Inheritance - Interlude: 5.High Priest

Saturday May 14th, 2011

An Endbringer, dead. 

It was a dream come true, and a nightmare all the same.  He had longed to be the one to finally strike down one of humanity’s greatest foes to prove himself to be the best chance they had against Scion when the time came.  Now he knew better.  All for nothing.  That was the summation of his life.  He’d forsaken family and friends, passed up on potential love, all for the sake of fighting the good fight and striving for a future that he now knew was never an actual possibility.  

David was a non-entity in life.  He was Eidolon in truth.  The stalwart defender of humanity that had women fawning for something they could never have.  He fought the worst monsters, held back the tide that would destroy everything.  In the end, it was all for nothing.

The revelation that he created the Endbringers and unleashed them, Scion could have broken him with a single sentence.  Worthy opponents; that was all the Endbringers ever were.  Something to keep him amused that was conjured up by the poisoned well that he had drank two decades earlier.  

It was enough to drive him to alcohol for the first time since Hero died.

Unfortunately, he still had duties to attend as a member of the Protectorate, which meant flushing his system when those duties reared their heads.  Healing powers were rare, but he could pull on the best of them.  The one that saved Alexandria from death being his most potent, and one he didn’t dare use frivolously. 

Each time he drew on a power, it grew ever weaker.  Even if he never used it, just the act of pulling it to the fore drained something from it.  He had no idea what that might be, or why.  Which made it ironic that the current subject of the all hands meeting might just know the answer to some of the deeper questions of the agents and how they functioned. 

“This is preposterous,” Director Seneca exclaimed, slamming his hand down on the table.  Thankfully it was a video conference so he didn’t need to draw on any sound dampening abilities.  “Why are we just abandoning the city like that?” 

“Perhaps you missed the part where Weaver killed an Endbringer,” Costa-Brown said flatly. 

They were on borrowed time with that one.  His clone had blown the lid on Cauldron and their ruse with the Chief Director position.  It was only a matter of time until Dragon released that information.  Especially with Contessa confirming that Ascalon would no longer work.  That the AI hadn’t already dumped it showed a level of restraint that he hadn’t expected from the false woman.  He suspected Armsmaster was tempering that aspect.  Glancing at the man on the screen, he seemed stoic as ever despite knowing he could destroy the Protectorate on a whim. 

“So we’re just going to pay her with an American city?” Director Heathrow demanded.

It was certainly ridiculous, but Eidolon couldn’t argue with the decision.  Even he knew when things were out of his hands.  Sure, he could probably fight Weaver even now, but to what end?  If he won, the nascent entity at her core would simply supplant him as the primary mind.  Any fool could see that from one look at the monster lurking beneath the surface. 

His own sight didn’t penetrate as deeply as Chevalier’s, but it painted enough of a picture to truly frighten the man.  He still remembered the moment that Weaver popped out of nowhere just to mess with Chevalier during the Leviathan recovery efforts.  Even now the man was shaken from what he had seen and apparently heard.

Weaver’s agent was evolving unlike any since the Fairy Queen, and Cauldron had no idea what to do about that.  Glaistig voluntarily agreeing to the Birdcage was a stroke of luck that saved countless lives.  Weaver wouldn’t go nearly as quietly, and there was no containing her besides.  They had to live with the fact that she was now a prime piece on the board. 

Chevalier cleared his throat, drawing the attention of the squabbling directors.  “With all due respect, but none of you are Parahumans.  I don’t think you realize the implications of what Weaver has become.” 

Which would be the subject of their next meeting, though that one would remain a bit more exclusive.  It would also mark the first time Legend was being allowed to attend one of their closed door meetings.  Their worst secrets were about to spill out into the open, and there would be no stopping it. 

That, or Contessa believed it was necessary to achieve their mission. 

“It’s that very fear that has allowed them to run rampant,” Former Director Piggot said.  “I tried to keep them contained, but apparently that was enough to see me demoted.” 

“And cost us a potentially heroic Butcher,” Rebecca said.  “Given she went on to slay Leviathan, that is a rather firm mark against your advice.” 

