NAO: Of Conflict and Destruction: Nathaniel

NAO: Of Conflict and Destruction: Nathaniel

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Commissioned by Chaosbrain

Wordcount: 2000

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Power.

Ability.

Strength.

Some say that all these things must be earned.
Others say that those who have it must be righteous.

Many say that power should be limited.

You, however, believe that power should be used to help others.

And, so, when someone calls for your help so far away, through space and time and the walls between realms, you oblige.

You never met the person who calls for aid, but near them you find someone who holds the same beliefs. Power is meant to be used in defense or help of others. You see in him a drive to protect others, to not suffer injustice, and the will to help those who cannot help themselves.

As he dies, as his soul is torn from his body, you visit him on the edge of death and despair for one final test.

The one who called for your aid is not someone who can accept your power. You have no claim over her soul. She is aligned with the End, with peace, and not continuous struggle until the absolute limit is reached… only to claw at those limits to create something better eternally.

No, she would accept peace and eternal rest, and you do not find fault in that.

However, that leaves her potential savior as the man who she killed in her possession.

The distance is too vast, your duties too many, and you are needed in innumerable places for you to head to that realm yourself… but the young man you look upon, Nathaniel Paul Calebson can accept your power.

However, you would only give it, if he would consider saving the young man stolen from Earth—

There is no hesitation in acceptance.

No grudge held for the actions that led to his loss of life.

Only overwhelming gratitude at being given the chance to do better.

That is all you need to grant him the seedling of power that will grow immensely in time.

He is your champion on a planet stricken by war and engulfed in conflict without reason.

You hope that he will use the power well… and Desu sidles up to your side as you stretch your hand out to grant Nathaniel power.

Then, she proceeds to hold her hand out with a smile alongside yours.

“Oh, you’re doing that power bestowal thing! Let me try!”

You blink, you feel her power go along with yours.

A blessing from Conflict and Destruction upon one person.

That’s enough power to contest a Concept.

You feel a bead of sweat form on your brow, as your Communicator suddenly starts blaring with alerts and messages.

The topmost one, the very first one, simply reads: ‘If that was you, you fucked up. -Miyakuro.’

In your defense, you hadn’t expected Destruction to take an interest in your actions, since there was an entire planet filled with eldritch horrors for her defeat!

“Well, that was fun! Let’s go back to making things safe for other people, honey!”

You spare the young man a glance before turning to your task at hand.

You can only hope that he uses the powers given to him responsibly.
The limits you placed should hold… unless he used Destruction’s power to destroy them.

Then, things will get very, very complicated.

…

Great Red has innumerable tasks to tend to all across every reality. Though he describes it as joyriding, and you do enjoy driving through the Gap and checking on trouble spots according the map he provided you whilst emulating his method of transport, it is still a very time-consuming position.

It would take less time, though, if Destruction required less stops at restaurants in other worlds.

Still, you don’t mind, as you can catch up on calls, messages, projects, and keep in touch with those you gave power to.

Most of them use your power as you expected. They overturn tyrants, they build up nations, and have wholesome family lives in the Tuzi custom to ensure that future generations have the means to defend against those who would enslave them. Your power does not persist in their bloodline, but they and their children will be blessed with good health and strength and the Tuzi arts and traditions will do the rest.

So, you need only take a glance at them to find things are going well, perhaps congratulate them on their newest child, and move on.

Nathaniel, however, proves to have a more difficult world. Many worlds teem with magic and supernatural creatures and nations that make use of them. However, in his case, a brief glance tells you that it is filled with gods, eldritch entities, and even analogues to Heaven. You search for an Aspect-class individual in the world and find none, but even with all the power you granted to Nathaniel, you expect him to struggle, fall, and have to try again and again.

Such is not the case.

“Ooh, look at him go!” Destruction has a large cheeseburger in one hand and a drink in the other, while intruding upon the very complex piece of magic you are casting to pierce through innumerable dimensions and cross vast distances to look upon Nathaniel. She is using his fight against a Demon composed entirely of chainsaws as a form of entertainment. “Go, Nat-kun! Go!”

She cheers for him good-naturedly, but the fact remains she’s taking big bites of a greasy double-cheeseburger and slurps from a massive soda cup while Nathaniel fights for his life.

“Eh, why didn’t he use my Destruction Beam there? One ‘Pew!’ and the fight would’ve ended!” Destruction complains and pouts, and you turn back to your screen. Indeed, the battle would’ve been won if Nathaniel had used the attack… and Chainsaw would’ve been eradicated, along with its host, and the mountain in the distance. “He should be able to go ‘Pew!’ now, right?”

For a second, Destruction points her thumb and pointer finger like a gun after putting down her soda cup.

Instinctively, you enrobe her hand in magic-cancelling nemesis, and sigh in relief as her ‘Pew!’ goes unpowered.

It only happened once, in a very remote location, but you’d be remiss to ever let your guard down.

