The Immortal That Wants To Die

Amy

I stood there, frozen in place, my chin gripped tightly by the cold fingers of the man in front of me. The sheer force of his presence sent an electric shock through my bones, suffocating the air around us. His power....his power....was something I couldn't have even imagined. Slowly, I could sense it, like a storm brewing on the horizon, surpassing even the might of many of my comrades, whose mana surrounded us like a protective barrier. But his power? It was different. It was otherworldly. There were too many of us to be ignorant of it, yet it rose above us like a towering mountain, oppressive and unyielding.

"Well?" His voice broke the silence.....hostile, sharp, like a blade being drawn from its sheath. His piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, sending a chilling warning to my very core. Never call me a monster again.

My body shook involuntarily. All my years of fighting, all the battles I had survived, and I had never encountered anything like him. I could feel his other arm still hovering inches from my chest, a constant reminder that he could strike me down in an instant if I dared to make a move. But even worse than the impending violence was the question that still lingered in the back of my mind....how could our leader, someone as powerful as Adrien, find someone like this? Let alone bring him here?

"Are you now entertained or satisfied, Zehen?" A voice rang from behind us. Zehen slowly released my chin and withdrew his grip on the atmosphere itself, his oppressive mana receding like the tide. His voice was smooth, calm, but with an edge of disdain, "You're quite calm. Not angry about your beloved statue I destroyed?"

From behind Zehen, Adrien appeared. His golden eyes, his silver-blue hair....it was a sight I had seen a thousand times, yet it still struck me with awe. His presence was undeniable, calm and composed as ever. "Not at all. Mistakes will always happen, It was just a misunderstanding," he said, his gaze sweeping over the remains of the statue. His tone was light, almost dismissive, as if the destruction of our sacred symbol meant little to him.

I watched them, stunned. The way Adrien, the same Adrien kenzaki who is the leader of the Celestials inhabiting japan. Spoke to Zehen....so casually, so... familiarly....was like nothing I had ever witnessed. They spoke as though they were old acquaintances, as if Zehen hadn't just caused irreparable damage to one of our most cherished symbols. No anger. No frustration. Just an easy exchange between comrades.

I stood there, unsure of what to make of it. My head was spinning, trying to understand the gravity of this moment, trying to figure out what kind of relationship these two shared.

****

Scarlett Roseheart

From where I stood, watching the scene unfold before me, I couldn't help but wonder what Adrien would do. How would he turn this situation to his favor? I had seen him handle worse before, but this... This was something else entirely.

Adrien raised his voice, and when he spoke again, his words rang out with the weight of authority. "My dear comrades-in-arms, today was simply a misunderstanding....a turn of events that was out of our control. Zehen here is one of us now, and he means no harm." His voice, though calm, carried a force that could sway even the most reluctant of listeners. "He is willing to fight for our cause, to serve our great God. He has been chosen."

I could hear the skepticism in the air, but Adrien's charisma held it at bay, like a tide retreating from a storm. "You may not understand it now," he continued, his words growing in strength, "but remember this.....this is a time for unity. We have all sacrificed everything for the sake of humanity, for the Supreme One, who gave us power to fight the gods. How many of you stand here today because of that very blessing?"

The crowd murmured, their anger rising like a tide. But Adrien was unfazed, standing tall with his gaze unwavering. His charisma, undeniable and sharp, was enough to still their voices, if only for a moment.

"Do not let your pride blind you," Adrien continued, his voice growing more commanding. "We have been fighting for centuries, and you think you can defy me? For what? A statue? A misunderstanding?" His words sliced through the tension, forcing even the most vocal among us to reconsider. "Zehen will join us today, whether you accept it or not. We will not let small things like this tear us apart."

His mana surged as he spoke, filling the air with an overwhelming pressure. It was a force that made my own senses prick with the weight of its authority. Those around us....my comrades....stayed silent, some visibly shaking as they felt the intensity of his power. But I remained unfazed, my training withstanding his pressure.

And then, with a final command, Adrien spoke. "Zehen will be welcomed into our ranks. Any objections will be dealt with swiftly."

As the murmurs of dissent grew louder, I felt a strange sense of curiosity rising within me. What was this man, this Zehen, really? Why had he caused such chaos? Why was Adrien so calm in the face of it all? It was as if they were playing a game I couldn't quite understand. Zehen's chuckle, low and almost amused, only added to the mystery. Was it because he found Adrien's attempt at peaceful resolution laughable? Or was it the way the Celestials were reacting to him, like they were children being scolded?

Zehen was a mystery to me, and I couldn't deny that I found that fascinating. How could someone like him exist? Someone with so much power, yet so little care for the destruction he caused?

Adrien's gaze hardened, his smile vanishing. He raised his hand, releasing a torrent of mana pressure that nearly crushed the air around us. "You dare defy me?" His voice boomed, and even the most vocal members of the crowd fell silent, their anger melting under the sheer weight of his power. "What authority do have over my command?!."

His tone left no room for argument. The silence that followed was deafening, and for a moment, I thought the entire world held its breath.

Adrien let his mana pressure linger, commanding the room with his presence. His eyes scanned over the crowd, over his Celestials....his people....and his voice dropped low, almost like a whisper. "We've fought for centuries. We've shed blood, we've sacrificed everything for the sake of humanity, for the Supreme One. And now, you would turn your back on that? On the cause that gave you power, that made you who you are?"

The words he spoke were more than just commands....they were an invitation. A challenge. A call to remember why we fought. "This is not a time for division. We will not fall because of petty disagreements. We will unite, or we will fall apart."

I watched him with a growing sense of admiration, mixed with something darker, something that made me wonder how long he had been playing this game. Had he always known how to manipulate us, how to turn us to his will? Or was this... something new?

As the murmurs settled, I could feel the crowd slowly shifting. Some were still skeptical, but the force of Adrien's words....and his overwhelming power....was enough to sway most of them.

And then, as if on cue, Adrien turned towards to the woman zehen attacked earlier, his calm demeanor returning. "Are you alright, Miss Blackwood?" He asked, his voice soft, his charm evident as always.

I nodded, my thoughts still swirling, but one thing was clear: I had no idea where this path would lead, but it was sure to be an interesting ride.

This should be fun. I thought, a small smirk playing on my lips as I turned my gaze back to Zehen, wondering just how he would fit into our little world.