"You're Nikola Tesla... Dhe man I've been searching for, for quite some time, uce. Ever since I discovered dhe being known as Atomen." Melumini'itii stared at Nikola with a serious expression in her eye. She meant every word of what she was saying.
"Lady Melumini'itii, right? It's a grand smackin' pleasure to meet'cha, darling. Though I'm surprised you know who I am." He put his guard up just in case this happened to be something different than what he has been told to expect.
"Tuh, a lousy guard like that won't help you against what I've become. Plus I'm not here to harm you, unless you're a threat!?" Her essence wrapped around his body like the tentacle of a squid grabbing some grub to be ripped to shreds by its sharp ass beak.
"Woah, calm it Melu!" Ghonny insisted, placing his cooking utensils down just in case.
"Y-yeah... What he said!"
"Just what is the matter with her!? I can't get a read on this feral hussy to save me damn life. She's even more dangerous than Shi'Ho informed me of." Nikola thought to himself as he stared at the essence forcing his body into a fear induced stasis.
"She's really gotten powerful!" I thought to myself.
Melu let out a soft sigh before speaking.
"Yeesh, broh. No need to be so giiddyyy! All I wish to gain from you is the concepts you hold. Your stature makes it impossible for them to work in your hands when facing a being like Atomen. But someone like me who's hurt him without such weaknesses can definitely make use of them. As will everyone else here, including you after we put you through dhe ringer, isn't that right Ambassadors?" Melu looked towards Heemy, Sinnthia, YeeNessa, and I.
"Heh, what other choice do we have?" I stated.
"Hmph, we're Annihilo-Sect after all, and this is just another opportunity to finally rise above the bar." Heemy added on.
"Yass comrades, we will succeed with Atomen where we failed against Seightahn!" Sinnthia proudly stood up and raised her fist. Activating her mastered Rally concept.
"Yeeheee!! I'm happy to hear all that, but first. We'll need to hear those weaknesses. We've been getting trained by the combat master of STRIFE, Xebeel. He'll need to hear this in order to make our lesson plans a success!" YeeNessa placed her hand in Melu's shoulder.
"Let's kick his fucking ass... Together!!! For Josie!!!" We all shouted proudly along with Nikola who couldn't help, but to rally with us all.
"Alright, usos. His weaknesses are simple at the surface, yeah? We'll leave detailed ways of using dhem against him up to our master. But as of now, the Dark Lord known as Atomen seems to be weak against two things. Holy Concepts and the like being dhe first and easiest to master. Dhen we have dhe specific variable. His lack of resistance towards the SevenDeadly Sin class concepts." She explained it to us all. Making me and many others look at Shi'Ho-ho and Nikola.
"Are you saying that Nikola is a member of the Seven Deadly!? Shi'Ho!?" I couldn't believe my ears and the unbelievable stroke of luck we received. .
"Um... Yeah, he's one of them. Honestly my hubby isn't even mortal, he was born of a non-mortal family, but raised by mortals due to circumstances."
"Understandable. Then tell me this. Which of the Seven are you?" YeeNessa asked.
"Oh, I um... I'm the sin of Sloth amongst the seven." Nikola rubbed his head a bit whilst fixing himself a glass of wine.
"Hmm... Excuse me Melu, but how in the verse did you get this information?" Timozzia asked.
"Ah, that's an easy one, uce. We did our research for many millennia and even had dhat fight to test out the Holy factor. Needed to see if it was true or not, and we were willing to risk it. Now as for dhe Seven Deadly part... finding dhat out came real easy to us, usos. We befriended the Sin of Greed who had beaten his ahss not too long before our arrival." Melu explained.
"AYE, you say you met with a powerful, bahd Stuliamahn?? It be de greeeed dis time aroun'." Timone got a little excited and lost himself in his own words.
"CheeHOOOOO UCE!! I now know four of dhem powerful sinny-sinners. ZeeNasia, the Sin of Lust, the Stuliathan of Greed, Nikola, the Sin of Sloth. And the most dangerous so far.... Seightahn, Sin of Wrath!" Melu stood tall knowing we had hope thanks to her information.
"Hmph, this is really good Intel to take back to Xebeel and the others. I'm sure the main forces being gathered will want to hear if all of this. Let's get ourselves a final drink, then head the hell out." I commanded the team, just like way back then.
