Gods & Mortals

"X!"

The name sent shivers down spines, a haunting echo that struck fear into anyone on Earth who recognized it. X had risen to infamy within years, for all the wrong reasons. He became the stuff of nightmares, a cautionary tale told to children, a presence that unnerved those in power.

"You can't escape X, no matter how far you run."

X stood as a dark specter over corrupt governments and influential figures with malevolent intentions, forcing them to second-guess their actions. But did his trail of death hold any objective justification?

Klaus couldn't believe he was face-to-face with the real X. It was as if he had encountered the embodiment of fear, a stark contrast to meeting a revered idol. And then a startling thought dawned on him – if X was here among them, did that mean he was their age?

X sat calmly, casually resting his handgun on the table, casting a shadow of unease. Ace's voice broke the momentary silence, bringing everyone back to reality.

"Well, I guess I can introduce you to him," he said, his tone revealing a mixture of reluctance and determination.

Klaus sensed Ace's internal struggle, the conflict between his reservations and his desire to show composure. Despite the underlying tension, Klaus decided to proceed with the plan.

Rose's skepticism was palpable, her expression reflecting doubt about the wisdom of this encounter. However, Klaus's agreement to join Ace compelled her to reluctantly go along with their intentions.

Approaching X's table, they were met with a brief glance from the enigmatic figure. X's gaze lingered for only a few seconds before he averted his eyes, an inscrutable demeanor that sent shivers down Klaus's spine. The tension in the air was almost tangible as the group stood before the imposing presence of X, a figure whose reputation preceded him in the most unsettling way.

"Uhh, hey there, pal... friend... my man." X didn't even turn to see who was talking, much less respond.

Ace then continued, "W-Well, I was showing the new guy around and was introducing everyone to him. So I was wondering if you wouldn't mind..."

X didn't even look the least bit ready to reply to the one-sided conversation Ace had going on.

"And... I'm talking to myself," Ace mumbled to himself.

Klaus was annoyed by this action.

He didn't understand why X wasn't responding, but it irritated him that X didn't seem to care about their presence.

Although, he hadn't expected much more from someone with a reputation for being a manslayer.

"Can you at least try to be less ignorant and respond?" Klaus said to X in annoyance.

Rose's eyes widened, her grip on Klaus tightening as she leaned in and whispered, "Whoa, careful."

X's irritation flared in response to Klaus's statement.

He shifted his gaze to Klaus, a glance so intense it could bore holes through metal. Klaus felt a small quiver of uncertainty, but he stood his ground, returning the gaze with a determined stare.

However, X suddenly turned away, as if dismissing their existence once again.

"I have no reason to converse with walking corpses."

X had finally spoken, but at that moment, Klaus couldn't help but wish he hadn't.

The initial fear that had gripped him now paled in comparison to the seething anger bubbling inside him.

Before anyone could react, Klaus lunged forward, his fingers curling around the fabric of X's shirt. Rose moved swiftly to intervene, attempting to defuse the tension that had suddenly engulfed them all.

Then suddenly, everything changed instantly.

In the blink of an eye, Klaus found himself several meters away from X, with Rose beside him. He looked back at X to see him brandish his handgun, his face contorted with rage.

But there was more to this. Right next to X stood Ace, his hand firmly on the gun, pushing it down.

"Chill out, bro. He was just joshing you," Ace's words came out with a disarming smile, an attempt to ease the escalating tension.

X had reacted swiftly to Klaus's movement, retrieving his gun in response.

Ace, sensing the dangerous escalation, wasted no time. He pulled Klaus and Rose away from the volatile situation, creating a physical barrier between them and X before things could take a more impulsive turn.

For a few moments, silence hung in the air, punctuated only by intense stares exchanged between X and Klaus. Eventually, both sighed in unison. X returned to his seat, and Klaus realized there was little point in pushing the matter further.

Yet, amid this tense atmosphere, Rose found herself utterly perplexed. Her confusion wasn't rooted in X's reaction but in Klaus's uncharacteristic display of concern.

