Alyster Black’s Guide to the FWA
It’s the first Saturday of the year, only seven days before the most monumental match in Alyster Black’s career is set to take place. A match that is so overly personal, where the stipulations are so vastly complicated than even he is not fully aware of what the rules and implications of the match, which he had blindly agreed to in a fit of pure hubris, are.
“Winter Wasteland” as Devin Golden has so colourfully put it, was, in theory, the culminating match of the Rotten Gold’s career. Taking stipulations of all his most historically important matches and throwing them together in a hodgepodge of complicated match design, confusion and barbarity. Alyster Black, as violent and barbaric as he was often portrayed, was a fan of keeping things simple. Throwing hands with a person you hated under minimal stipulations was more than enough for him. Throwing in a cage was fine, a second was beginning to feel like overkill, but three cages was a step too far from the usual blood soaked stipulation driven gladiatorial battles he was accustomed too.
On a day that future historians will refer to as the past Alyster Black awoke to a startling situation that would change the very nature of his existence. Standing in his kitchen with a fresh cup of tea, he peeled open the blinds and found an immaculately beautiful sunny day greeting him.
It was still early in the morning. Alyster was still wearing what he’d worn to bed, a ratty t-shirt and track pants, under a bathrobe with a pair of bunny slippers that were brought for him as an ironic gift that he’d ironically fallen in love with and wore as frequently as he could.
The cup of Earl Grey was far too hot to drink so Alyster set it down on the kitchen countertop and continued to stare out at the beautiful morning sky, letting his mind wander, his expression turning blank from the lack of conscious thought.
A knock on the door snapped Alyster’s attention. It was early in the morning and he was not expecting company. With his blissful solitude being interrupted, Alyster immediately decided that today, as beautiful a day as it was, had been ruined and that the rest of it would be horrible and that nothing would be able to convince him otherwise.
He was right of course, the proceeding events would prove so. But he had no way of knowing what events would transpire at the time of him figuring out that today would be a horrible day so this feeling could safely be disregarded as a premonition and treated as nothing more than the sour-outlook on life of a curmudgeon.
If Alyster knew who was knocking at his door this early in the morning then perhaps his entire outlook would be more positive. Then again, any unannounced disturbance of his peace was considered a war crime in his mind. When he finally answered the door, ready to get into a physical confrontation with whomever was on the other side, his mood quickly shifted from furious to alleviation. On the other side of the door was a friend, a relatively new friend but a friend nonetheless. Followers of the Alyster Black heartbreak saga would recognise this friend as his helpful guide on the road to reclaiming his heart and soul. Those who have not followed the heartbreak saga would be left in confusion.
In the context of this story however Alyster did not recognise the fiery faced creature as his spirit guide but as a friend he’d met in recent years named Nero Seele.
Nero was otherworldly in appearance, their body appeared to be covered in flames but they did not illuminate their surrounding area nor were they hot to the touch. Their face lacked any features but just by looking at them you could determine their exact mood as if they were making a face at you. Nero was also wearing clothes, dressing in masculine clothes to fit their Alan Rickman sounding voice.
In spite of all of this anyone who interacted with Nero treated it as if they were just another person, that there was nothing fantastical about them. Walking the streets Nero garnered no attention, passer-bys didn’t stare or make comments. Nero was completely inconspicuous.
Alyster Black was also blissfully unaware of Nero’s origins and special nature. Being introduced to them at a party in Southern California and immediately hitting it off, paying no attention to Nero’s fantastical features or otherworldly insights into life, the universe, and everything. It seemed that at every junction of his life since meeting Nero was able to offer valuable advice that would serve Alyster well. The fact that he was a double champion was a testament to that.
“Alyster, sorry to disturb you on this beautiful morning but I have something rather important I need to tell you. Can I come in?” Nero’s voice seemed to echo with each word it spoke, but not phonically, its words echoed through Alyster’s mind, as if they originated inside there rather than in the world.
“Of course you can mate, mi casa es su casa.” As much as a hermit as Alyster tried to be, his home was indeed open to those he considered friends.
Nero pushed past Alyster and immediately went to the kitchen. Opening the fridge and taking out a six pack of beer. Alyster casually closed the front door and followed. Nero was in the middle of opening each beer as Alyster casually sauntered into the kitchen.
“It’s a little early for that, isn't it mate?” Alyster joked with a bright chuckle, he was no stranger to daytime drinking.
