Villain Retirement

"Are these all the universes you've already crossed out?"

[Yes, Diana. There aren't too many yet as the universes where King sent all of you to are unique, requiring more energy to traverse to.]

"What is the possibility of opening a portal to the universe I was in?"

[0.000062%, Diana. Aside from its ever-changing frequencies, the energy required to access it has also increased.]

"Then, perhaps we could…Excuse me, can I help you?"

"You look fat."

Diana and Ahor Zai were peacefully talking with each other while scanning the holograms in front of them, but their peace was suddenly interrupted by Caitlain suddenly standing right in front of her — her thin face emerging from the hologram as she stared at Diana's face.

"I have forgotten what I look like healthy…" Caitlain squinted, "...But I swear you have an extra kilogram on you, or 5."

"And you have an extra chromosome."

"Rude, you're the one who adopted the literal devil," Caitlain scoffed as she joined the two in examining the previous universes they had already crossed out, "Which one was mine?"

[In the back of the list,] Ahor Zai brought up Caitlain's universe, which was completely pink, [With the circumstances of the nature of its apocalypse, the chance to return to it is even smaller.]

"But not impossible?"

[Well, nothing is impossible in the scale and nature of Creation, Dr. Caitlain.]

"Hmmm…" Diana stared at Caitlain's universe, before glancing at her, "...Your universe was destroyed by the Cherbi?"

"Cherbis. Is there really only one in most of the universes?" Caitlain raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, a singular existence."

"...So we were just unlucky?"

"Relatively," Diana sighed, "The universe I was sent to was destroyed by a virus that turned everyone into flesh-eating monsters."

"I saw that. And your son is insane for bringing one here… and it just had to be Princess Esme."

"Riley… Riley just has his own thought process completely different from the rest of us."

"I've only known him for a very short time, but I am inclined to agree with you. Do you know he is carrying your husband's head?"

"Yes, yes I know."

"As long as you know," Caitlain once again focused on the holograms, "But this… I do not know if it is the same in your universe, but themarians are treated as gods in mine. But the most we do is just fly around and solve other planets' problems. But this… is this not what it means to be a god?"

"We are just rescuing my daughter and friends," Diana shook her head.

"No, this is already something a should only be capable of," Caitlain also shook her head, "You might not notice it because you are always with your son, but this is…

…ridiculous."

***

"It seems there is no one here already, and I wanted to feed you some fresh meat too, Princess Esme."

Riley was currently in a dead universe, and this was the 3rd time he had been through in which all of life had already been destroyed.

The only thing he could really do was let out a sigh as he pulled… the rope in his hand which was reinforced by his telekinesis, and attached to it was the undead princess' cage like an oversized balloon.

"I wanted to go to a normal universe, but Mother reprimanded me not to release you there," Riley sighed again, "Do you just want to play?"

"..."

The undead princess did not really have any energy as her cage continuously zapped her of her strength; even then, however, she looked at Riley.

"Okay then, let's just play for a few minutes." And as he said those words, the cage confining the undead princess opened. She did not immediately attack Riley, however, but her dead eyes focused on the silhouette who was suddenly beside him — King.

Or at least an illusion of him, wrapping a sweet, fresh, bag of blood that Riley was now bringing along with him everywhere.

"Go…

…go fetch."

***

"Riley, did you find anything there? What took you so lo—you're still bringing that with you!?"

And after an hour, Riley left the dead universe he was in — the undead princess' so-called playtime lasted longer than he anticipated.

"You're seriously treating it as a pet!? I thought that was a joke!" Gracy's face still could not be painted whenever she sees the undead princess Esme, "Seriously, that's inhumane."

"It is no longer alive, Gracy."

"I mean just put it out of its misery!"

"I threw an entire galaxy through it and it survived," Riley shook his head, "I believe it will be more useful to me alive. Cherbi also needs a playmate and she would be perfect for it."

"...Right," Gracy squinted her eyes, "Anyway, some guys from your universe are here. There they are."

Riley looked to where Gracy was pointing to, only to see someone not actually from his universe.

"Ah! Son!"

"..." It was the Alice Lane of the first universe he was trapped in, waving at him while dragging her Diana with her by the hand,

"Alice Prime."

"Don't call me that, I sound like one of those Australian corned beef in cans," Alice let out a small giggle as she excitedly stood in front of Riley, "Guess what?"

"..."

"Guess what," Alice repeated her words as she nodded at Riley, "Come on, guess."

"How would the guy know what you're letting him guess if he has no idea what you're talking about."

"He knows, Dee. He's smart as heck."

"It doesn't work that way," Diana-2, or Dee for short, could not help but just roll her eyes and shake her head,

"The Bernard variant known as King attacked our universe."

"Wha—I wanted him to guess it!" Alice covered Dee's mouth, but it was already too late.

"Oh," Riley turned to look at Alice, "I was actually going to answer that, Alice Prime."

"No, no! See!?" Alice gripped Dee's lips, "He was going to guess it!"

"..." Riley could really only wait for Alice to stop climbing on top of Dee; biting her shoulder and even her face. Fortunately, after a few seconds, Dee was able to calm Alice down.

"W—"

"I really do have a lesbian variant!"

And before they could continue their discussion, Caitlain appeared — already pointing at Dee and Caitlain.

"I thought you were lying when you said that to me, Riley."

"I only lie when it will lead to fun events, Dr. Caitlain."

"Holy crap… It's an even sexier version of you, Dee," Alice looked at Caitlain from head to toe, causing her to slightly back away, "Now you're complete. Riley's mom is the MILF variant, she's the fit variant, and you… wow. I don't know if I should say this, but you're the boring variant, Dee."

"This is so weird," Caitlain could not help but just be mesmerized as she looked at Dee like she was some sort of tourist attraction.

"We should focus on why we are here, Alice."

"I see what you mean by the boring variant," Caitlain squinted her eyes as she looked at Dee from head to toe again.

"Our universe was attacked by King. Alice and I quickly traversed to find you… but it would seem you have your own problems."

"Hm," Riley nodded his head, "King also attacked us."

"And you were not able to stop him?" Dee's eyebrows lowered.

"No. The circumstances did not allow me to engage him directly," Riley sighed, "What about on your side, Diana-2? I thought Alice would be able to dismember him with no problem at all."

"The guy was strong, but you're right," Alice shrugged before clicking her tongue, "At first, when he appeared outside Earth with the big tittied colossal silver lady, I immediately fucked him up. It was funny because he was declaring all of us to kneel to him."

"Hm," Dee nodded.

"But then other people started appearing to aid him."

"Clones?"

"No."

"Variants?"

"No," Alice groaned, "Other people. I don't really recognize them from anywhere. Long story short, Dee and I were forced to escape to your universe, and then we found out from the actress your circumstances."

"King has other comrades?" Riley placed his hand on his chin, "That is valuable information, Alice Prime."

"How about just calling me Mother Prime?"

"That sounds like a title a nun would have, Alice Prime."

"I could be a nun."

"But you are not."

"Doesn't matter. Anyway…" Alice let out a small and deep sigh as she glanced at Dee, "...Since Dee and I have practically lost our home, we were hoping to stay in your universe since it's practically a refuge for people like us now. You adopted the Aerith of our universe, so…"

"You do not need to ask me, Alice Prime," Riley shook his head, "You are free to do as you wish."

"Cool, cool," Alice tapped Dee's arm, "So, how exactly can we help here? I heard you guys are going to war with the guy?"

"I believe we can offer substantial advantage in strategy," Dee stepped forward as she projected a hologram in front of her — a hologram of the Bernard of their world who Riley decapitated,

"As you may have remembered, our Bernard is sort of a mild version of King — albeit a failed version. We should be–"

"We do not really need strategy."

And before Dee could say her piece, Diana appeared in the auditorium. And although her face and voice was calm, everyone could feel a certain hostility escaping her breaths.

"This is an enemy that could attack us at any time, anywhere. And no matter how much we calculate or deliberate; the truth is, we do not know anything about him," Diana breathed out,

"Everything we need is already here…

…we just need to overwhelm him with pure, raw power."