"YES, MA'AM!!!"
It felt fantastic to finally be in the saddle again. To FINALLY be with my team and family once more. All so we can protect the many families we made. And from what I heard from Melu during our private conversation. She and Kolipso had three kids each by Josie during their journey. All of which have been taken to their respective clans to meet their families. And be held safe during the time it'll take us to prepare, then to take in this beast.
Plus after going into further detail about their battle. We learned of a new fact that brought even greater hope to us all. Atomen had been out into a long state of stasis as he heals the wounds they gave him. Plus... Josie refused to be assimilated even after everything that occurred. Melu could sense that much all the way until she officially crashed over into our Omniverse.
"Heh, hey babe?"
"Yeah, Zee?"
"Can you believe that I was in the verge of despair when hearing of our new threat? I was at my wits end and couldn't even think about being bullied again... Helpless to make a change or to stop anything bad from occurring." I looked down into the cosmos below us. Staring into the darkness as it reminds me of my own darkness.
"Hmm... Can you believe I was completely stressed out about how I would help you through that?"
"You were, Heemy!?"
"Of course I was, love. You're my everything, a rock so solid that even as a pebble, it smashes through entire planets. You're perfect to me, an absolute unit of love, care, strength, prowess, leadership, and best of all.... The most amazing goddess!" He looked up, opposite of my own choice when it comes to observing what inspires us.
"You're making me blush, babe. Stoooop." I playfully nudged him as his eyes grew with eagerness and bliss.
"I meant every word, Zee. That's why I'll forever be befuddled by the sight of caving in to despair. How could someone like me lift the strongest person I know from such a dark pit. How would I be able to handle such pure, blackened doubt?? Truth is... I couldn't. And it was tearing me up, babe." I lost my smile upon realizing my despair blocked my vision. My ability to see my husband suffering like that.
"In the end... I found light where you found light. With our friends who joined this team and supported us as leaders from the get go. Truly a glorious view if I do say so myself. Now I get to protect our family, and that honest smile all over again. I couldn't be happier, ZeeNanasa Destructor-Zeefist. Let's kick this Particle Lord's ass, yah?"
"HA, v'was that a dig at meeeh, Heemy!?" A voice rang out from behind us.
We turned around to see our wonderful team standing at the ready. Waiting for us to give the word, the word for our departure. It was time to meet with Xebeel and get victory preparations started. Because there was no way we would allow ourselves to lose to this freak of Stuliathan. We'll make sure of it... for Josie!
"CheeHHOOOO!!! Let's make a move, everyone. We've got a friend to avenge... And another to find when it's all said and done!"
"Hehe, alright Melu... You're right. Let's get our asses in the ship and over to Master Xebeel and the others. They're waiting for us, gang!!" I shouted proudly, directing everyone towards the ship.
"Man, brah... It's good to be back cousins. Just wished it was within better times, y'know dudes?" Dila pressed up against ZeeNastasia and I. Hugging us tightly as he spreads his love.
"Hehe, that scraggly beard of yours never fails to tickle my face when you hug me, cousin Dila. I've really missed you, fam. You've got to come by with your family soon, okay? We've got plenty of time before that dickhead of a Stuliathan can make his way here." ZeeNastasia gave our cousin a kiss on the cheek before heading towards the back of the ship where the restrooms can be found.
"Shaw, brah. I can't wait for everyone to meet each other, that's going to be so choice, right Zee?" He looked at me with loads of light within his eyes. I could tell my cousin never allowed anything to cloud his shine. I envy it in a lot of ways, all of them being good and motivation for me.
"Yeah, I know my family would love that." We smiled at each other before facing forward.
We made our way to my home where Xebeel has been stationed throughout his stay here within Annihilo Versia. It was there towards the entrance where we saw Kokonovski Disfigure, the All-Seer, as well as Primoz Decay. It lit yet another spark within the team. Especially with the things they've come to learn in their time away from the Colossaverse. We were all ecstatic to see them, welcoming them on the ship before entering the Annihilation Clan.
