Chapter 242 – Floor 43: Part 2

  “How much did Mercy tell you regarding where we come from and the gods we serve?” Mathew asked as he slowly walked to the table. Seeing an empty seat across from Obsidian, he carefully righted a chair from where it rested on the floor.

  Ignoring the hostile glares from the Villains surrounding him, Mathew sat down. Titaness, who was sitting on the floor beside him, let out a low, angry growl at his casual actions. The Puppeteer stared at him with an undisguised hunger while the other Class ‘A’ Villains each had their own attitude toward the Hero who had barged into their secret hideout.

  “Too little to satisfy my curiosity. She identified herself as the Apostle to the god of Mischievous Depravity but refused to elaborate on what that meant or what a ‘god’ was. I assumed it was a grandiose title for a supremely powerful being, someone of the ‘SS’ Class or even beyond.” Obsidian replied as she slowly sat back in her throne-like chair.

  “But you still allowed her to lead you into a battle at the construction site? That’s a lot of trust for someone you just met.” Mathew countered, and Obsidian shook her head.

  “Mischievous Depravity is our Patron, but very few people know that name. Besides, she was powerful enough to make us listen to her. But enough about us, you came here to talk, and so far, it’s been me who has done most of it.” Obsidian stated.

  “Fair enough. I’ll start at the beginning, then. Do you want to clear the room, or are you fine with all these people hearing what I have to say?” Mathew asked, gesturing to the dozens of Villains who were standing around the table, glaring at him.

  “They will likely mutiny if we tried. I suggest you begin your explanation, Mr. Larson. Who, or what, is Mischievous Depravity?” Dr. Malevolence said, taking in the mood of the room. Mathew leaned back in his chair and nodded.

  “A god, with a small ‘g.’ One whose power is beyond anything in this world, likely anything in this universe. And they aren’t alone; there are an incalculable number of gods where Mercy and I come from.” Mathew began, only for Lady Vortex to scoff.

  “You would have us believe that ‘gods’ are real? This is nonsense.” The brightly dressed and flamboyant woman said, rolling her eyes at Mathew’s explanation. Many of the other Villains reacted in a similar manner, although Obsidian was less skeptical.

  “If what you are saying is true, why would a deity have any interest in us? Why go to the trouble of offering to become the Patron of the League of Villains? Why not just subjugate the entire world with their power?” Ghost asked, her voice soft but able to cut through the room.

  “They could if the interests of all the gods aligned. Thankfully for all of us, that has never happened. They are too busy being at odds with each other, blocking their rival's interests, that they are unable to directly effect events.” Mathew paused and looked around for a moment before continuing.

  “Do you know the game ‘musical chairs’? The one where everyone walks around a few chairs while the music plays with the goal of sitting on one when the music stops, but there aren’t enough chairs for everyone?” Mathew asked, his tangent surprising the Villains for a moment.

  It was Dr. Malevolence who replied, an understanding expression on his face. The Villain was known for his quick thinking and vast intellect.

  “The gods are participating in this game, and our world is the chair.” He stated that his face had become unreadable for a moment.

  “Not just your world. All worlds, in every universe that ever is and ever will be. Every single Deity is looking to sit claim their seat when the music stops, but there is never enough for everyone. So, they block each other. If they can’t have it, then no one should. That’s why Mischievous Depravity can’t take direct action, and why they are willing to become your patron.” Mathew clarified.

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  “A multi-verse. An infinite amount of worlds, all versions of Earth.” Dr. Malevolence finished, a crease forming between his brows as he thought about the consequences of this revelation.

  “That doesn’t explain why you are here, Mr. Larson.” Obsidian interjected, only for Ironclad to speak in his robotic tone.

  “He is in service to another god.” The metallic man said, and Mathew nodded at the Villain.

  “Unyielding Declaration.” Mathew supplied.

  “And this god is interested in the same thing as Mischievous Depravity? I’ll admit, Mr. Larson, I don’t see the point in you telling us this. If all the gods care about is claiming our world for their own, what does it matter which one succeeds? Mischievous Depravity has offered us the ability to grow stronger and to enhance our natural abilities.” Obsidian stated.

