Falling to his knees, Oliver despaired. All he could feel was pain. His confidence and passion he had earlier had so easily diminished, all because of something so simple like pain. It was ironic. Curling into a ball, he began sinking into a pit of despair. A cold... endless void that had no good intentions in embracing him. He couldn't help It. It hurt too much. Way too much.

  Seeing the pathetic state of the investigator, the Fester felt elated. So elated in fact, it began to ascend. It had finally gained the missing piece to its evolution. Self actualisation. It had defeated the strongest thing it had met so far. A human at that. A literal face grew on the creature, depicting ecstasy in the most degenerative sense.

  Its feet began to root itself into the ground - absorbing all the life around it. It first started with trees. Then the humans. Starting first from the oldest members, it began sapping away their life force. The already aging humans began to shrivel up until they were nothing but bones with flesh tightly wrapped around them. The sight induced hysteria. The civilians began crying and screaming - all rationality flushing down the metaphorical drain. It was chaos itself.

  However in that mania, Oliver could hear nothing. It was exactly like the time back in the garden. He could feel nothing but himself... And the pain. It consumed his mind, bringing him to a dark place.

  He could sense footsteps approaching him, yet he didn't feel scared. A familiar sense of warmth. A familiar sense of hatred.

  "Back here again so soon? Honestly, it's revolting how much I have to see you." The black veiled woman said.

  Glaring up, Oliver grimaced with rage behind his eyes.

  "I'm not really in the mood to listen to your insults..." Oliver scowled.

  The black veiled woman shrugged before crouching down to meet his face. She began poking at the young man, causing him even more annoyance.

  "Stop touching me! I'm already dealing with this excruciating pain!" He yelled.

  The black veiled woman cringed before standing back up. She looked around the void, a disgusted look behind the dark veil.

  "This place is so depressing... You are supposed to be a hero. A saviour. An arbiter of justice... Yet... You lay on the floor, sulking and crying like a baby without his mother..." the black veiled woman retorted.

  Hearing her words, the investigator grit his teeth. He knew her words were true... But what could he do? His body was debilitated with pain. He couldn't think of anything else but suffering and pain. It was a miracle his mind could even stay in tact to conjure a place like this.

  "I can't... It hurts... It hurts too much..." Oliver said, his voice was shaky.

  Glaring at the man, the black veiled woman snapped her fingers. At that moment, Oliver was able to hear cries. Cries of the people. Cries of those who begged for a miracle.

  "Save us!"

  "Please! Someone help!"

  "Mama... It hurts..."

  "Help!"

  "Please... Riderman..."

  As their words grazed his ears... Oliver only felt even guiltier. Despite their cries and hopes, he couldn't save them. He was too weak. They had put their hopes and dreams on a fraud. He wanted to give up.

  The sight made the black veiled woman sick.

  "How terrible... Earlier a single child's words were able to move your body - despite knowing the consequences of your actions. You moved. To protect them... So why can't you do it now?" The black veiled woman said, venom in her voice.

  His head sinks further into the ground... Oliver could muster only two words.

  "It hurts..."

  However his answer was not satisfactory.

  Lifting him up, the black veiled woman looked down on him. She looked at him with hatred... No... No it wasn't hatred. One could mistake her emotion for something as simple as hatred. However what the woman was expressing... Was disappointment. Something all humans dread. No matter if you're a king or a slave. Disappointment loomed over all.

  "You are a hero... That's what you are. Stop saying it hurts. You've been through worse. I know... I know you can push yourself. Because that's the person you are. A worthless person who believes that sacrificing himself for others is the most honourable way to live. So move... Even a crow with a broken wing will still try to fly." The woman said... A disturbing amount of empathy in her voice.

  Looking at her with shock, he asked why she was motivating him.

  "Ever since I've picked up this damned driver, you've been insulting me... Putting me down... Being a total fucking bitch! So why... Why are you being nice to me? Don't you hate me?!" Oliver yelled at her.

  The woman looked at him with a blank expression, though he could notice a bit of confusion... And pain behind her eyes.

  "Hate you? I've never once hated you? Do I have to remind you again? I am your salvation" her words echoed before Oliver's mind was brought back to reality.

  Looking up, he saw the growing Fester. It's from bulged and pulsated like a living cancer as the surroundings began to look duller and duller. It was as if the creature was taking away all the light and whimsy from the world - feeding itself with the elation it had stolen.... Then reveling in the despair it has festered.

  Gritting his teeth, Oliver pushed himself forward. He used all the strength he could muster just to lift himself up. Then he pushed himself again - putting one foot forward in front of him. Then again. And again. And again. And again. He pushed himself through the pain, through all the worry and fear. He pushed himself. Because pain was the most human thing a person could endure.... And what's more human than to disregard such dogma.