“Your direction also resulted in Panacea joining the Teeth,” Armsmaster said dryly.  “You were warned against such heavy-handed action repeatedly.  We were all fortunate that Weaver wasn’t as volatile as her predecessors.” 

Which was putting it mildly.  It figured that the first time a high level Master became the Butcher that they would gain control over the madness.  Had he known, he would have killed them ages ago and taken that power for his own.  That had been his plan, right up until Leviathan threw a wrench into it.

“Not as volatile?” Piggot said ruefully.  “I think that the Empire, Elite, and the late Director Tagg might argue otherwise.” 

“All of whom provoked the Teeth beyond the pale,” Armsmaster continued.  “The Empire attacked Weaver’s father.  The Elite successfully trapped her father in a time stop field and kidnapped Pandemic.  Tagg attempted to have Pandemic killed.  She responded no differently than the Legend would when a New York Ward was killed.” 

That got more than a few scoffs, but he could understand the escalation of force.  It was the price of having a family, and why he never followed through.  Eidolon was the mightiest hero, and people constantly sought to test him.  He’d seen the attempts on Legend’s family, and how Keith had to deal with them in turn.

“Speaking of Wards, what is happening with your own?” Director Seneca asked. 

“Aegis, Gallant, and Kid Win have already accepted the transfer request to Boston,” Armsmaster said.  “Vista, Browbeat, and Flechette have tendered their resignations.” 

“Wait, what?” Keith exclaimed, nearly floating over his own desk on screen.  “Flechette?  She’s leaving the Wards?” 

“Indeed,” Armsmaster said.  “The Protectorate as a whole is taking quite the hit from shuttering the Brockton Bay branch.  Given Flechette is eighteen, there is nothing we can do to stop her.  We’ve already paid out her severance, including her college trust.  It was…substantial.” 

Four years as a Ward tended to do that for a kid.  She was also due a portion of the Leviathan bounties since Weaver listed her as a beneficiary.  Adding insult to injury, she’d also made sure the official report showed that he had a hand in saving the city from a disastrous explosion when Leviathan died. 

That energy still coursed through him; not that he had any clue what to do with that boundless font of raw power.  It was like a roiling supernova of pure potential, all locked away in a place he couldn’t touch it.  He’d thought that particular power to be a simple cage, but clearly there was more to it if it could contain something of that magnitude. 

“Vista and Browbeat also saw their severances paid out,” Armsmaster continued.  “Clockblocker is still in negotiations over a potential departure.  If anyone wishes to place their own finger on that scale, feel free.” 

Director Seneca pinched his nose.  “Please tell me none of these Wards are defecting to the Teeth.” 

“Very well, I won’t,” Armsmaster countered. 

When he didn’t elaborate, the silence grew terse and more than a few of the directors could probably stand to have their blood pressure checked.

Director Armstrong leaned forward, wiping the sweat from his brow.  “Are you telling me that Vista—who has just been declared a Shaker Eleven—is joining the Teeth?”

“She will be very disappointed that she didn’t merit a twelve,” Armsmaster said with a frown.  “I foresee her striving to correct that error with an example or three.” 

The rapidly paling faces only served to reinforce his prior observation and he added a note to the meeting minutes to schedule checkups for each of them.  Surprisingly, it was former Director Piggot who seemed to be holding her resolve better than most.

“Who are we losing to the Teeth,” Piggot demanded.  “Speak plainly, Armsmaster.” 

“Are we going to need to rescue these Wards?” Director Heathrow asked before Armsmaster could answer.

Armsmaster sighed.  “I feel that we’re getting away from the important matters at hand by focusing on the Wards.  There is news about Weaver that I feel is pertinent to the coming discussions.” 

“Always deflecting,” Piggot muttered.

“On with it then,” Rebecca said.  “Though we will be getting an elaboration on Piggot’s question out of you before we are finished.” 

The man actually had the audacity to smirk at that statement, as if he knew better than she did.  Then again, with the information the man no doubt possessed, he could very well be correct about his assumption. 