  “That’s a pretty minor reward in the grand scheme of things. What you think of as a ‘blessing’ and a ‘gift,’ everyone can do naturally where I come from. You don’t even need to pledge yourself to a god. You’re being used and, in return, you’ve been given trash and told it's gold.” Mathew replied.

  “And what is it that we are being used for? What do the gods want from us that they are so willing to fight over our world?” Ghost asked.

  “This.” Mathew said as he slowly reached to the side. His hand disappeared for a moment as he grasped something from his inventory and placed it on the table.

  The object was a chunk of Crystallized Aether, a fragment of breathtaking and unearthly beauty. It glimmered in deep, luminous shades of blue. To Obsidian and the other villains, the only thing they could compare it to was a pristine piece of glacier, untainted in any way.

  Embedded within its translucent structure were swirling tendrils of energy that shimmered and shifted with a life of its own. They radiated a glow like a miniature constellation of stars. The surface of the crystal was smooth but had intricate patterns that caught and refracted the light.

  Obsidian subconsciously leaned forward in her chair as she gazed at the crystal in awe. She could feel the power within it, an energy that was both foreign and familiar.

  “Aether.” She whispered, knowing what it was.

  But she had never seen it in physical form before. It was always an ethereal presence within her and those who possessed superhuman abilities. At most, she would catch a glimpse of blue mist, so faint that it could often be confused with a trick of her eyes.

  “How did you come by it in such a form?” Dr. Malevolence asked, his eyes intent on the crystal Mathew had placed on the table.

  “I’m not surprised you haven’t seen it like this; it takes a special set of circumstances and conditions, not to mention an obscene amount of time, for Aether to form into crystals. This world hasn’t had Aether long enough for it to crystallize yet.” Mathew said before continuing.

  “This is what the gods are after, why they are so interested in this world. Aether is formed naturally by intelligent beings, although I’m not sure of the particulars. Regardless, your world has it and they want it.” Mathew finished before picking up the chunk of Crystallized Aether and tossing it to Obsidian.

  Despite her usual calm demeanour, she jumped slightly in her chair and gave a gasp as she quicky snatched the crystal from the air as it flew toward her. She looked at Mathew in shock at his casual abandoning of such a precious item.

  “It’s a gift for listening to me.” Mathew said with a shrug.

  “Now, the reason I’m here. Not just in this room, but on this world. I’m from Earth, but not your Earth. In my world, things like magic, superhuman abilities, or even Aether didn’t exist. I was a normal person, just like everyone else on my world.” Mathew began.

  “Then, something happened that changed everything. The gods gave us a choice, to keep living our normal, everyday lives or go to another place, one where we could potentially earn a wish. Whatever you wanted, whatever you could ever want, was there for the taking. If you were willing to accept the risk.”

  “I’m here to offer you that same choice.” Mathew said, pushing back his chair from the table and standing up.

  “My name is Mathew Larson, Speaker. The Enduring. Apostle to the god of Unyielding Declaration. I’ve come to this world on behalf of the Tower of Avarice, on behalf of the gods, to build a Tower on this planet and allow you all the chance to earn a wish.”

  “But, be warned, it won’t be easy. If you choose to help me, if you choose to enter the Tower of Avarice, there is a good chance that you will fail and die. But, if you are strong enough, lucky enough, and you persevere, you can stand at the top of the Tower and speak your wish to the gods and they will grant it to you.”

  Mathew proclaimed, his voice was different than it was before. More commanding, as if he were saying the words on behalf of someone else.

  Obsidian wasn’t the only one in the room who was stunned by his statement and the offer he was giving them. It was inconceivable that a Hero, someone who was fighting them the day before, would march into their lair and make an offer to grant them whatever they wished.

  It was so ludicrous that no one questioned the validity of it. The way Mathew spoke and conducted himself made it seem perfectly reasonable.

  Obsidian was silent, weighing his words, before she replied.

  “What do you need from us?”