  Clenching his fist, the investigator leaped forward landing a punch to the rooted fester. It was a weak punch. Barely enough to even scratch a base class Fester. However it was just enough. Just enough to make the Fester falter.

  Staggering, the creature looked at Oliver with rage - but mostly confusion. It did not understand. How could a human so easily push through unimaginable pain - pain that it itself could not even handle? It was ludicrous. It was terrifying.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Oliver was a man who could break through the world's laws. However... It still didn't understand why.

  Looking behind the man, it had received its answer. He witnessed the people yell and call out to him - begging for him to save them. Again, Oliver Rand pushed himself because of others.

  "You walk through unbearable pain... Because of these people? People who you don't know? People who have no reason to wish you prosperity - other than due to their own selfish desire to live? Why? Why do you do this?!" The Fester yelled.

  In response, Oliver proceeded to laugh mockingly at the creature. He looked at the creature, the broken half of his mask showing his grin. It wasn't a grin of superiority however, nor was it a grin of satisfaction. It was a grin wrought with the knowledge of self sacrificial duty.

  "What a dumb question... I still have my arms and legs don't I?"

  That answer enraged the Fester. It focused all the energy it had cultivated from earlier into one singular attack instead of its evolution. It was a stupid decision. However it was the only decision the Fester could see as the truth. However truth and reality are two different things.

  It shot a beam of energy right at Oliver - just the intense pressure that came from releasing the beam had begun melting everything in a 5 meter radius. To put it into context, the beam was similar in strength to multiple carpet bombs landing on one small target. It was truly an impressive display of physical prowess... However it would've been smarter to have used a charged up fist.

  [ABSORPTION COMPLETE. ATTENTION: OVERABUNDANCE OF DESCENT ENERGY DETECTED. PLEASE EXHAUST 10000% OF RESERVOIR - FOR SAFETY REASONS]

  Looking at the creature, Oliver smirked. Seeing such a devilish grin, the Fester couldn’t help but tremble. It had only been born a few hours ago... However it had already experienced death in the worst way imaginable.

  "You heard the belt..." A smile creeping up the exposed side of his face.

  The Fester tried to run away, however Oliver caught up to the creature faster than it could even process his movement. The plates on his armour shifting away, an intense blast of descent energy began exhausting from his arm. Clenching his fist tightly, the investigator threw his arm at the Preservation Fester.

  "Finisher: 10,000% overload"

  In the few seconds before his fist would make contact with the Fester, it had made the decision to use one more preservation onto itself. It knew the world would punish it for breaking its laws twice... But the Fester didn't care. All it wanted to do was live. No matter what punishment it was given, it would accept with glee and gratitude.

  However curiously... No such punishment came.

  As Oliver's fist made contact with the creature, the Fester felt nothing. It didn't feel its bones breaking, nor its flesh distorting. No pain... no injuries... Nothing.

  Once again the Fester was filled with ecstasy.

  "I knew it... I'm this world's saviour. I've been sent to preserve its beauty. I am god's chosen-" but before it could even finish its thought... It saw something.

  Standing behind the frozen in place investigator - the creature saw a dark figure. It was clad in black, its skin resembling more like steel armour than flesh. It wore a grin across its face, one stretching its wide demonic maw. It had rows of sharp teeth that lined the grin, as well as two glowing slits of red that were supposed to be it's "eyes".

  The Preservation Fester frowned at the creature's appearance, taking a few steps back. The Fester shook its head.

  "No... No, I'm this world's calling! I'm this world's saviour!" The creature yelled hysterically.

  The black figure didn't respond. It only remained silent.

  Gritting its teeth, the preservation Fester spread open its wings. All of its eyes opened wide, turning blood shot as they laid their gaze onto the black figure. Stretching its arms out to the creature - its hands coated in descent energy - the Fester attempted to use its preservation ability to halt its movements. However in response, the Fester's arms were chopped off in an instant.

  It took a moment for the Fester to register what had happened, but the moment it realised the danger it was in - it tried to scream. However... No sound would come out of its infernal mouth.

  In less than a millisecond - no, even a nanosecond wouldn't do its speed justice - the black figure opened its maw all the way to its back, before consuming the top half of the Fester.

  [Death has come for you]

  Back in reality, the moment the preservation Fester tried to preserve its body, a penalty struck the creature down - weakening its defences enough for Oliver to land a killing blow. Putting everything he had into his punch, a stream of incandescent light shot out from his fist - shooting out from the Fester's body in an intense burst. The pressure it exerted was so strong that the ground itself shook and depressed underneath Oliver's feet.

  In almost a poetic way, the dark clouds above the town centre were parted away by a beautiful shower of rainbow light.

