and abilities from stories, myths, fables, and even legends. All of which came from the old world. His own powers had been based off of a concept known as Greece. He would take on the form of deities from this strange concept, and in any other world, it would have been enough to carry him all the way to the top. Not in this world, though. Because he was born in a world that had Full Monarch.
Even with the power of literal gods from a planet that no longer existed, he wasn't able to match the power of Full Monarch. Full Monarch was simply too strong... Even now, in the state he was in, he knew that he wouldn't be a match for Full Monarch. He had evolved and gained a new body and new powers. Instead of Gods, he used the power of beings beyond them, wielding the forces of time through an entity known as Kronos, but that still wouldn't be enough to even get him close to a fraction of a fraction of Full Monarch's true strength. If the current him didn't stand a chance, then the old him certainly didn't either.
Perhaps it was there that it stemmed from. A darkness had woken up. One that wasn't going to go back to sleep. He wasn't quite sure when it had started, but one day, Legend found himself being watched. He could feel it. It was a strange sensation that had started in the back of his stomach. An endless pit of despair. One that would swallow him whole. Later that same day, Legend had died. It was upon his death, though, that he had finally woken up. Something had called out to him. This thing that had set his eyes on him had demanded he rise.
He became the Ruler of Ash and Ruin. That was the start of his downfall.
In the old days, his clan was tasked with watching over the spot where Lucifer had died. It was his job specifically to monitor and ensure the villain never came back. He didn't do that, though. He had better things to do than watch over some gravesite, after all. Thanks to this new power, he thought he could rise up and even surpass Full Monarch. After all, not only did he now have the power of gods, but he also had the power to come back from the dead, and each time he did, he could feel himself grow. A powerful swell of energy that would rise and twist and expand.
It had a price, though.
His memories. His emotions also. Each time he would die, something would be taken from him. A memory of the past and a bit of ability to feel. It was slow at first, and he was strong enough where he didn't die often. As his need to improve grew, so did his hunger, and he began to get reckless. He thought he could save more people than Full Monarch but drove himself to death trying. He thought he could take out more villains than Full Monarch but got torn to shreds for trying. He thought he could save the planet better than Full Monarch but was crushed out in space.
Again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and-
It was a cycle. One in which he seemingly had no hope of escaping. He would die, then come back stronger, and try to grow more, only to fail to keep up with the Lord of the Sun and Cosmos, and so in turn he would simply die again. His jealousy grew and soon turned to malice, which soon turned to despair.
That all changed on Full Monarch's death, though. By some miracle, the pain in his side had died, and unlike him, Full Monarch couldn't come back. That proved he was the better. He was alive and Full Monarch was dead. While the world mourned, he celebrated. He knew it wouldn't last for long, though, and so he set out and did one thing before he truly enjoyed himself as the number one hero. He used Sini's old tech and discovered where the next Lord of the Sun and Cosmos was, and he threw the pod deep into the ocean, hoping it would sink and never come back. It'd be better if there were no more Lords, but not even he could do that, so instead, he settled to ensure that the next Full Monarch wouldn't appear anytime soon. Little did he know, the bastard Alien had chosen the ocean to sleep in and had caused the pod to be blasted up where it floated on the surface of the ocean, being found a few hours later by a small little fishing boat...
When he heard about this, he had been angry and thought about simply killing the Lord of the Sun and Cosmos while she was still a baby but decided against it. Not even he was that big of a monster, after all. Instead he used more of Sini's tech and created a device. A pair of glasses that could hold and hinder power, and he used allies to give these glasses to the father of this new child, a man named Alexander Lauren, so he could ensure that the Lord didn't awaken her powers anytime soon. Perhaps in the future, he could even use her as a girl to his advantage. Marry her off to one of his sons or something.
Things were finally starting to go his way. He had ensured the next Full Monarch wouldn't arise for several years. Full Monarch was dead, and the world all now turned to him and viewed him as their new leader. He was finally number one!
Then, it all got taken away from him...
The Victorian. Full Monarch's precious little girl. His fake daughter. He had written her out. Assumed she wouldn't be anything he needed to worry about, all because she was just some worthless villain. In fact, he had even been planning on fighting her and killing her in combat and blaming it all on her when he got the chance, but it was all ruined when she instead took up the mantle of a hero! She wore her father's old costume and challenged him in broad daylight to a fight.
He lost.
He lost badly...