Anyhow, you patiently explain that Nathaniel intends to save Kei and return her home. Blasting her into nothingness, from which even the soul will not remain, would be against that goal.

“Ah, I see. I see. He needs to get better at going ‘Pew!’” You’re unsure what Destruction means by that, and she catches onto your confusion and proudly crosses her arms over her chest. “If he becomes really good, he can hit just the Demon and not the person at all!”

With just Destruction’s power, most certainly not, as an Aspect’s Champion could not possibly outstrip their Aspect.

However, Nathaniel does have Nemesis and the ability to detect and sense with it.

Perhaps, you state, he may be able to do that in the future.

It would be easier if he could just a sword and cut Demon and Human apart, though.

This time, it’s Destruction’s turn to frown at you, though her frown’s effect is mitigated by you wiping her face free of food with a napkin.

“Honey, not everyone can be as good as you with a sword.”

You hold your hands up in surrender, easily acknowledging the fact, before moving on and returning to watch the fight.

Nathaniel is growing in strength quite quickly and wasting no time in fulfilling his goals.

He will surely live up to your expectations.

…

“Ooh, did you see that? He used my power so well!” Destruction gushes as the two of you watch Nathaniel bring low a Demon Lord. Using Destruction’s ability to summon any form of weaponry and use it to its full effect, Nathaniel used Assault Order’s Revolver and mitigated the recoil by relying upon his rapid regeneration. With a shot of Assault Order’s weapon, a bullet meant to surmount your defenses and even land a killing blow upon you, he vaporized the Demon Lord that he confronted after a brief, violent encounter with the creature. “Go, Nathaniel, go!”

Destruction waves glow sticks with glee as she watches her first and only Champion fight with her power. You cannot help but feel a bit jealous. It’s been a long time since you first empowered somebody. All your champions are valiant, capable, and wonderful people, but you still recall the first individual that you blessed and the pride that you felt as they surmounted their challenges and achieved greatness.

You wish that you recorded their fights to rewatch, too.

“O-oh, that was too short! Let’s see Nathaniel rescued Godfrey again!” Destruction’s gaze is filled with excitement, and you adjust your power to view the older conflict. Soon enough, you and Destruction watch as Nathaniel walks into a temple surrounded by supplicants and fanatics disguised as one of them. He has not brought Kei along, since it would endanger her. “Yes, this is the best part!”

You nod in agreement and watch as Nathaniel approaches Godfrey, who has been swayed by the ‘divine’ creatures of the world into becoming a vessel for them. The thought alone makes you frown. If you could get over there with ease, you’d bring low their ‘Heaven.’ Not only did they demand worship, but they also groomed people from birth to become theirs. It was a disgusting practice.

Thankfully, Nathaniel felt the same, despite his misplaced respect for the entities.

And, so, after a brief moment where he tried to save Godfrey with words alone… battle is joined and you take pride upon the cleverness and guile showcased by your Champion.

He allies himself with those who may be misguided, but still wish to evolve and become better than themselves as they course through the stars. With these allies, he calls upon great power, resists its corruptive influence, and remains wholly himself while crafting a blade with which to cut through the divine. With an army from the stars at his back, he descends upon the world with blazing, magical blade in hand.

You’re almost jealous.

You’ve always flown alone when coming down from orbit and you’ve always used your power to project your slashes across vast distances.

It’s nice and convenient, but you’ve never been at the front of a whole army descending from orbit while you came forth with sword in hand.

You can do that.

You will do that.

“Song, look! He’s doing the thing!” Destruction has a wide smile as you follow your power through the realm of souls. Godfrey and Nathaniel stand before one another. One a mere mortal granted power, and the other a mortal subsumed by it. He speaks to her. He doesn’t say anything about freedom, righteousness, or even the path of the Tuzi. Instead, as he extends his hand toward Godfrey, his sole reasoning is that she is a person that he knew, that he wishes to know better, and who he wishes to befriend. Nothing more and nothing less… and that’s enough. “That’s my Champion saving somebody perfectly!”

Destruction beams with pride and you nod.

Nathaniel had the ability and skill to use Destruction against his current foes. He could’ve leveraged it all and defeated all in his path with Destruction in one hand and Nemesis in the other. Few could’ve hoped to stop him. However, in the end, he used both the powers you granted him as tools.

In the end, it was his words and commitment to saving Godfrey that carried the day.

Without a doubt, despite the parallels, Nathaniel is his own man.

All your power did was give him the chance to save the world with his own hands.

You could ask for no better a Champion… and neither can Destruction.

“I want all my Champions to be like him.” Destruction beams and smiles as she holds onto your arm. “You’ll help me find people like him, right? Li?”

Your answer leaves your lips without a shred of hesitation.

Of course.

Your power and Destruction’s are a potent mix, but the balance one another, and you can think of no better candidates for Destruction’s ability than those whom you judge worthy of Conflict.