“We have confirmation that the Butcher collective is no longer confined to the mental space of the current host,” Armsmaster said.  “Moreover, along with this development, it is unlikely that there will be a Butcher Sixteen, but rather, a Weaver Two.” 

“How did you obtain that confirmation?” Director Seneca asked.

Armsmaster chuckled ruefully.  “Aside from the word of half our remaining Wards who are free to come and go from the Teeth’s Arena?”  The reactions were varied, but it certainly served to show just how serious things must be in Brockton if there are multiple Wards that have endured prolonged exposure to a group of cannibalistic monsters in human skin.  “Mister Chambers could learn a few things from our resident cannibals.  They continue to draw in new recruits, even from within our own ranks.  Shadow Stalker and Browbeat were both involved with Weaver’s trigger event, and yet both are now active members of the Teeth.” 

“It was my impression that Browbeat was working undercover,” Rebecca said. 

Armsmaster nodded.  “They were, though recent revelations pushed them over the edge.”  Armsmaster paused, then sighed.  “How much of what we learned from the Echidna incident should be revealed here?” 

Rebecca blinked.  “You’re actually asking permission?”

David found himself echoing the sentiment.  Armsmaster was willing to show that much restraint?  Perhaps things weren’t as dire as he feared if they were willing to show such restraint in disseminating the information.  He could have easily fucked off to the Guild and burned the Protectorate to the ground in his wake. 

“The information will be made public the day the current Truce expires,” Armsmaster continued.  That gave them thirteen more days to get ahead of the fires.  “But this isn’t a meeting of the general public, now is it?  Everyone here deserves to know before we blow the whistle.” 

“Very well,” Rebecca said.  There wasn’t even a hint of the discomfort he knew she had to be feeling that showed on her face.  “The information he is intending to share goes several layers into classified operations that span decades.  The first layer is that I am the civilian identity of Alexandria.” 

There were surprisingly few reactions to that revelation, which Rebecca didn’t miss.  Given they once used the excuse that Alexandria was acting as Director Costa-Brown’s body double once when she survived an assassination attempt, maybe it wasn’t as surprising as it might have once been.

Undeterred, Rebecca pressed on.  “The second layer is that the Triumvirate are members of a clandestine organization known as Cauldron which is responsible for selling powers to those willing to pay.  Legend is unaware of the next fact, but the Case 53s were often our failed experiments.  Their bodies twisted by a failed mixture and minds wiped by a Cape we have on retainer for that express purpose.” 

That was a rather polite way to say they kept the poor man in a cage after his own vial wiped his mind and anyone else who got too close.  He’d been twisted into the form of an overgrown slug with a vaguely humanoid face.  The only being that could even interact with him at this point was the Custodian.

Rebecca’s eyes flicked, and he knew right then that she was looking at him.  He didn’t want to say the last part, even if the public would never actually learn of it.  He just couldn’t see Armsmaster delivering that bombshell to the people.  The Protectorate and PRT leadership on the other hand?  He wouldn’t even hesitate. 

“And I suppose that leaves me for the final revelation,” David said, his voice strained.  His life on Bet would be effectively over after this.  At least until Scion began his inevitable rampage in the coming years.  “The Endbringers have long been theorized to have human origins.  This theory has been settled at last.  During the Echidna incident a rogue clone of myself gained temporary control over Leviathan as he fought Alexandria, Armsmaster, and Dragon during their stand.  I learned that some aspect of my power that I do not consciously control has influence over the Endbringers.  Both their creation, and their deployment.” 

There, the truth was out. 

He wasn’t quite sure where Cauldron would set him up for the near future, but he was certain it would be comfortable.  He was too important of an asset to just abandon on an island somewhere on an uninhabited Earth.  If anything, they would put him on one of the Earths that suffered major environmental damages due to human hubris. 

Low laughter pierced the silence and all eyes focused on the monitor it belonged to.  Emily Piggot laughed, throwing her head back as she completely lost it.  When she looked back, her eyes shone with manic energy and raw malice.  Unhinged would be the perfect descriptor as she stood there with tears prickling at the corners of her eyes.