He lost so badly that everyone mocked him.
He wasn't number one. He had never been number one. Not in a world with people like her. He would never be number one. Out of rage and anger, this led him to take out the abuse on his two kids. If Legend was a hero whom the world would mock and belittle, then he'd just have to get his revenge by molding Myth and Fable into the perfect little soldiers. Sadly, it never worked out. Fable had some potential, but Myth was as worthless as it came.
Then the Beast happened...
He died. He died hundreds, maybe even thousands of times in his fight with the Beast, and it all tore away what little humanity he had left. He was twisted and broken, and by the end of it, he was reduced to a shell. One begging for death to make the pain stop. His son delivered. Myth killed him, and that night, Legend truly died.
That was why he was so baffled about how he was back. With each second that ticked, his mind cleared, and his emotions and pain came flooding back. He was truly back, and that only made him more angry. He had been sealed in this realm for years, and now, when he wakes up, not only are all the Lords still running around, but Full Monarch's daughter is still alive.
Legend drifted through space, and his eyes narrowed. "I won't let this stand. I won't let this be how it ends."
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"̸C̸a̸n̸.̵ ̷Y̵o̵u̵.̶ ̶H̵e̸a̸r̵.̵ ̴M̸e̵?̷"̶
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"I will kill her!"
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"̶O̸h̵.̴ ̵G̵o̸o̵d̷.̷"̷
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"I'll kill them all!"
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"̵R̶i̶s̸e̸.̸"̴
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"This entire world which has harmed me! All of it will go!"
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"̸M̸y̸ ̵a̷s̴h̶.̶ ̴M̶y̸ ̷R̴u̷i̴n̷.̶"̸
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'My Legend.'
"Ash and Ruin! I will shatter this entire universe!" Legend roared and opened his mouth, charging up a wave of energy out of it. Before he could unleash his blast, however, a fist rammed through his skull, going through his lower jaw and out the back of his head.
The Victorian stared at the man coldly. "That's enough out of you." She raised her hand up and ripped his head clean off. "Jack survived as just a head." She stared down at it, digging her fingers into the metal. "I'm sure you're the same."
"Quit mocking me!" Legend's head spoke despite the fact it was nothing more than the top half. His body vanished and reappeared in front of the Victorian and grabbed her by the face. He began to squeeze down, and his eyes ignited as he blasted out a wave of intense energy directly up at her, still being held by the number one hero. "Again, and again, and again! You mock me, but I am above you! I am number one!" He screamed out. "Me! Not him! I worked hard! Harder than anyone! It's not fair! Why did he get that title? All because he was born special! You're no better than he was! You didn't earn any of your power! None of you did! I'm the only one who earned it! Do you know what happened to me! What I became! I was twisted and changed! Again and again, with every death, pieces of myself were chipped away and broken! I lost my emotions; I lost my memories! I can only remember bits and pieces, and they all go back to that fucking man! It's all Full Monarch's fault! He's the reason this all happened! If he had never been born, the world would be better off! I would have been able to take my rightful place as number one! Instead, though, I'm forced to live in a realm where he existed! A universe created to mock and belittle me every chance it gets! And just when I thought I caught a break! Just when that bastard died and left our world for good, I was then overthrown from my rightful place by you! You're just some bitch who happened to come from his sperm, yet because of that, you're stronger than me? And now look at me! Look at what I've become! Look at the realm that I created! It's all nothing! I don't even get to properly do anything! Not like the other Rulers! Because this universe is still putting me down! Again, and again, and again! Over and over and over! I am the Ruler of Ash and Ruin, yet the only one who has ever been ruined and reduced to ash is me! Just me! Only I have suffered! I am the only one who has a right to be angry! I am number one! I am the universe's number one hated being! You should all worship me! Pity me! Cry for me! Rejoice for me! I alone deserve it! Why me? Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why-"
'Full Monarch is better than you.'
'Full Monarch is smarter than you.'
'Full Monarch is stronger than you.'
'Full Monarch is happier than you.'
'Full Monarch is number one.'
Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch, Full Monarch-
Legend's energy began to die, and as it cleared, the Victorian remained standing, her body littered with cracks, her form starting to crumble, but she still wasn't done. "Oh, I get it." She squeezed down and popped Legend's head. "You're still just a fake hiding behind my father. This body isn't even really you."