However, Klaus's motives were clear to him. He'd always harbored a deep-seated resentment for the reasons behind X's killings over the years. It had always irked him whenever the news flashed headlines of X assassinating presidents or prime ministers, then slipping away unscathed.

Sure, they might have been corrupt leaders, perhaps undeserving of their positions, but they didn't deserve death in Klaus's eyes. He seldom interacted with people, leading most to assume he cared about little beyond his own interests. Yet, he carried a silent burden—a sense of caring for humanity as a whole, a sentiment he seldom revealed but couldn't quite suppress.

After the unsettling encounter with X, they collectively decided to shelve their plan for introducing the new member, accepting that if it was meant to happen, it would unfold naturally.

Resuming their places at the table, they settled in as XVII announced that the "event" was about to commence.

As they waited patiently, Klaus's attention was suddenly drawn to a voice beside him, but it didn't sound entirely human. It had a distinct artificial quality as if it emanated from a highly advanced device.

Turning toward the source of the unusual voice, Klaus found himself face to face with a figure clad in a hoodie, the hood obscuring most of their head. However, what set this individual apart was the complete helmet they wore, a striking contrast to Siren's more conventional headgear. This was no mere helmet; it resembled a full-head mask, with a unique feature: a black screen that seamlessly blended into the mask's surface.

What made it even more intriguing was that, as the person drew closer, it appeared as though the front of the mask displayed eyes and a mouth, their movements mimicking those of a real person. These digitalized features were portrayed with white pixels on the screen, creating an eerie, almost surreal effect.

As the masked stranger spoke once more, the mask faithfully replicated the facial expressions and gestures one would expect from a flesh-and-blood person. It was uncanny, almost like a digital persona had come to life.

Klaus had a hunch that the stranger was human due to their uncovered hands, which allowed their human flesh to remain visible. This, combined with a voice modulator that lent a male digitized tone to their speech, created an unsettling but fascinating fusion of human and artificial elements.

"What's up? My name's Link, but you probably know me as Codex," the enigmatic stranger introduced himself, his voice resonating through the digitalized mask that Klaus found both impressive and disconcerting.

"Codex?" Klaus echoed, his curiosity piqued. The name was unfamiliar to him.

"You know, Codex. The biggest, and funniest, streamer/gamer known all over the world? Come on, surely you've heard of me. Right?" Link's tone brimmed with a mixture of confidence and expectation.

Klaus's bewilderment was evident. The name Codex held no significance to him, and he felt rather out of place being approached by someone who seemed to be a celebrity.

"Sorry, I'm not really plugged into that scene, I guess," Klaus replied, his voice tinged with apology.

"Wow, so no one actually knows me around here?" Link proclaimed, raising his voice slightly to ensure his words reached the ears of those around them.

"Talk about being a global sensation, am I right?" he continued, his tone shifting back to a more casual level.

Klaus remained captivated by the intricacy of the mask's design, marveling at how it replicated every nuance of expression and speech.

Even more astonishing, after Link's statement, the screen on the mask transformed. First, it depicted a crying emoji, holding the image for a few seconds before morphing into the shape of a heart, breaking in a repeating pattern of three frames, akin to a GIF.

The level of detail was truly remarkable, capturing the attention of everyone present.

"Well, I wouldn't exactly call you a celebrity, Lincoln."

As Klaus glanced behind Link, he caught sight of a girl making her way toward them, her presence commanding attention.

"Oh, shut up, Quinn. What do you know? And quit using that name," Link shot back, his response accompanied by the sound of the girl's laughter, a melodious exchange that hinted at a shared history between them.

Turning her attention to Klaus, the girl's demeanor remained one of friendly conversation.

"Sorry for my brother's rather inflated sense of self. He can be a handful."

"Oh my Gods, not this again," Link interjected, a virtual glare etched onto his mask, the visual equivalent of an exasperated eye roll.

"Please ignore my bitch of a twin sister," Link continued, his tone filled with annoyance.

"Manners, Lincoln," the girl responded, prompting a sigh from Link in response.