The irony of the joke was not lost on Nero who casually handed three of the beers to Alyster.
“Drink, you’re going to need it.”
Alyster picked up his tea, waving the cup to bring it to Nero’s attention,
“No thanks mate, I’m good.”
“Seriously Alyster, what I have to tell you is so mind boggling important, it’s Earth shattering man, you’re going to need a few drinks just to fathom it, and I’m going to need a few just to share it with you.”
Nero wasn’t lying, what they had to tell Alyster was so tremendously vital, it was news that would shatter his entire world view and really put a further damper on his day. Unfortunately for Nero their timing was off as they were two minutes behind schedule. Whilst travelling to Alyster Black’s home Nero was delayed by a pair of children riding their bike who had crashed and injured themselves. Nero wasn’t delayed from stopping to help them, rather their delay came from how long they’d stopped to laugh at the children’s misfortune.
Upon sharing this story with Alyster Black and stressing just how time sensitive what they had to share with him was, as well as how vitally important it was that they share this news with him now, all Alyster Black could do was say,
“Fuck mate, I don’t blame you for being behind schedule. That’s about the funniest thing possible. Shit, I could watch kids fall off their bikes all day. In fact I’m surprised we’re not watching kids stack right now.”
In the time Nero wasted explaining his schedule and the vital importance of the news they had to share with Alyster, they could of course have just shared that information. Unfortunately now Alyster was searching for videos of children falling on his phone, fortunately this activity led to him finally downing the beers Nero had prepared for him.
“Okay, now that you’ve had a few I can finally tell you what’s going on.”
“Right, and just what is so important and vital that you absolutely need to share tell me and that I need to be three beers deep to hear?”
“If you stop interrupting me I’ll tell you.”
“Ah, sorry mate.”
“What did I just say?” A brief pause permeated in the masked man’s kitchen before Nero cleared their throat and continued,
“I’m not actually from Burbank as I originally told you when we first met.”
“Oh, that’s not that big a deal. I mean there’s no shame in being from Reseda if that’s where you’re really from. The Karate Kid is set there.”
“No, that’s not what I mean-”
Nero is interrupted by Alyster,
“And I don’t see how that’s such vitally important Earth-shattering information that I needed to be three beers deep to hear it.”
“It will be when I reveal to you the nature of my origin. Have you ever noticed that I don’t look like most people?”
Alyster squinted and leant forward, taking in the sight of Nero with more scrutiny.
“Huh, I never really noticed it before but you’re sort of got a fiery thing going on. I guess that’s a little out of the ordinary but I’ve known you for a few years now and only just noticed so it can’t be that big a deal.”
Nero sighed, they raised a finger, ready to explain everything once and for all when suddenly the kitchen became dark.
“Ah crud, it’s already starting.”
Alyster was left puzzled, it was bright and sunny just a moment ago and now it was uncomfortably shady. Upon investigation, by looking out the kitchen window, Alyster discovered a large looming shadow covering the landscape and the culprit was not a cloud as one would expect, but an unexplainable phenomenon. In the sky was a large golden brick like object that ignored the laws of gravity with such contempt that gravity simply threw its arms up and pretended to be busy working on its screenplay rather than deal with it.
Black Dos Belts was left agasp at the sight of the impressively large object floating in the sky, and he was not alone. All over the world large golden brick like objects were blocking out the skies. They moved slowly, traversing the lower atmosphere for a short while. During the short while they stayed up there every grifter on the planet with the know-how to work a smart phone took to the internet to offer their two cents on the phenomenon and most of the population latched onto their favourite personality’s theory and treated it as gospel. Theories ranging from these objects being biblically accurate angels (they were not) that had come to enact the rapture, to theories that these giant golden brick like objects were a malfunction in a secret illuminati’s sky projection, all taken as basic fact without a single moment of hesitation.
Not a single scientist was offered an opportunity to give a plausible explanation, not that anyone would have listened to them anyway nor did they have the time to investigate the phenomenon as not even thirty minutes after the golden brick like objects had arrived did a voice bellow out across the world, projected by the large golden brick like objects.
“Ahhhhhhhhh… helloooooo woooorld…”
Alyster’s knuckles turned white at the sound of the voice.
“Is that Devin fucking Golden?”