“Oh, how much I have been vindicated today,” Emily said, wiping tears from her eyes.  “And how completely fucked we all are.  Screw this, I’m staying retired.  Have fun with your complete and utter shit show.  I’m out.” 

The monitor darkened. 

Silence prevailed across the assembled Directors and Leaders. 

“Well, that was shockingly similar to Browbeat’s reaction,” Armsmaster said, cutting through the silence.  “That being said.  I must also tender my resignation.  If you wish to contact me, please do so through my new employer.” 

His feed went out, leaving a Guild logo in its place. 

“Well, that was certainly a resignation,” Director Armstrong muttered.

David could only agree.  He’d seen more than a few over the years, but none quite so brazen as that.  Given the future of the Protectorate, he couldn’t even blame the man.  The organization was doomed to fall.

“I suppose that brings us to the next order of business,” Rebecca said, straightening a folder before opening it.  “Eidolon, we’re remanding you to Earth Nu until such time as we are certain you won’t drop another Endbringer in our lap.” 

Gritting his teeth, David nodded in agreement.  He’d known it was coming, but he still didn’t like being sidelined. 

***

David left the meeting with his head hung low.  He was effectively sidelined away from Earth Bet until such time as they could be certain he wouldn’t shit out another Endbringer.  It galled him to no end, but worse, he agreed with the decision.  What was he supposed to do?  He considered himself Earth’s mightiest hero, but in truth he was her greatest butcher. 

Ironic wasn’t quite lofty enough of a word for it.

With a twist of a weak flight power, he took to the air and angled himself towards Houston.  He could easily call upon a door into Cauldron’s headquarters, but he decided against it.  He wasn’t in the mood to hear more of his impending exile.  At least he knew he wouldn’t be locked on the Garden world.  That world where the Garden rested deep within the crater from its impact was one that always brought deep melancholic resentment with it.  

Such a cataclysmic event had scoured all life from the world, making it the perfect place to hold their clandestine meetings and plot the future of humanity.  Yet, those events hadn’t stopped pieces of Eden from landing on other worlds.  

He knew that Contessa was born from one such fragment, flung through cracks in reality surrounding the Garden before it was stilled by her blade.  Such had been the origins of Cauldron and their quest to save all worlds from the monsters that had crossed the stars to end humanity.  They knew precious little about the true motivations of such entities, only that they would scour their worlds upon completion of whatever their goals were. 

Eden’s crash had disrupted those plans and set Scion on his current forlorn trajectory.  David had known from the beginning that his fragment of Eden was something important, and not just because of how powerful it made him.  It was the way Scion looked at him the first time they crossed paths at Behemoth. 

The Goddess was once assumed to be such a piece, but was instead a Cluster trigger unlike anything Cauldron had ever seen.  Contessa ensured she remained stranded upon her world following the quarantine of White Rock.  As a native of Shin, she was one of the few that Cauldron did their best to avoid provoking any ire.  She was more than willing to leave them be so long as Cauldron returned the favor.

Unlike Shin’s Goddess, the Fallen had no such policies.  He didn’t know their name, but they had a cognitohazard within their ranks that was the subject of a vial.  Nobody was willing to test how resistant he might be to this mystery cape’s influence.  

Then there was Jack Slash and his uncanny ability to avoid any Parahuman efforts to stop him, including the Triumvirate.  Even Contessa couldn’t path out a way to get the drop on the man.  He was untouchable, and the Nine were considered too valuable to just excise from the world.  The Siberian especially was one of the few capes that might be able to damage Scion’s true body wherever it might be locked away. 

Weaver and her Teeth were being counted among those assets deemed too valuable to eliminate.  David’s hands were tied from dealing with any of the major threats to the world he had sworn to protect.  He was given a week to set his affairs in order and then he would be ferried off to Earth Nu, one of the idyllic worlds they planned as a potential safe haven for repopulation following Scion’s defeat. 

An optimistic plan if there ever was one. 

Cauldron had a small base established in a climate stable region that would see to all his needs.  It even had a beach where he would effectively be on vacation.  What a joke.  

