Villain Retirement
chapter-1075

"They went back without me?"

If there was even a time that Aerith 2 felt completely hopeless, then it was now. She was using all of her strength, and yet the most she could do was move inches away from where she previously was she already knew of how strong Darkday was, but this was a completely different level.

She woke up a few hours ago, and although Crimson Paladin and the others were telling her of where she was, she did not believe them at all. How could she, when what they were saying seemed incredibly impossible?

She was in a world made by someone called Paige Pearson? And that if Riley did not do what he did, then she would have just ceased to exist? And even if that was the case, then why would Darkday even try to save her, his greatest nemesis?

Of course, she also had the answer to that, which is that the two of them actually have a child together which is next to impossible. She could have believed everything else, but as soon as they said that, all of them went away.

It is true that Darkday was physically attractive to her, and he was strong too and her themarian instincts were screaming at her to just make him her mate, but she wasn't like that kind of woman.

It was a good thing that she was not the only one who did not believe Darkday at all; his own sister attacked him. How could she not, after all, when they just saw Riley massacre the entire universe? Not to mention she also fought against her mother, and that unusually tall themarian that Aerith had not seen before.

Just what exactly is going on here?

"Riley!"

Aerith 2 then quickly contracted her muscles and used all of her strength as she saw Hannah once again rushing toward Riley to attack him; she was finally able to break through Riley's telekinetic barrier, but as soon as she saw Hannah hugged Riley instead of attacking him, the only thing she could do was instantly halt and raise an eyebrow.

"Why... you should have just told me everything..." Hannah then just rested her head on Riley's chest, "You've... you've been through so much. Look at you, look at your face. You look so tired."

And once again, Aerith 2 was bewildered. Hannah was just filled with rage earlier, but now she was consoling Darkday?

"Sister 2," Riley let out a small sigh as he shook his head, "You should not be feeling this way for me I have done all sorts of evil things that you can not even comprehend. What you saw me do in the trial is just the beginning."

"...And it's not your fault," Hannah shook her head, "Everything you've been through is because of... this stupid fucking fate of yours. Aren't you doing all of this to save people now?"

"No," Riley shook his head, "I did this so that the world created by Paige in the only remaining universe and the previous and original universe does not collide, leading to the deaths of people I do not want dead."

"...And that means you'll be saving everyone," Hannah 2 raised an eyebrow as she leaned away from Riley, "Dude, I just saw someone with four fucking eyes, and a woman who has snakes for legs - if you are willing to save them, you're already better than me. I just... got all emotional earlier."

"Hm..." Riley could not help but squint his eyes at Hannah 2. She... was different-no. Perhaps she wasn't different at all, but there was something different about her-it was confusing. The Hannah that Riley knows wouldn't say something like that at all, or will she?

... Riley doesn't even know his own sister anymore. Perhaps Hannah would just downright ignore and reprimand him, but perhaps the earlier one would be more caring and sympathetic to what he was doing? Is that the case?

Wouldn't that mean... that Hannah 2 cares for him more?

"Why did you not go with adoptive parents 2, Sister 2?" Riley tilted his head to the side and asked, "You would have understood the situation more."

"Fuck that. You need me here," Hannah shook her head, "And everything's so fucking weird, dude. You're the only thing that's familiar to me here. I mean... we are in the Outerverse or something? But other than this weird Black Tower, everything just looks the same... if you exclude the fucking aliens."

"I am sensing a little bigotry in you, Sister."

"What? No!" Hannah raised an eyebrow again, "Megawoman's a fucking alien, and I love her."

"Hm..." Riley glanced at Aerith 2 for a few seconds, who just stood there eternally confused as to what was happening. But after a few seconds, he turned to Angela and asked, "How long ago did Karina and Hera leave with my adoptive parents 2, Miss Angela?"

"A few hours ago," Angela answered, "...You can catch them if you want to since they are still meeting with Lord Death's group."

"Hm..." Riley placed his hand on his chin for a few seconds as he glanced at the Black Tower. He had to kill Hannah 3 on the Black Tower in order to proceed, if that was the case...

...then he did not care about the Black Tower at all for now. Whatever Paige has in store for him, it could wait, "Very well...

...let us see if our new Hera can do her duties."

***

"Mom!"

"Hannah...? I thought you would be staying-"

"Mother 2, Father 2."

Riley was able to catch up to Karina's group in no time at all. But as soon as he arrived, there was an obvious tension that suddenly sprung in the air as Bernard and Diana instantly stopped chatting with Karina when they saw Riley.

"I have expected that the two of you would quickly adapt to the situation," Riley, however, did not even seem to mind the tension at all as he just looked back and forth between Diana and Bernard, "But to think that it would be you to propose to test if Hera could actually bring the others to this reality as soon as you heard the circumstances is something I did not expect at all, Mother 2."

"Riley, can you please stop adding 2 at the end of our names?" Hannah let out a small groan, "It's... annoying as fuck."

"I suppose I could do that when there is only one version of you here," Riley shrugged, "But I can not do that when Mother 1 and Hannah 1 are here."

"What, special treatment for Dad?" Hannah raised an eyebrow.

"There is no Father 1 anymore, Sister," Riley shook his head, "He died while fighting his

Prime variant."

"Oh..." Diana glanced at Bernard as soon as she heard that before once again focusing on Riley, "...I'm sorry, sweetie. You've... you've really been through so much."

"You do not have to be sorry. Bernard 1 died in the most beautiful way, Mother - useless, but

very beautiful."

"Are... all of you really just going to go along with this?" Aerith 2, who had actually also come along with Riley and Angela, finally spoke up as she looked at Diana actually almost doting on Riley, "I know, I know I am the one who told him that he might serve a higher purpose - but look at us. We're... in a world that's dying."

"Dad didn't do this," Karina, who was also just quiet on the side also finally spoke up, "I know my Dad is evil and there's no changing that - but the fact is, my Dad didn't do this. The gods did, and they are actually all still out there. I know you want your revenge, but you won't get it and it's unfair - but for now, my dad isn't your enemy, Aunt Aerith."

"I am not your-"

"I see that all of you are going along quite well."

"!!!" And almost immediately as that voice whispered into everyone's ears, both Diana and Aerith's eyes turned red as they looked at the group, or more specifically, at the woman

leading the group that was approaching them.

"You have exceeded my expectations once again, Riley Ross."

"Who Are you... Death?" Aerith almost instinctively realized who the entity was that was

approaching them.

"I am — and you are quite a very interesting existence," Death let out a small sigh as she looked at Aerith and the rest of the people who came from the Black Tower, "I feel you, but at the same time, I do not...

... It would seem there really is a chance for the two worlds to unite, Riley Ross. And is this the Hera who was able to bring them out?"

"Uh..." Hera, who had also been quiet the entire time, also spoke up - but all she could really mutter was a breath as her eyes were locked on to one of the people that Death brought along

with her.

"Ah, yes," Death stepped to the side as she looked at the person Hera was staring at — herself, "This is your original-no. I suppose I should not say it like that, you and she are the same person, after all. We found her."

"No way..." Hera 2 blinked a couple of times as she very slowly approached Hera 1, "...Why

does your skin look so bad?"

"What-forgive me for not having the time to take care of myself," Hera 1 immediately raised an eyebrow as soon as she heard Hera 2's words, "So... you're not a variant at all, but me? And I thought this world couldn't get any more confusing. Have you seen our variant?" "Our varia-" And before Hera 2 could finish her words, she saw a slightly younger version of herself step forward beside Hera 1, "...Is this the Talia I keep hearing about?"

And while Hera 2 and Talia approached each other, Hera placed her attention on Riley and

walked toward him.

"...Sup."

"Hera," Riley quickly greeted her back.

"So, you're finally back, huh?" Hera let out a long and deep sigh, "I can't even believe I am saying this... but the world was better with you in it, literally. You bring a different kind of

chaos to this place."

"Papa!"

"Papa...?"

And all of a sudden, everyone's conversations came to a halt as they saw a small child suddenly rushing toward Riley.

"Riri, you should really start disciplining that child! He ate my-oh my, lots of new faces," Miss Pepondosovich, who was previously carrying Enel even though they were almost the same size, waved her hand and smiled at Diana and the others. The others, however, completely ignored her and just focused on Riley and the little child who jumped into his

arms.

"S...sweetie..." Diana covered her mouth as she very slowly made her way to Riley. Bernard, who had also been quiet the entire time, also followed behind her, "...Is that...

...is that my grandchild?"