A nod from Nero confirmed Alyster’s theory, it was in fact Devin Golden speaking from inside the giant golden brick like object floating in the sky. Devin Golden, who Alyster hated more than anyone else in the world with the exception of Danny Toner and Shawn Summers. The man who had tried to carve out his heart and left him disfigured and scarred with the initials FWA on his chest. The man who at every turn of Alyster’s fighting career seemed to just be there and would not fuck off no matter how insistant Alyster was that he do so. A man who claimed responsibility for the loss of Alyster’s oldest and closest friend and partner Krash. Who was responsible for Alyster not gaining the World Championship at the Anniversary Show. The man who was so selfish and so up himself that he considered Golden Rock to be the greatest tag team in the FWA. A man who in the last year had gone off the deep end and become a stark raving mad lunatic, this is of course a consequence of Alyster Black’s actions. In fact almost everything that Devin or Alyster had accomplished over the last year could be in some way attributed to one another. This annoyed Alyster more than anything, more than the sound of children laughing, more than the sight of cute puppies and more than the prospect of losing a match against Michelle von Horrowitz.
Yes, there were few people Alyster hated as much as he hated Devin Golden. And the sound of his voice had invariably ruined Alyster’s mood.
“I’veeeeee comeeee tooooo end it allllllllll…” Devin’s voice had a sing-song quality to it that had become grating to the ear.
“The world is cominnnnnnnnnnnng to annnnnnnnnnnnnn end…”
The world was unhappy to receive this news and protested, rabbling rapidly and loudly.
“It’ssssss to lateeeeee, there’sssss nothing you can doooo…This world is mineeeeeee and I can end it if I waaaaaaaant…”
God that voice was grating, Alyster was in the mist of grinding his teeth to dust as Devin continued his spiel.
“You seeeeee…I knowwwww…
I knowwww what this alllllllll is. And I can end it whenever I waaaaaant.”
The vast majority of people rabble rousing at the golden gravity defying bricks in the sky came to a consensus in what they were screaming, questioning just what the booming voice was talking about.
“I understand the natuuuuuuuure of realityyyyyyyy.”
It has been theorised that if the true nature of reality was to ever be determined then reality as we know it would cease to be and be replaced by something more absurd. Many believe this has already happened. Another school of thought into the nature of reality is that it doesn’t truly exist. That all of existence is not in fact existence but rather a shared dream world conjured up by a group of coma patients in the same ward. The person to come up with this theory is of course Devin Golden and he has been the subject of ridicule and scorn from his peers since. His theories on reality have been hand-waved and regarded as nothing more than delusions brought on by late stage CTE. Naturally the severity of any possible concussion related syndrome has been brushed aside by those around him, mostly because almost all of Devin Golden’s co-workers hate him but also because they too are suffering from late stage CTE.
“There’s no point arguing…it’s alreadyyyyy overrrr…ready the disruptors…”
A loud click could be heard across the globe as the booming voice died out. Each golden brick like object in the sky began to glow as bright green beams of energy charging and shooting across conductors decorating the underside of the ships, all the energy gathering at a central point in the middle of the crafts.
“So if I’m getting this right, Devin Golden has commandeered a fleet of alien starships and plans on destroying the entire world? That fucker is literally from another planet.” A thought occurred to Alyster who turned back to Nero,
“Did you know this was about to happen?”
“Yes.” Nero replied rather nonchalantly.
“And you were saying something about the true nature of your origin being vitally important?”
“Also correct.”
“Am I to assume that it’s got something to do with those world destroying flying golden bricks in the sky?”
“Well, sort of.”
“Right, now I assume you have some solution for this situation we’ve been confronted with.”
“Oh yes, and it very much has to do with the nature of reality. Which is what ties into the nature of my origin.”
“Wonderful, so whenever you’re ready to get rolling on that solution I’m here to help. I’ve no idea how long we have left, Devin has always been one for theatrics so there’s no telling if that light show is just for show or if it’s legit.”
“It’s partly for show, he could have charged those disruptors during the trip to Earth. He’s giving you time to get up there.”
“He’s waiting for me?”
Nero was taken aback by Alyster questioning that statement.
“Well, yeah. Of course he’s waiting for you, who else is he going to take the world from?”
“What do you mean by that? He’s waiting for me to go up there so that he can take the world from me? That’s utter lunacy, are you sure you’re not supposed to be up there in fucking-psycho-crazy-land with him?”
“You are the champion of the world. And the only person left that he hates. Besides that new friend of yours, Peacock.”
“So what, this is all a cry for attention so that he can confront me and try to take the world from me?”