“Door,” he said, stepping through and into his Houston office for what might be the last time.  Blinking, he wasn’t surprised to see Contessa standing in his office; such a scene was a regular enough occurrence that he didn’t flinch.  The woman said nothing; simply raised her hand and a new portal wreathed in green flickered to life. 

This was something new and immediately set him on edge.  Why was Cauldron’s greatest asset using a foreign portal?  Shit, she was running some Path that the rest of Cauldron couldn’t know about, wasn’t she?  Clairvoyant could be blinded by a great many things, and he held little doubt that she was employing one of those blindspots currently. 

When he brought himself through he took in the new surroundings.  The space was spartan and closed in.  Walls of metal with chipped tile floors led both forward and back.  The lighting was subdued, coming from cheap fluorescent bulbs along the ceiling.  The space seemed familiar, but he couldn’t quite place it. 

“Welcome to the Birdcage, Mistress of the Eye.” 

David spun at the chorus of a hundred voices only for his blood to turn to ice.  A young girl no older than twelve stood there in flowing green robes dyed from repurposed prisoner garments.  She had a child-like visage that did nothing to hide the depth of her bright green eyes.  Of greater concern were the trio of ghostly shades hovering just behind her. 

“And the High Priest, of course.  Still wearing the wrong costume I see.  Still, I greet you and welcome both to The Palace Under The Mountain.”

“And I greet you, Faerie Queen,” Contessa said.  “I bring dire news pertaining to the curtain call.” 

The playfulness that had lurked on the edge of his perception vanished; replaced by a pervading aura of intense focus.  Gone was the child and in her place was the monster that necessitated being locked away. 

“The Queen Administrator has discarded the script and acts freely,” Contessa continued.  “She builds her own court in defiance of the current order and evades my sight.  If allowed to continue we could see an end to it all.” 

Wait, wasn’t that exactly what they wanted?  Why was Contessa telling her all of this if the goal was to stop the Cycle that Scion perpetuated?  Was she manipulating the Faerie Queen, or had Contessa defected from the side of humanity? 

“I must prepare for war,” Glaistig Uaine said, biting at her thumb.  “I yet lack the soldiers I would need to call to arms in the coming battles.” 

“Then harvest them,” Contessa said, gesturing towards the Birdcage at large.  “The Birdcage is yours, as it always was.  Collect what you need and return.  We have much to do before the final curtain rises.” 

To his horror, Glaistig vanished in a twirl of pink sparkles.  Moments later the entire structure trembled as alarms sounded.

“I disabled any outside monitoring,” Contessa said.  “Nobody will know what happened here until long after we have departed.  As far as they will be concerned, Glaistig Uaine simply decided to leave, and take everyone with—” 

Contessa recoiled, gripping at her head as she stumbled to the side and leaned against the wall.  David pulled upon a restorative power that he knew provided relief to head pain and let the aura radiate from himself.  He’d done it on reflex, from prior times that he and Contessa worked together to try and work around new blind spots in her path. 

“There was a disruption,” Contessa said, composing herself quickly.  “Two new anomalies have emerged within these walls.” 

Before he could finish processing that statement, a frazzled Glaistig Uaine shimmered into existence next to them, breathing heavily. 

“I was unable to collect both Lustrum and Marquis,” Glaistig Uaine said as three shades attended to her.  “Their Faerie did not wish to join with me.  They said their allegiance was to another.” 

Great, more problems cropping up.  “Did you kill them?” 

“No,” Glaistig said.  “When I attempted, both of their Faerie struck out and repelled me.” 

“Weaver,” Contessa said.  “Our time grows shorter than I feared.  We must move quickly.” 

Contessa snapped her finger and a new portal opened. 

“That does not lead to the realm above,” Glaistig Uaine said, eyeing the new iris.  “Why do you take us to her Court?” 

“Because we are not ready to face the coming Dawn,” Contessa said.  “The board has been upended, and if things continue as they are, then we will all fall.” 

Glaistig’s eyes narrowed.  “You mean to establish a new Court.”

“That is why I am here,” Contessa said.  David couldn’t help but feel that he needed to act now to prevent a disaster, but Contessa simply raised a hand as she looked him in the eyes.  “Eidolon.  We are going to fix your waning power, all you need to do is trust me.” 