With a gracious smile, the girl redirected her focus to Klaus and the others, poised to make a proper introduction.

CONVERSATION

Quinn: Forgive my unprofessional introduction. My name is Quinn Atlas. It's nice to meet you."

Klaus then nodded in response.

Quinn: I can see that you're not much of a conversationalist, and that's perfectly okay with me. By the way, I've heard that you were the final one needed for us to move forward with the event. Hopefully, this means we'll finally uncover the origins of our abilities.

Ace: Yup, he's the last one according to XVII.

Quinn: I see. Then that's great.

Klaus had a question in mind, seemingly unfazed by the topic of their ongoing discussion.

Klaus: You're here so that means you're supernatural like us. But what exactly are your abilities?

Quinn smiled at him before she turned to respond.

Quinn: Well, in essence, I possess an intellect that far surpasses the peak of a normal being. Though, the same can't be said for my brother.

Link: Can you NOT be like that right now? And you do remember I'm older by a few seconds, right?

Quinn: And for the six hundred and a second time, I know.

Klaus: I'm guessing yours has to do with technology, right?

Klaus said as he turned to Link.

Link: Yup. I can control and manipulate any electronic or electric devices around me at will. So basically, I can make your alarm clock ring without any batteries in them.

Klaus was genuinely taken aback by the multitude of unique abilities among the group.

He couldn't help but feel that he didn't quite deserve the right to seek more answers. After all, some individuals viewed their powers as more of a burden than a blessing and managed to look past them with grace. Unlike his own ability, which didn't seem to be constantly active, he could only imagine the curiosity that must weigh on those whose powers were ever-present.

As he snapped back to reality after drifting into thought, Quinn turned to him once more, delivering a piece of advice.

"By the way," she began, her tone a mixture of caution and concern, "do your best to avoid getting mixed up with X."

She continued, "I know it's common knowledge, but trust me, it's not worth it, no matter the reason, to engage in any kind of conflict with him."

Klaus was well aware of this, but given Quinn's claim of being exceptionally intelligent and her earnest warning, he knew he couldn't take her words lightly.

He sighed and mumbled, "I guess."

There were still several people within the group whom Klaus had not yet met, but the truth was, he had little desire to do so. His primary motivation in engaging with them was to gain insights into others with abilities like his and understand how they navigated their lives.

What troubled him, however, was the realization that X was the only other person who exhibited even a hint of antisocial behavior. It left him uneasy, contrasting sharply with the others who seemed adept at keeping their powers from influencing their social interactions and everyday conversations.

And almost immediately after his mind had been flooded with so many thoughts in such a short span, something unexpected unfolded.

Amid the chatter that had filled the room, a sudden hush descended, enveloping everyone in complete silence. Heads turned in unison, eyes fixated on the same spot—a phenomenon that even affected Klaus.

As they collectively shifted their gaze, their curiosity was rewarded.

Out of nowhere, a beam of light materialized, piercing through the seemingly infinite expanse of the bright skies, illuminating a small area at the entrance of the room.

Every occupant of the room, including Klaus, was drawn into the mesmerizing display, their expressions reflecting a mix of puzzlement and awe.

Then came the second occurrence.

Klaus experienced a strange sensation, an unusual current that seemed to course through his body and nerves, urging him to move in a way he hadn't intended. An unbidden impulse compelled him to kneel.

As he glanced around, he realized he wasn't alone in this experience. The others shared the same compulsion.

Gradually, as the brilliant light began to dim, they all sank to their knees, like loyal subjects before a sovereign ruler. A sense of powerlessness settled over them; it was clear that they were caught in the grip of an unexplainable force.

As Klaus shifted his gaze forward, he beheld the reason behind their involuntary obeisance.

His eyes widened, disbelief coursing through him.

"So it was true," he murmured softly to himself, his voice tinged with realization.

"They truly do exist."

Caught off guard and bewildered, Ace couldn't help but voice his confusion. "Who is that?"

Summoning his breath, Klaus managed to respond to Ace, his voice carrying an almost reverent weight.

"A God."