“Yes, it’s dreadfully serious you see. He’ll go through with destroying the world.”
“I suppose I’d better get up there then.” Alyster reached into his robe pocket and pulled out his mask, fastening it over his face. He and Nero stared at each other for a few moments longer before Alyster broke the silence.
“And how do I get up there?”
“You get right under that charging beam and ask nicely.”
Alyster was unsurprised by that answer. With a deep sigh he left the comfort of his kitchen and proceeded out of the house and down the street with Nero following close behind.
“It a good thing that I’m three beers deep.” Alyster mused,
“Otherwise I don’t think I’d be handling this as well as I am.”
“And I still haven’t revealed the nature of the origin to you.”
“We’ve got time now don’t we?”
“Not really.” Nero pointed down a main street that ran adjacent to the path they and Alyster were travelling down. Approaching them was a parade of what could only be described as black clad zombies.
“Is that a Black Zombie Parade?”
“It appears to be so.”
Neither man was shocked at what they were witnessing. Fortunately the zombies were Romero zombies and moved very slowly, double so since most of them were weighed down with marching band instruments and uniform.
“I say we ignore them and get a move on, I’m quite fed up with Devin Golden and want to get this over with.”
“Absolutely, it’s a shitty non-sequitur anyway.”
Alyster was somehow even more annoyed than he was earlier. Proceeding in a sort of half jog in silence, eager to put an end to this entire situation and go back to drinking tea in the kitchen. Ridding himself of Devin Golden once and for all would be a rather favourable bonus.
It wouldn’t take them that much longer before they arrived at their destination, right under the charging green lights of the ship, staring up above.
“Right, now what?”
“Stick out your thumb.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes seriously, it’s thematic. It’ll work.”
Not in the mood to argue Alyster raised his thumb as if he was hitching a ride. Nothing happened, at least not immediately. After a scoff and just as he was lowering his arm a beam of light, though not the green light of the disruptor, shot down from the ship and engulfed both him and Nero. The sensation that followed could only be described as incredibly nauseating, like his very being was a glass of water being drunk by a very thirsty camel. It was the complete and total opposite of pleasant and something he wished to never have to repeat.
Everything was a blur for Alyster. After the lights died out he found himself lying down somewhere inside the ship, that much he was sure of. It was dingy, dirty, and miserable. The walls very clearly were once golden and beautiful, but now had dulled and looked rotten. It was very apropos considering the identity of the ship’s captain.
Alyster’s body ached, his head throbbed and his mouth was dry. He tried to sit up and was only able to do so after considerable exertion. Nero was fine, leaning against a doorway and keeping a lookout. A groan from Alyster caught Nero’s attention, who turned to him with what felt like a smirk on his non-expressive face.
“Ah, you’re finally awake. Good, we can put an end to this obnoxious charade then.”
“How long was I out?”
“No idea, the transportation process isn’t one to one with the passage of time. It could range from a few minutes to a few hours.”
“Is the world still there?”
“Not sure, there isn’t exactly any windows on this crapheap of a ship. I wouldn't worry about it, just remember these two words, don’t panic.”
“Fair enough…let’s go find out then.” Alyster tried to stand but struggled immensely,
“Give me a hand.” He raised an arm for aid. Nero was more than happy to support him. Helping him to his feet and draping his arm over their shoulder.
“Right, this is going to do wonders for the stealth operation.”
“I thought Devin was inviting me to come kick his ass.”
“Yes and no. He wants you to suffer and he wants to destroy your entire world, preferably with you in it. Why do you think the mothership is floating over San Dimas? What do you think that black parade was marching for? He’s making sure he finds you first.”
“Great. By the way, why did transporting fuck me up so badly and leave you completely unscathed.”
“Transporting takes a lot of energy, from the transporter and transported. You just need to get some food in you and you’ll be right. As for why I’m okay…It’s the nature of my existence.”
“Oh fuck don’t even say another word, I’m sick of hearing about the nature of your origins. Just, let’s find a kitchen.”
“Way ahead of you boss, there’s one just down the hall here. The cooks made sure to bring us in close.”
“The cooks transported us up here?”
“Of course they did, who else would? Devin isn’t exactly going to welcome you with open arms. If he found you first then he’d make sure you came up here in a body bag.”
“And the cooks don’t want that?”
“Oh no, the cook’s hate Devin. Have you ever heard him monologue before? They find it as grating as you do. Imagine taking orders from someone using that speech pattern.”