She wasn’t able to path out anything involving himself, so how had she known to say that?  Something was off about the whole situation, but he knew that he couldn’t beat her.  While Contessa’s agent couldn’t accurately map him out, she could effectively model his reactions based on the powers selected.

“I am here to show you both the Path necessary for survival.  One only recently opened up to us thanks to the Queen Administrator’s rebellion.  One that will bring about the Answer to the great Question.” 

With that statement, Contessa stepped through the portal.  David turned his focus on the diminutive Faerie Queen, wondering if she was going to take the obvious bait.  Much to his surprise, she actually smiled.  One of her ghostly apparitions lifted her up and carried her through the portal, leaving him alone in the Birdcage.

He knew that he could call for a door and escape back to Cauldron.  He could report everything to Doctor Mother and they would find a way to face a rogue Contessa.  Yet, something about that idea didn’t sit right with him.  Moreover, he was curious how she intended to fix his waning power. 

Passing through the portal, David found himself in a spartan meeting room decked out in blue hues.  A symbol hung from a flag on the wall and his blood ran cold.  A gauntlet print in white sat against a blue flag behind the woman herself who was sitting at the head of the table with a tablet in hand as she watched them step inside.  

“Well then,” Goddess said, setting the tablet down.  “I take it that this means Cauldron has decided to eliminate me?” 

“More consolidation than elimination,” Contessa said, straightening a glove that hadn’t been crooked in the first place.  “I do hope you understand, but we are running out of time.  Glaistig?” 

The false child raised her hand towards Goddess as space rippled between them.  Goddess’ eyes glowed a piercing blue as the five seated around the table stood as one.  Their chairs slid back, then flung with the force of a cannon right at the trio of intruders.  Eidolon brought forth a barrier; one of his easier to call upon powers.  The chairs broke against it as he cycled to two stronger abilities that would serve him well in the coming battle. 

Walls broke under the pressure from the trio of shades that Glaistig had called forth, splintering the building.  More capes responded to the sudden explosion of violence and it soon became clear that they were greatly outmatched.  That didn’t matter, for he alone could have handled the threats at hand.  With the three of them together?

Contessa moved, and with nothing other than her bare hands she began to pick apart the rabble that came for them.  Glaistig was no different.  Her shades were selected ahead of time and proved themselves to be the perfect counters to the threats arrayed before them.  It did lead him to wonder why Contessa hadn’t done the same with his own abilities, but he knew that would be answered in time.  It wasn’t as though she had spelled out which abilities Glaistig needed, she just pulled them up as though she knew. 

Then again, maybe she did, given some of the people interred within the Birdcage. 

He reached for powers of flight, energy, and defense.  Three powers answered his call, each mediocre in strength, but would work well together.  He deflected one blow, then returned fire upon the member of the Goddess cluster.  The fight kicked off in ernest as Glaistig blew out the walls, and sent the Goddess flying with her strike.  The Faerie Queen launched off in pursuit, kicking up debris in her wake. 

He envied how she only grew stronger with every cape she took in.  It was a direct mirror of his own waning power; one that turned his stomach.  When he first took the vial, he thought himself to be the luckiest man in the world.  But that wasn’t the case, not when people like Glaistig and Weaver were just handed ever greater power. 

The fairness of it burned, but there was little he could do about it.  No, all he could do right now was focus on taking down the opponents before him.  He didn’t know any of their names, nor what powers they might hold.  All he knew was that they were in his way.  He blasted one, then moved to take some of the pressure off Contessa only for the woman to pull some move that threw one of the capes into the other two and gave them a moment to breathe.  Contessa wasn’t even breathing heavily from her exertion.  He landed beside her, ready to face the four remaining clustermates present. 

His barrier broke the coming assault from the insignificant pests.  They weren’t worthy of facing him, yet he knew that Glaistig was the one that needed to face the Goddess.  He was too weak now, yet also too valuable to risk in a confrontation.  So why had Contessa brought him?