  As the Fester's body began disintegrating, Oliver's fist was raised up high - as if to say "I won!". Feeling the pain slowly start going away, Oliver collapsed onto the ground - feeling both relieved and exhausted. His transformation automatically disengaged as he saw people start to surround his weak body. They all looked... Happy. They looked proud of him. It made Oliver smile.

  "Oh hell yeah... This is awesome..." Oliver thought to himself, a weak smile growing on his face.

  In the background however, Olivia had finally woken up. Once again Oliver had saved the day while she was unconscious. Seeing the people who had shamed her from before start surrounding her brother with gratitude and reverence, the investigator felt bitter.

  "Why is he getting all the fame and glory? I did my best too? I tried my hardest... why can't they see it? I was doing what they wanted right? I risked my life! Why are you all not satisfied?!" Dark thoughts clouded her mind.

  Biting her lip, it began bleeding.

  It bled and bled, leaking down her chin and onto the floor. Her teeth dug even deeper, she could feel the enamel press against the inside flesh of her lips. However she couldn't even register the pain from such an act, as her mind was submerged in an ocean of rage.

  Though before she could drown, a leg kicked her sides.

  "You look scarier than usual..." Katherine said, handing her a handkerchief.

  Looking up at the woman, she clicked her tongue before grabbing the cloth. She pressed the handkerchief against her wound, wincing a bit from the stinging pain. Katherine watched her do this, her face remained cold and calculating. As if watching an injured whale wash up on shore. Though for once... She felt something akin to empathy.

  "Sharks love ganging up on people huh?" Katherine said, turning her attention to the crowd around Oliver.

  Olivia rolled her eyes before taking the handkerchief off her bottom lip.

  "Sharks rarely do that... Dolphins are much worse. People think they're all innocent and sweet, but they're vile monsters..." Olivia explained, correcting her.

  Katherine looked at Olivia with a "what the fuck?" Look on her face.

  "It was a metaphor, why are you defending sharks?" She said, raising an eyebrow in slight disgust.

  Olivia stood up, accusingly pointing at the purple haired woman.

  "Because they're awesome! I won't you dolphin propagandists spread shark misinformation!" Olivia yelled.

  Katherine grimaced, shocked by what she just heard. She began shaking her head in disappointment as she made her way towards Oliver - quietly mumbling to herself as she did so.

  "You're seriously a weirdo... Like a big ass weirdo... Weirdo..." She said, repeating the word weirdo as if it were a mantra.

  Olivia tried to bite her, however she was stopped by familiar strong hands. She turned around quickly, a dreamy expression on her face.

  "Captain Ren~!" Her face turned to disgust. "Huh who the hell are you, stinky old man?" Her voice laced with venom as her gaze was not met with the cool and stoic Captain she dreamt off, instead being met with a middle aged man with a nicotine addiction.

  Bianca laughed in the background as Paul's eye began to twitch - clearly not amused by the double disrespect.

  "I'll have you know that I shower three times a day..." Paul retorted, letting go off her shoulder.

  Olivia scoffed, rolling her eyes as she pointed out he smelt like cigarettes.

  "You might as well have bathed in skunk shit... Actually that would smell better than your nicotine perfumed ass..." Olivia scowled.

  Bianca laughed even harder, causing the man to walk away in despair - his cigarette limply hanging from his lips.

  Crossing her arms, Olivia turned to Katherine with an expectant look.

  "Where's Captain?" Olivia asked, expecting an answer or at least a "I dunno".

  Instead she was met with a shrug and a middle finger before Katherine began running off like a child.

  Olivia looked at Katherine with a disappointed glare - wondering how exactly a woman like her could exist.

  "I know I should've known better... But is it so wrong to ask her to be normal for once in her life?" Olivia said to herself.

  She then looked behind her, definitely expecting Ren to pop up and agree with her. However she had no such luck. She sighed before walking away and bumping into a wall.

  "Ugh you nicotine bastard i-" she made an unsightly face. "Oh hiiiiii Captain Ren heheheheheheheheh" Olivia said, looking up at her beloved Captain.

  Ren almost fainted again from her terrifyingly intimidating face, however he managed to stay conscious this time.

  "Are you okay?! You have a gash on your lip!" He asked, worry in his voice as he held her shoulders tightly.

  In a high from being in his presence again, Olivia acted completely nonchalant about her injury.

  "Oh that? That's nothing! I just bit it so hard I could feel the gory flesh against my teeth!" She said, the unsightly look remained on her face.

  Ren grimaced for a moment - both surprised and not surprised she would say that. He then smiled wearily, patting her head before letting go of his subordinate.

  "Right... Good job... I guess." Ren said, completely stumped on what to say in response to that confession.

  Olivia continued to smile an unsightly smile, happy to be patted by Ren. