Villain Retirement

"Why… did you bring us here?"

"Grandmother? That is our grandmother?"

Surprisingly, the emotionless REnna was the first to react, even placing her palm on the crystal pod as she stared at Alice's face.

"She is… very beautiful, Father."

"She is. She is also one of the most powerful beings I have ever known —- if she was alive, I am sure that the war between the gods would not have even started."

"Even stronger than you, Father?" Lucy squinted his eyes; his look slightly dubious as he looked at Alice's corpse from head to toe "Why do I not see any of her variants, then?"

"That is a fine question, Lucifer," Riley turned his head toward Karina and asked, "I am assuming Miss Dee and your grandmother's variant are still alive?"

"The last time I checked on them, they were," Karina meekly said as she too, stared at Alice's face, "Aunt Dee made sure that Alice wouldn't be involved in the war, despite her actually wanting to. But I am going to repeat my question, Dad… why did you bring us here?"

"I wanted your younger siblings to see their grandmother's corpse. "Riley took in a small breath before finally turning around and focusing on Protain and Orgain again, "And I also wanted our uninvited guests to know how lenient I have been with them living on the planet where my biological mother has been buried — a planet created by my adoptive mother. Do the two of you understand the implications of my words, Protain and Orgain?"

"You—"

Riley asked them a question, but he was not letting the two speak at all.

"That means half of this planet is mine. The other half belongs to Sister," Riley then crouched down so he could look at the two at eye level, "You and the other gods are illegal settlers, squatters; the lot of you."

"Oh…" Lucy opened his mouth as he started looking at Arthas, "...We're rich, Brother — which side of the planet are you interested in? Make sure it is near mine so we can still play around."

"That…" Arthas, who was absolutely confused with what was happening, could really only nod his head while looking around. He was just here to see his father, and yet it almost as if he found himself in some sort of play. He had been told several times that Riley could be a little… theatrical, but this was a little too much, no?

He hadn't even had a proper talk with his father, and now a lot of things have already happened — a complete contrast from his life living inside her grandmother's ship where nothing really happens…

…no wonder everyone misses his father.

"...But the gods live here," Arthas took in a small gulp; the tone of his voice, failing to contain his excitement. He could really only grab Enel from his shoulders to cover his anxiety.

"I want this land!" Enel, however, freed himself from Arthas's grasp and started running around the field of crystals, "The big giant eyes watching us are telling me they are excited for Papa to cause mayhem again!"

"Enel, do not embarrass us again with your giant eyes talk," Lucy quickly grabbed Enel before he could get far.

"Do you really think you can get away with this!? What do you mean this place is yours!? We've claimed this hundreds of years ago!"

"You did — as I said, you are squatters," Riley sighed, "My adoptive mother was kind enough to let you stay here for free, but I am afraid I value my property more and will have all of you pay your dues and rent. After all, I paid for rent in New World, it is only fair that I get something in return."

"That's right!" Lucy stood by his father's side and started pointing down at the two kneeling gods, "Tell your betters their rent is due…

…and the landlord is back."

"Disgusting," Renna's facial muscles have never moved so much as she expressed her disgust at Lucy. "Please, Lucifer. Leave the one-liners to Father. You are not as witty as you think you are."

"You are just jealous that I am the more beautiful sibling."

"Can the two of you ever be serious…?" Karina raised an eyebrow as the two once again started bickering with each other, "Dad… we should just go. I'll kill the two so they won't be able to tell the others about us."

"Aah!" Enel, who was now latching onto Riley's back, pointed at Karina, "She said the K word! I'll tell your mommy!"

"Ugh, this is—"

"Child…" Orgain then started letting out a sinister chuckle, finally interrupting the conversation that turned too casual for the dire situation they were in, "...Do you really think that the other gods do not know that you are here already? They're probably observing us right now, waiting for the right time to strike."

"Then I pity the two of you," Lucy just started laughing on his own as he once again stood beside Riley and looked down on the two gods, "The right time to strike will never come…

…because nothing is right."

"Lucifer," Renna could really only close her eyes and lament quietly, "Father, I suggest we not bring Lucifer to our next outing. But forgive me for being presumptuous and forward, but may I ask that if we truly will inherit this planet, I would have this land, where Grandmother is resting?"

"T—"

"You really think this land is yours?"

And before anyone could actually respond to Renna, an individual suddenly appeared between the kneeling Protain and Orgain; his brown skin, almost melding with the gold ornaments adorning his muscular body. The only contrast, his white long hair that flowed with the weak wind.

"And Karina Ross, the White One. I believe I do not need to remind you of the repercussions of your actions — and now you've brought people who share your likeness and intruded in our land. But this…"

The man's body faded away; turning into wind as he reappeared in front of Alice's crystal tomb.

"I have always thought this landmark was an eyesore, now I know why — you are related to it. It is like a pimple, a flaw in an otherwise already perfect land."

"I don't think you—"

"A perfect land."

And all of a sudden, a violent silence drowned the entire field as Riley spoke; his words and his breaths, now the only thing whispering and reverberating in the air. Karina seemed to want to say something, but not even a single breath could be heard escaping her lips.

And while everyone was slightly confused, Renna was the only one who reacted; facing her father and kneeling respectfully on the ground. Lucy's eyebrows lowered as he saw this, slightly snarling before also kneeling even lower than his sister.

"What you are describing is a utopia," Riley breathed out as he stood beside the man, "You do not even know where you are standing right now — you are standing on a field where hope stood and was lost completely, where the supposed future died in a single breath…

…you are standing on a painting I created. But most importantly, you vandalized a painting I still have not finished — trillions were killed, trillions that should have turned into nothing. But now, the universe is reminded of them with each step they take."

Lucy turned to look at Renna as soon, they could not hear what he was saying as he continued to speak with the three gods. But soon, however, Riley's voice resounded in each of their ears.

"My children," Riley then stretched his arms to the side as he spoke to his children, "Rennalyn, Lucifer, Enel, and Arthas — the four of you are completely unaware of what I was. And as someone whose adoptive mother hid her past and identity from me, I feel as though it is my obligation to be different for all of you."

"Dad…" Karina took in a small gulp, "...Are you going to tell them the things you've done?"

"No," Riley shook his head and sighed,

"I am going to show them."

"Gruekh…!?"

"Protain!?"

And all of a sudden, Protain's muscles started throbbing—no, her skin and flesh were almost boiling; melting but remaining intact as her body regenerated. It was as if millions of worms and ants were eating her flesh and then puking it out.

None of Riley's children could really focus on the sight, however, as Protain's screams pierced through their ears like a serrated knife hissing through metal.

"Father…?" Renna's eyebrows started to lower; quickly looking away from the horrible sight. And Riley looked at him; a gentleness lingering on his face before he approached the boiling Protain…

…before summoning a blade of light and stabbing her straight through her mouth and down her stomach.

"Gurkh," and with a final grunt, everyone watched as Protain just exploded; her flesh and blood showering everywhere.

"Prota—!!!"

Orgain screamed, only for Riley to insert a lump of Protain's flesh and guts inside his mouth.

"Close your eyes or do not," Riley whispered out as he glanced at each of his children,

"But I am about to start showing you what I am now."

"You…" Karina's eye twitched,

"...haven't even started yet?"