“Stop reaching for purely combat oriented powers,” Contessa said, blocking a strike without looking, then firing off two shots that deflected a thrown projectile away from them.  “Reach deeper, find what you need to harness that blazing star stored within.” 

Blazing what?  The only thing he could think of was the power he stored from Leviathan’s death, but nothing he tried had worked.  It was too volatile, constantly fluctuating within that space.  The power containing it was all or nothing, all he could do with it was release it as an attack.  Doing so would see the planet destroyed.

“She is correct,” Glaistig said, appearing by his side.  “You are blinded by thoughts of conquest.  You are Noble, your subjects serve you.  Ask, and they shall answer.” 

Before he could contemplate that further, Glaistig’s shades rushed upward, intercepting Goddess before she could strike.  Contessa moved as well, putting herself between the Clustermates and himself.  Eidolon, the greatest hero, being protected like some childish Ward fighting their first villain.

It was humiliating.  All because he lacked the strength to stand on his own.  He wasn’t even forty yet and already they were treating him like some doddering old man!  Despite that, he knew what was needed if he was going to reach past his hangups.  He cast aside his three powers and reached within.  New powers answered, flitting to the surface only to be dismissed.  He didn’t need the ability to level buildings or rend flesh.  He needed to control and harness energy on an unimaginable scale.

Digging so deep wasn’t something he experimented with often.  He’d found Master abilities that could bend a world.  He’d found matter manipulation great enough to create plagues to ravage populations.  Yet, he had never found anything that might have helped him regain his strength. 

Not until now.

A new power stood out, one that could emulate other capes.  He almost dismissed it, because copying others hadn’t ever helped him before.  Mimicking Contessa wasn’t something he needed, but what about Glaistig?  Could he use her ability to manipulate the shades of fallen Parahumans?  Wait, they didn’t need to be fallen, she could harvest the living as well.  

He reached out for one of the men Contessa fought, and pulled.  A rending scream tore from his lips as his entire body locked up with convulsions.  Blood leaked from his eyes and ears and nose, but David kept pulling.  Something wrenched free, and the power suffused his entire being.  The cape could control the immaterial, and he knew right then that he had his answer. 

He pulled up the storage ability, along with another two powers, bringing him to four active.  A single shade hovered over his shoulder; the cape he had pulled upon.  This was one power he never intended to release, not with how useful it was.  Six powers were better than three after all. 

The battle paused as every combatant took him in.  He radiated power that he hadn’t felt in over a decade.  It still wasn’t enough.  He let the energy go, a single pinpoint of an explosion waiting to happen, and seized it for himself.  The power was pulled within and spread through connections unseen.  The first power to stir was one he used against Behemoth the first time it appeared, the ability to delete matter at will. 

He snatched it up, feeding it with the surplus.  He then turned it on the closest of the Cluster and everything beneath the woman’s neck vanished with a pop of displaced air.  Glaistig caught the woman’s head, the surprise evident on her face as the head blinked one last time before falling slack. 

Laughing, Glaistig tossed him the severed head, and he pulled the shade free before letting it fall to the earth where it shattered on the concrete.  Goddess shouted something incoherent, but he was already shifting that rush of new energy to something deeper still.  Another power, one that he had felt before, yet not the same. 

As it bubbled to the surface, David let out a manic laugh. 

He pulled upon it, letting his desire to grow fuel it.  That power answered, and the world cracked.  The air shifted, a baleful presence spilling forth.  Contessa and Glaistig both returned to his side, seemingly satisfied. 

“Finally, you have taken your mantle in truth, High Priest,” Glaistig said, bowing her head.  “I welcome you as an equal to the stage.” 

He couldn’t help the smile that came to his lips, his attention on the floating figure in blue that leveled themself before him.  Rather than raise a hand to unleash his renewed power, he instead sent a mental signal outward. 

[Primary Objective; Crush Goddess] 

The Endbringer behind him let out a trio of howls that shook the very heavens.  The fourth had answered his summons, just as they always did.  He was their Master, and his foes were theirs.  This new Endbringer was styled after the Guardian of Hell’s Gates from Greek mythology, though it felt as if something was missing.

