Bro, I'm not an Undead!

In the Royal Mansion within Gauurdfell, everyone was flabbergasted when the two Skulliuses suddenly appeared in their midst. The transition was too smooth. It was like the two had never left at all.

The funniest thing was, even Skullius was astounded. He had expected some reaction from the world now that he knew that Future Skullius wasn't warping. If this was just sheer speed, how was there no cataclysmic storm blowing everything away – Royal Mansion and all?

"You could have just excused yourselves, you know?" Elita was the first to speak. Future Skullius gave an apologetic little bow.

"Sorry about that. I figured some of the things that needed deliberation needed to be ironed out with him" – he pointed at Skullius – "more than the rest of you. I think we can all agree that all things considered, he is more stubborn than the rest of you combined."

Future Skullius took his seat.

"What a fancy way of saying, 'We didn't want you lot learning about our secrets,'" scoffed Aurolio.

"On the contrary," said Skullius. "You'll be learning a lot more about our secrets than you'd think. We just needed to decide who will be learning what."

The Voided Death Users raised a collective brow of confusion. Skullius saw, but instead of addressing them immediately, he attended to something he had decided on, something that added to the resolve he had built up for his incoming battle against Fulgardt.

[Just Light] gathered in his hand, and then it bulged and bulked before streaking outward in many directions. Two of the streaks of light smashed into Queen Embrell and the King. The two gaped. No harm was done to them. They felt for the star-like symbol of golden white that had appeared on their foreheads.

Only after they pierced Skullius with a questioning gaze did he explain to everyone what this was.

"The last time I fought Fulgardt, the world was nearly destroyed." He looked at the Fruit Bearer. "I'm not sure how Suzamete planned to counter the explosion of that attack, but I assume it would have been a challenge even for her to stop it, right?"

The Fruit Bearer silently nodded.

"If I'm going to commit to this new philosophy I want to live by, I have to take initiatives I didn't consider before. I don't want needless killing - collateral damage. Fulgardt doesn't mind it. Boron sure doesn't. So, I have placed a marker on every single living creature on Aigas that isn't my Stark Troops or their wards," Skullius said.

"Some truly terrible things are about to happen in Aigas. Potentially, five Deities and many other hostile Divines will be battling here and very soon. When that time comes, all the potential collateral will be sent to my Empyrean Bosom. Perhaps... when they all return to Aigas, it would have been purged of impurities, and they will start anew. Part of that new beginning is owed to you, Elita."

The former Paladin Champion was taken aback.

While she had expected Skullius to protect the commonfolk and innocent experts on Aigas in some way before the coming of the Quintess and Listafelle, as well as Fulgardt's schemes, she had not expected him to view her earlier purge of the Purity as a positive.

'A new Aigas, huh? I wasn't thinking that far. But perhaps this is Aigas' chance to start over. If Boron is truly defeated and it remains intact, that is,' Elita thought as she smiled.

This idea was the first physical sign of Skullius' growth in her eyes.

Uyuniya quite admired Skullius' view too.

'Initiative. I like that word,' she thought to herself.

"Very well done," said the Fruit Bearer before they turned to Future Skullius. "But what about you? What have you decided to do?"

Future Skullius slotted all four of his hands into his nimbus jacket.

"I'll let him speak for me," he said, and a cute hand made from Ju`wtte sprang from his nimbus, pointing at Skullius.

The Hybrid Warmoth sighed. Of course, the future bastard was delegating everything to him.

"I have decided on how I will deal with Fulgardt. But when it comes to the Deities… there are some pending matters," he said before pointing at Future Skullius with a Ju`wtte hand of his own. "This pretentious sockethole is going to do some errands for me. He's going to tame a Corrupted Deity I need for the coming chaos – in addition to another small errand. As for what I intend to do here…"

Kintar held back a laugh as she looked at Skullius. He nearly killed her just to shut her up. There was going to be plenty of awkwardness to go around when he proposed the deed.

"I would very much like to see this. Mind if I tag along with the more impressive you?" said Aurolio to Skullius as he stood, grinning.

Skullius sighed. He waved his hand dismissively.

"I'd like to join too," said Elita. To this, the Hybrid Warmoth expressed surprise.

"Really?" he asked her.

"Yes. I'd like to watch. Perhaps I'll learn something. I'm still plenty lacking when it comes to strength, remember?" she said. Indeed, she was still a mortal combatant.

Skullius shrugged. A part of him was happy Elita was going. At least he wouldn't have to worry about her comments about what he was about to do.

With great hope, he turned to Uyuniya.

"I assume you want to follow too?" he asked.

Uyuniya gave a curt shake of the head.

"No. I'd rather stay," she said.

'Curse you.'

Kintar snorted a short laugh. Kenno gave her a whack on the head.

"Then I shall join the valiant woman as well," said Red Rage. Araeyn stepped forward. He too was interested. As was Kenno who gave Skullius an apologetic smile. He was quite eager to spend more time with the "Future boss".

Skullius didn't see the need to stop them all. Only Sila, Kintar, and Weaver remained loyal.

Future Skullius rose from seat and took in the sight of those who would be following him. He then gave Skullius a knowing look.

"Beware of succumbing to Somanda again," he warned.

"I know. I'm working on it," said Skullius grimly. He wondered if Future Skullius would come to his rescue if he did succumb. Oddly, he guessed the answer was a fat 'no.'

The future Hybrid gave nod. His accompanying allies were wreathed in hundreds of little bolts of Ju`wtte, quite like him, and then, in less than a flash, they were gone.

"I expected more from him," said the Fruit Bearer immediately after. They stood from their seat as well, preparing to leave. "He could have done a lot to help."

"I know," said Skullius with a sigh. "He has his reasons."

"Of course he does." The Fruit Bearer opened a rift in the Royal Mansion. "But perhaps he isn't what you need. You have cultivated some fine experts. Loyal, tenacious, kind-hearted. They are working hard to save Aigas even with powers below the Divine standard. You don't need more of you. You need more of them."

Skullius glanced doubtfully at Kintar at the mention of 'kind-hearted,' but he accepted the Fruit Bearer's words all the same.

"You're right."

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[Author's Note]

The next few chapters are going to be…er… I-It's not R18 content by any means, but well…yeah.