We were greeted by Cocomeico, ZeeNihilo, my father, and Anastasia, my mother. They coated our ship in essence, then blasted into the distance. We got to my childhood home in no time. Once we got there, Xebeel greeted us on the platform. He's been pretty damn eager to meet the entire team for once. Though we were still missing four of our members now. But we'd make due with what we've got and make sure to rise to the challenge.
"Alright, now that the whole team, or at least what we can grab, is here. Let's get everyone inside and get settled in. There's some teaching and speaking that need be done before we jump in training. The lessons found within what Lord Luci left behind are methods that go beyond anything you've seen. You all may very well need conditioning for your base forms. Something I've been fixing within those I've been training with already." Xebeel explained.
"That all sounds dandy, uce. But I'm gonna need you to listen to what I've discovered about Atomen within the Stuliathan Omniverse. Oh, I'm Melumini'itii Extincti'ii by the way."
"Ohhh, so you're one of the three who traveled out without a word. Hmm..." He placed his hand on her head and read through her essence. Her automatic defenses were bypassed with ease.
"U-uh..." Melu was completely stuck.
"Mhm... So that's the info she has for me, a mission involving a venture into that realm with the help of one from there, a very kecukiar Stuliathan, and... Hm!? The resident from our verse won't allow me to see them. I can't even breach through to identify essence signatures. How pesky, but this data is indeed useful to us all." Xebeel finished analyzing her being within less than a millisecond 's time. Melu couldn't even come close to recognizing what happened. She just assumed he could feel some of her despair and was comforting her. He played on that instinct like a professional deciever. Though, his words were truly sincere when telling everyone...
"I'm truly sorry for the two that are no longer with us due to the results of fighting Atomen. What they managed to accomplish could easily save the Omniverse from fatal destruction on a large scale. Stand tall for them, and allow me, ZeeNihilo, and the others to take on this information and formulate some strategies. The Grand Council must know of this shining hope Melu and the others have presented. As you were, students!" Xebeel flashed away, leaving my parents to speak with me for a moment.
"Daughter... ZeeNastasia and the two of us have come to learn of your despair that disappeared not too long ago. We're happy to see you have that glimmering hope in your eyes once more." My pops explained. Rubbing my head like I was one of his boys. I always love it when he does that, I can tell he recognizes me as his little girl, and a seasoned warrior who has earned his respect.
"Indeed, that beauty is something I can never get tired of. Make sure you and your friends continue to stand tall, Zee. They need you and your sister to be the beacons of strength they've grown to be all too familiar with today. This coming battle calls for it." Moms was always one to let the facts be known. She's always been really good at conveying such messages in the best of ways.
"Hmph, will do, you two. Now get going, I got this. I'm not that century old, goddess anymore. I've come quite the ways since then!" I smiled brightly at them before turning around and rejoining the team.
They blasted off after Xebeel so that they may hold a meeting between the War Heroes of this Omniverse. All three of them... Are apart of such heroes and heroins.
I walked past everyone to get a feel for how far we've all come. But it was all a little disappointing, better to say... We've been training wrong after leaving the tutolage of our masters and coming to terms with our own methods of training. Everyone seems to have trained their forms to be peak strength, but our base strength has still yet to match monsters like the STRIFE group and their rivals. Now was the time to fix that, and Master Xebeel already showed me a good method to get rid of it when he first came to our verse.
"So you're the legendary ZeeNanasa that Shiishiigami talks about? Your younger sister is a titan amongst her peers, tell me... Are you the same??" That was the first time I ever heard actual words from Lord Xebeel.
"Uh- Uhhh... Y-Yeah... That's me alright. Are you Master Xebeel?"
"Yes I am. I've been asked to train you and your team, but it would seem you've all been taught well. Though there's a lot to be desired from your base." Xebeel told me how STRIFE came to thelevel of strength they have today.
"Now's the time to enact it." I finished my walk amongst the group and made my stopping point directly in front of Melu.
"I-Is everything ok, Zee?" Melu took a short step back to gain some space.
"Everyone here seems to have the exact problem Master Xebeel was speaking of when he first got here. Even now, we all lack suffecient fighting power in our base forms. We're only able to compete with STRIFE when we're in our forms. Even then, due to their base strength being far higher than ours, our forms don't mean much! We have to change that!" I voiced myself in a way that demanded attention from my peers.