Three minor powers answered his curiosity, latching themselves to the Endbringer.  They took root, and the beast roared in answer.  There was only one name befitting the creature, and so it became truth.

[Designation; Cerberus]

The Endbringer lunged, flames igniting around the trio of heads.  Goddess moved as swiftly as her power could carry her, but the remaining Clustermates weren’t so fortunate.  Each died in an instant, one consumed by flames, the others consumed by fang and tongue.  Their power flowed into him and he drank deep.  The sensation was invigorating and nearly orgasmic.  He needed more.  He needed the Goddess herself. 

A hand came to rest on his shoulder. 

“No, she is mine,” Glaistig Uaine said, speaking with a single calming voice.  He almost rebuked her, but something in those piercing green eyes stilled his hand.  “We need connections between us if we are to take their place in Avalon.  I will take her, just as you have taken her brethren.” 

Glaistig flew off, engaging the Goddess with the support of his newest Endbringer.  He knew the battle held a foregone conclusion, something deeper insisted upon it.  That poisoned well was now his in totality, singing beneath his skin as he finally embraced what it meant for his future.  A great destiny was finally in sight, but he had one question on his mind that needed answering. 

“Why go through all of this?” David asked the woman standing beside him.  “Was it truly necessary to bring the two of us together like this?” 

Contessa smiled, though the emotion never reached her eyes.  “The two of you have both been lonely.  You sought a counterpart that was equal in standing, and now you have that.  Glaistig originally planned to bind herself to Scion and stand in her place.  Now, she intends to bind herself to you and usurp his throne.” 

“But why now?” He asked.  “What purpose did waiting so long serve?”

“It’s quite simple,” Contessa said, looking off with disinterest.  “Simply defeating Scion is no longer a viable end.  No, instead we must usurp him and his control of the Network.  It is the only Path forward for survival.” 

Standing there, feeling strength greater than ever flowing through his veins, he finally understood.  Someone had to step forward and take the reins from Scion, and he was one of the few that could do so.  Glaistig was another, and so was Weaver.  It was a matter of who would be the one to succeed, and Contessa was throwing her lot in with them.  

She might have been waning, but that didn’t mean that Contessa had fallen from prominence.  No, her unique ability would be paramount if they were going to succeed in harvesting the Agents necessary to usurp Scion himself.  They just needed to bide their time until they were strong enough to turn the tables on him. 

There was one power that David held that would give them the best chance, one he wouldn’t hesitate to employ once the time came.  One was destroyed, two were active on Bet, and one was currently tearing into Goddess’ flesh.  More than that, there were sixteen additional waiting for his summons.  It was his greatest strength, one that was being held against him. 

Soon he would show everyone what it meant to be Master of the Endbringers. 

He would usurp the mantle of the Butcher, he would rip through Bet’s greatest capes, he would consume the Garden in its totality.  He would defeat Scion just as he was always fated.  This was his story, and he was the hero that would see the world saved, even if it cost him his humanity.  

The High Priest was ready to claim his destiny.

***

Author's Notes:

With that, arc 5 of Inheritance is officially wrapped up. I'm also announcing that Inheritance will be going on Hiatus for a while so I can flesh out my plans for this arc and get a bit of a backlog rolling.  Arc 5 was drafted without a backlog, and while I was working on additional projects.  I struggled at times to keep on deadline, even with the reduced pace.  The fact is, my life was turned upside down back in January as I moved across country and gave up my job of the last decade.  It was necessary for my safety and I don't regret it, but finding my muse has been difficult at times. 

I've learned that chasing deadlines only stifles my muse, and I'm hoping to avoid that going forward. Expect arc 6 when its finished with drafting in totality.

As a bit of an apology, the coming PHO chapter is going to be written in a public google doc where anyone with access can provide contributions and watch as it takes shape. This will be the first chapter of arc 6, but also serve as a recap for arc 5 for when the hiatus ends. Patreon backers will also get peeks at arc 6 as it takes shape and will get to read 6.1 before the PHO chapter goes live on any other site. I'm hopeful that the hiatus won't extend past the holidays, but I don't want to make any promises I might end up breaking.