Villain Retirement

"Dad, I think this is enough."

Karina was the only one who could really move amongst Riley's children: her eyes, moving across her siblings and observing each of their expressions. She was focusing more on Enel, as he was the likely candidate to be Nothing.

…Or if any of them was Nothing in the first place.

What Renna said to her got her thinking about whether or not Aerith'Ross was actually credible; she always thought she was, after all. She suddenly arrived 16 years ago, bringing along a so-called future version of Paige Pearson while Aerith was giving birth.

Of course, everyone was doubtful at first — but when she gave details about the circumstances of Arthas's birth, about him being an anomaly; since themarians can only give birth once every thousand years, and what he would look like as a newborn, she and the others slowly started to believe her. There was also the fact that she looked like Aerith, but with the features of Riley.

But… what if she truly wasn't from the future? The information they have about her points to her telling the truth, and it is also more likely for her to truly be from the future… but just what if she wasn't?

Wouldn't that even be scarier?

And what would she even gain from telling her that one of her siblings was Nothing, an existence before Creation itself? But still, doubting or not, Karina would not really lose anything by observing Enel and the others; although she slightly feels bad now that she was starting to bond with them.

And so, once again, Karina found herself observing Enel, only for her to see that he was burying his face on Riley's back; completely scared of what was happening in front of him, of the blood and screams.

Of course, he would look away — who wouldn't? Riley was now forcefully feeding Orgain with Protain's blood, guts, and flesh that was scattered everywhere when Riley caused her to explode. And that wasn't all — gods do not die that easily.

The reason Orgain was screaming… is because Protain was regenerating inside of him; his stomach, bulging as the shape of Protain's hand could be seen protruding from it.

No. In the first place, it was hard to discern who was actually screaming, Orgain… or Protain, who was inside his stomach.

Karina then turned her head to Renna — and although she was the one who was most similar to Riley with the way she acts; her emotionless face was now completely red as her tears dropped straight down her feet as she was looking at the ground.

Arthas, although the biggest of them all, was also looking to the side while his hands were rolled into fists. As for Lucy, although he was glancing at what was happening, he was still looking away with a complicated expression on his face.

None of them were really reacting in the way Karina was expecting them to. She was even expecting that someone wouldn't react at all, but all of them were clearly uncomfortable — the only one that wasn't showing signs of discomfort with the brutal and violent situation was Riley…

…and herself.

But of course, Karina has already lived in a world filled with violence for centuries. She…

…she was used to this. That… that was the only reason.

Karina once again turned to look at her siblings, and as soon as she saw Renna's legs starting to tremble, she could no longer help herself and screamed,

"Dad…" Karina gritted her teeth as she pointed her palm at the wailing god, "...That's enough!"

And with her scream, Orgain just instantly withered away; not even a speck of atom left to even regenerate.

"I think they got your point already, Dad," Karina then said as she quickly stood in front of Riley as soon as he turned to the newly arrived god, whose eyes were already fully turned wide after witnessing his fellow gods be tortured in the most humiliating way possible before just disappearing out of existence,

"You don't need to show them anything anymore, they've got it. Congratulations, you just gifted my siblings a lifetime of trauma."

"But I am just starting, Karina," Riley tilted his head to the side to look at the brown-skinned god, "I assume this is not enough for them to know how needlessly violent I was back then."

"There are better ways to show them, or better yet, just tell them! I'll tell them if that's what you want!" Karina waved her hands, "Torturing and killing Low-Level gods is not the way to do this!"

"Low-level gods," Riley placed his hand on his chin as he tilted his head even further to look at the Brown-skinned god, "I suppose that makes sense. I was not expecting them to be as strong as Mr. Kravos or the combatants of the topmost floor of Grandarena City, but I knew they were too weak. Is this Wind God also Low-level?"

"Yes," Karina nodded, "There's… no need for you to bully them."

"Then even more so that I should torture him," Riley turned to look at Renna and the others, "I used to hurt and kill powerless people because I enjoyed it — I have probably killed a trillion; completely innocent or not. I might have also probably killed variants of your mothers, Rennalyn and Lucifer. I have killed children the same age as Enel, and even pregnant women…

…the villains you have sworn to defeat — I am the worst one."

"Father…" Renna could really only look at Riley, "...That is not true, it can't be. You're Zero Paragon — the one who revived the Age of Heroes. And I haven't heard or read of a villain like that before the Blink happened. The biggest villain the universe had was King the Conqueror. That…"

Renna's stoic voice slightly faltered as she saw the look of utter regret on Karina's face.

"...Big sister Karina?"

"The… information was buried."

"I do not believe you," Renna's eyebrows very slightly lowered, "I do not believe you!"

"It—"

And before Karina could even say anything else, the space beneath Renna's feet opened up into a portal.

"Father… Our father is a hero!" And with those words, Renna just let herself fall into the hole, most probably teleporting away to someplace far.

"..." Arthas did not really say anything; just pulling Enel away from Riley's back and flying straight back to the New World. As for Lucy, he stared at the brown-skinned god for a few seconds before asking,

"What god does someone like you believe in? Because I was you…

…I would start praying."

And with those words, Lucifer's silhouette faded away.

"Look at what you did, Dad…" Karina could really only let out a small groan before her feet also started to leave the field of crystals, "...Sometimes, maybe secrets are kept as secrets because everyone would be better off without knowing them."

"They would have known eventually," Riley breathed out, "I wanted them to know it from me."

"You should have let them be children longer," Karina closed her eyes before just flying away, leaving Riley alone.

Well, not alone, as the brown-skinned god adorned with gold ornaments was still there, frozen still like the field of crystals he stood upon.

"Perhaps I should not have made a decision without their mothers," Riley let out a small but very deep sigh as he started approaching the god, "I suppose I should let you live."

The god could really only stare at Riley, as his eyes were the only part of him he could actually move. Soon, however, he almost stumbled straight down as Riley set him free.

"You… have my word," the god whispered, "I will not tell about you to the others."

"Hm…" Riley nodded.

"Hm," the god also nodded as his limbs started to turn into wind.

"But I do not actually need your word."

And before the god could fully turn into an element, the crystals beneath his feet cuddly and instantly turned into a pillar, completely trapping him inside.

"These crystals are strong enough to have a small chance to survive Esme's punch," Riley whispered, "You will not be able to break it — I will let you live, Random God whose name I do not know."

Riley once again let out a small sigh before just nonchalantly moving away from the confined god and approaching Alice's grave.

"Mother," Riley whispered, "It would seem we are both terrible parents."

Riley placed his palm on Alice's crystal for a few seconds before just once again letting out a breath and backing away.

"Tsula," he then whispered. And as he did so, the ground beneath him opened up and swallowed him whole — bringing him to the innermost core of New Theran…

…where Tsula still lives, fully alive and well; serving as the planet's core and sole controller. Her veins, fully connected to the rest of the planet.

"That went well, boy," Tsula spoke; the roots attached to her cheeks, crackling as she did so, "Shouldn't you be chasing after them instead of meeting old me? Your clones were just here the other day."

"I need something to make it up to them," Riley shook his head.

"Oh…

…you are hunting ingredients for your restaurant personally?"

"No, I am going to cook for them."