"Well, you are not the wrong, there. We have much ground to cover when it comes to base strength of bodies. Even brather Primoz and I have only managed to became equal to STRIFE members when they fight against cancerous Duke Stuliathan, Rashomon of the past. Which is not to say much when you think about how much they grew after that." Kokonovski began scratching her head.
"I'd have to agree with Kokono. Sometimes I just think we were not meant to reach the same level as them!" Seikosen boldly stated. It was a statement that seemed to be on the minds of almost everyone except my sister and cousin who have their own way of inevitably reaching that level eventually. Then there's the likes of...
"You, Melu. You are the key to us awakening our true potential. We always fought as a team, even during training. Then we were sent out as a team upon completing that training. We fought every threat and even trained as a team. It's been instilled within us for so long that we trained in team-like ways even when we split up."
"Okay... But what be ya point, uce? What are you getting at, Zee?" Melu took another step back, but not out of discomfort this time. She read me like a book.
"I'm saying, the strongest current members have gone to death's door solo. Did anyone else ever notice how much Ri-ohhanna grew after taking on Seightahn in a one on one? I tried to get that moment too, but he was too powerful by then and I could barely scratch him even when our doing him in skill for brief moments. What we've all been missing is a true stand alone challenge against beings of our level. Melu got to fight Stuliathan and even tussled with Atomen. You and Ri-ohhanna are proof of my theory!" I took a step towards Melu. She took another and entered her stance.
"Woah Zee... What are you-
Before Heemy could finish his sentence, I gut checked him.
"Gaaaah, you son of a- . I grabbed his face with my right hand and gave him one more kiss before doing something that would change our potential as individuals forever.
"Babe... I'm saying it's time we all become our own Annihilo-Sect. It's every dirty for themselves throughout this new training with Xebeel. We're all a great team, now let's amplify our effectiveness as individuals!! And the best way to do that is to fight who we've been helping all this time... EACH OTHER!!!"
I blasted everyone within the room with my full base strength. Declaring that the only rule we have here is...
"And better not a single soul transform. Let's see who's really at the top!!" I rushed towards Melu with my fists blazing. Others trailed behind me to get their hits back, but that quickly fell apart when those who heard me loud and clear took action. Dila smashed his fist into the jaw of his Loving wife, Snowrunt to show he meant business. Then we had Primoz taking on Sinnthia in an all out durability brawl. Not one strike was dodged between them.
ZeeNastasia pulled YeeNessa and YeeRashuri by the hair and smashed their heads together. But just as she smiled, I was kicked into her, using that momentum... I smashed by foot into his fucking face. Then I punched Melu into a nearby wall. Followed by a nice drop kick that sent Siciliarn's head into the ground. Her twin brother laughed at her just after grabbing me by my waist. I elbowed his core as a way to break free, but he just laughed some more. Flipping my dumbass into the ground with a suplex from the lower cosmos. We all revved it up as group, smashing out of my childhood home and into the vast cosmos of Annihilo-Sect. My mother was worried sick about what could've caused us to all brawl. But my pops and Lord Xebeel knew what we had going on. It's something that they participated in a long time ago.
"Hahaaa, do you see this shit, ZeeNihilo!? She actually took my advice and forced the individuals route on everyone! YESSS!!" Xebeel nearly snapped his blunt trying to celebrate this development within us.
"Maaaaan, it's been too long brother Xebeel. Aye... Do you remember who won this thing back when we all fought?" My dad asked.
"Heh... Don't play dumb bruh. It was Heirien, our Easter Bunny friend. And the current record holder for most kids." Xebeel cackled as he watched Big Zee and I go at it like enemies. Even Melu found herself struggling to simply overtake her opponents within the group. Her being even with the weaker members of STRIFE didn't help those results. It was an all out free-for-all with only one person hoping to be triumphant. A legendary method of training that puts friends and comrades against one another in horrendous battle. A method that adds to our discipline, determination, drive, combat skills, and most importantly... our potential and individuality.
It was a method that became a celebratory event whenever a new generation of the Grand Council was ushered in. A way to awaken their most primal instincts as an individual. Something most didn't think we would need, but when beings like Atomen, Seightahn, and Seightahn's boss exist. Everyone needs this wake up call ringing their inner core's bells to all hell. This infamous method used for powerful teams is called...
Trial of the Strongest Awakening!"