Legend tried to teleport away, but she grabbed him and dug her fingers into the metal and rocketed down. In an instant, the two of them appeared back in the fake city, and she slammed him down and began to tear his chest open.
"You know what, though, since you want to whine and cry about how mean the world is to you, let's get a few facts straight." Legend's chest was peeled open. "You claim it's not fair my dad is so strong because he was born special? How pathetic can you be? You're literally the same kind of special he is, Mister Ruler! Oh, but you have it so hard because every time you die, you lose part of yourself. Maybe try not fucking dying, dumbass? And don't even try to play the victim! I know a guy who has died a whole lot, and yet he managed to keep his sanity. Well... mostly? The point is, he might be a jerk, but he's not a dick like you! And seriously, having the balls to actually cry that you're the only one who has it hard when there are three other guys out there who have all died way more than you? You're not number one, not because you're weak, which, by the way, you are; you're not even top ten, you useless piece of garbage; no, you're not number one because you're a whiny jackass that can't see past his own ego and doesn't even try to pretend to be a good human being! And how dare you blame any of that on my father!"
The Victorian huffed and puffed, her dress fully breaking apart as the cracks expanded. When it was all said and done, the other heroes had managed to stand back up and stood around her as she finished ripping the last bit of Legend's body up, revealing his true form.
For real this time...
"And behold." The Victorian grunted. "I take it back; this form suits you a lot better, Legend."
Sobbing came from the scrap of metal that was once Legend's body. Where its heart was, curled up in a ball, was a small shape that almost looked like a baby, yet it was covered in wrinkles, and its flesh practically hung off its body. It was both ancient and a newborn at the same time. It was hairless and sobbed loudly, and a strange clock-like necklace wrapped entirely around it. This was Legend's true form. In the end, he really was just a baby.
"Dad..." Myth made a face as he stared down at the Ruler of Ash and Ruin, but he was unable to look anymore and turned away. He wasn't the only one. Fable looked sick.
The Victorian wiped some blood away from her face and grunted. "He was just controlling a suit or something."
"Layers upon layers." Cinder sighed and shook her head.
The number one hero finished standing up and shook her head. "I thought he was strong, but I guess he couldn't live up to the expectation. He ruined himself, chasing after a goal that wasn't possible. Instead of staying on the path, though, and accepting it'd be impossible to reach the end he wanted, he destroyed himself. If we kill him, he'll just come back, and that will likely bring his suits back as well. We should contain him while he's like this."
"Why did hurting his suits hurt him?" Paragon asked. She was the only hero who wasn't healed; her body was still banged up, but most of her wounds faded and mended as the Victorian used her golden light.
"Who knows? These Ruler guys are weird." Money Tree sighed and kicked part of the suit. "I miss the old days when we were fighting Green Wolf and Polaron."
"Oh yeah, did you know Green Wolf is a chick now?" Metal Ronin asked.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah!"
Phoenix made a face and looked at the group. "You guys are all totally weird."
Legend's crying grew louder, and his weak arms attempted to wrap around the clock he held. It was thanks to his power that all of this had been able to happen. The Emperor and Lucifer had come to him and practically begged for his help. Thanks to his new powers and his new ability to become Kronos, he could mess with time to an extent. That was how he made his clones, grabbing versions from the timestream and layering them over this world. It was also how he did his teleport, simply moving himself through time to a point he had already been. It had one more power, though...
A gray light blasted out of his clock.
The Victorian instantly went on the defensive and formed a powerful barrier around her and everyone else, but the attack didn't head toward any of them. Instead, it flew high into the air and rammed into the sky above. In a flash everything became dark as it suddenly turned night. Then the sky was blue as it became day. Then it went back to black, then back to blue. Over and over it flashed, for about six times before it stopped.
His power let him fast forward the world's time. That was how they were able to create an entire society so easily.
The Victorian frowned and raised an eyebrow. "What did he just do-"
Red suddenly splashed onto the ground, and everyone turned just in time to see a gauntlet stab through the number one hero's chest. The Victorian's eyes went wide, and she found herself looking into the fiery red eyes of the Emperor, who stood before her. He wasn't alone, either.
Everyone's blood ran cold as a shadow appeared above them. Golden God floated in the air, his hand outstretched, and on each finger, five people stood.
Uriel, Gabriel, Michael, Metatron, and finally, Lucifer.
Legend had just fast-forwarded the world by one week. In other words, the time limit was up. The Murder Games had just truly begun.