“Huh, can’t blame them for wanting to fuck him over then.”
They made it to the kitchen undiscovered. The staff had retired for the night, it had apparently been some time since they’d transported Alyster and Nero to the ship. Fortunately they had left a meal out for Alyster, one that hadn’t been ruined in the subtle ways that they employed to screw with Devin Golden. It wasn’t oversalted, it was properly cooked through, the vegetables weren’t begging to rot, and no one had coughed on it. It was perfectly safe and nutritious, if a little cold.
Now fully energised and able to walk on his own accord, Alyster marched out of the kitchen with his chest out and head held high. He was ready for a fight, a violent fight. He was ready to withstand three cages stacked one on top of the other, with his hands dipped in glue and covered in glass, he was ready for any overkill as long as it meant he could finally do away with Devin Golden once and for all.
He marched down the hall, not quite sure where he was going but moving nonetheless. Nero followed behind, humming a quiet tune to himself. Alyster was sure that if he was travelling in the wrong direction that Nero would correct him, but Nero said not a word as they travelled across the ship. On occasion they would run into a guard patrolling the halls, Nero insisted on stealth so they did their best to avoid them, ducking into unoccupied rooms and behind corners to avoid detection.
The guards patrolling the halls were alien in nature. Grotesque creatures with green skin and vaguely New Orleans-esq accents. Their noses were pig-like, their eyebrows dropped over their eyes, partially blinding them, their bellies were round and so large that they struggled to walk through the doors of the ship, which was ironic considering that they were the species that designed and built this entire fleet. These aliens were so unimaginably stupid that design flaws like this were commonplace throughout the ship.
Nero explained that their presence was due to their unwavering fandom of Devin Golden. Having watched his exploits on FWA television since his debut with the company. They adored him in every incarnation, especially his current incarnation.
Alyster pitied these creatures, they were too stupid to know any better.
Eventually they stumbled upon a familiar setting, the kitchen they had started at.
“We’ve travelled in a circle.”
“Figuratively, yes. Literally no. We’ve actually travelled in more of a rhombus.”
“Regardless of what shape we’ve travelled in we’re back to where we started.”
Nero blinked, not getting the point.
“I thought you were directing us to Devin.”
“Oh, I have no idea where he is on the ship. I was just blindly following you.”
“Well…fuck…”
They stared at one another for a few moments more before the sound of boots clanging against the floor began to approach from down the hall.
“Alright, new strategy then.” Alyster approached the sound with arms raised up in surrender and came across an alien guard,
“We surrender. Please take us to Devin Golden.”
On the bridge Devin Golden was relaxing comfortably. He was moments away from his conquest, once and for all doing away with that pest Alyster Black and destroying the entire world in the process. The disruptors were almost fully charged and ready to be fired.
Aliens manned every station on the bridge, all looking rather bored. They’d have nothing to do for the last twelve hours but sit and wait for the charging process to complete, and even when the charging process had come to an end it would be Devin Golden who hit the button to fire every disruptor on the fleet. The button sat on the armrest of his chair, bright red, hidden underneath a latch that would open when the disruptor was ready.
The Rotten Gold sat back in his luxuriously comfortable captain’s seat, a rounded chair on a swivel with many golden coloured pillows to comfort him, overlooking a giant monitor that spanned the entire wall adjacent to him and displayed an image of San Dimas, California.
“The onlyyyyy thing that would make this beterrr…was if Alysterrrrrr was hereeeeee…”
The doors to the bridge slid open and in stepped Alyster and Nero, held at gunpoint by the guard they’d surrendered to.
“Oh Rotten One, I have prisoners for you.”
Devin swivelled around in his chair and his smirk grew in size.
“You’reeeee hereeee…finally…”
Alyster greeted Devin Golden with disdain,
“Devin, how awful to see you again.”
“Likewiseeeee, but this is a joyoussss ocasionnn. This is the last time we’lllllllll everrrr do this danccccccccce.”
“Absolutely, now how about telling your man here to stand down so that we can trade hands and get this over with?”
“I suposeee it’s only fairrrr to give you a fighting chancccce.” Devin hopped up from his chair and motioned to the guard who pressed his blaster into the back of Nero.
“You go ahead scum, but your friend hangs back here.”
“That’s perfectly fine by me. Go fuck him up champ.”
Alyster nodded his head and began to circle the bridge, eyes fixated on Devin Golden who circled in turn.
They lunged for one another, both throwing right hands, catching each other on the jaw. Alyster stumbled back in pain, his mask was torn open and blood poured from a fresh wound. Devin cackled maniacally as he rubbed his jaw before raising his fist. In his hand was a shard of glass, one covered in dried and fresh blood, both from the same victim.
“You miserable, cheating, piece of shit.”
“This is the laaaaaast danccccce Aly…One of us neeeeeeds to dieeeeee.”
“It’s going to be you bastard, I have way too many fights coming up that I’m excited for.”
Alyster lunged for Devin, tackling him down to the ground. Devin stuck the shard of glass into Alyster’s side. Black shrieked in pain as Devin kicked him off and mounted him. He began to rain down with rights and lefts on Alyster, punching him without mercy. Alyster only barely managed to keep his composure and reach up to claw Devin’s eyes. The Rotten Gold was blinded, shrieking as Alyster shoved him off.
Black reached for the shard of glass lodged in his side and tugged on it, it was stuck in good. It was safer to leave it in than take it out. He slowly rose to his feet but Devin got up before him and kicked him in the teeth. Alyster fell onto his side and Devin stomped on the shard of glass, lodging it further inside Alyster Black. The masked man could only scream as Devin ground his boot down.
“Chris man, what the hell are you doing?” Nero called out,
“This is sadistic, even for you.”
“He had this comingggggg. I’ve taken soooooo much from him…now I’m going to take everything he has left…” Devin looked back over his shoulder at the guard and Nero.
“Shoooooot himmmm.”
Before Nero could protest the guard pulled the trigger, a blast of energy shot through his spine, clear through his body. The energy ricochet around the room, hitting the consoles, sparking them and lighting them on fire, killing a few of the bridge staff and nearly hitting Devin Golden who had to dodge roll out of the way.
“Idioooooot!” Devin hissed, he was about to hurl more insults at the guard but was interrupted by the sound of an egg timer going off.
“Ahhhh, time to destroy the wooooorld. Are you watching Alyster?
…
…
Alyster?”
Devin scanned the room, looking for his masked opponent. He followed the trail of blood behind his captain’s chair. On the other side was Alyster Black, his finger on the disruptor trigger, ready to push the button.
Devin scoffed.
“I was about to presss that button.”
“I know…” Alyster grunted in pain,
“But I made a quick modification.”
Devin raised an eyebrow then stepped closer to Alyster, the side of his chair had been ripped open, the wiring inside had been ripped and jerry rigged together.
“What did you dooooo?”
“I think the cliche is that I reversed the polarity. Goodbye forever Devin. I hope you rot in hell.”
Alyster pressed the button and the disruptor imploded, every ship in the fleet was destroyed in a bright green flash, including Devin Golden’s, taking everyone out with him. The cooks that hated him, the aliens that adored him, his most bitter rival, and himself. Just as Alyster planned, just as he was always willing to do.
…
…
Alyster’s eyes fluttered open, he was surrounded by nothing except blackness. But he wasn’t alone. With him was a familiar fiery face, his guide, Nero.
“So…this is oblivion?”
“Not for you my friend. This is the end of everything for Devin Golden. When you defeat him at Simpre, this is where he will go. Into limbo, into nothingness. He believes he’s going to wake up from a long coma and be reunited with him family, he believes that he’s going to live a long and happy life.”
“Not if I have anything to say about it. Putting an end to Devin Golden sounds like a gift from Heaven.”
“Absolutely, fuck Devin Golden.”
“Well, since that’s over. Are you going to get into that whole nature of your origin thing?”
“I suppose it’s time. The story is wrapped up in a nice little bow. The man who started you on your journey of heartbreak is the last stop on you finally restoring your heart in full. I mean, winning the World Championship was a good bandaid, a little shotcut to the end, but ending Devin Golden’s career? That’s the real endgame. He tried to carve your heart out and you end his career. That only seems fair.”
“As for what I am? Well, I’m a part of you aren’t I? Who better to guide you through the restoration of your heart than your fighting spit anthropomorphized on the metaphysical plane? Retreating to fantasy to deal with your problems, to reflect and make strides, that’s what this is all about isn’t it?"
“Fuckin’ A”
Nero smirked as only he could, expressionless before the fire that made up his body engulfed Alyster and was absorbed into his being.
All he had to do now was make his fantasy a reality.
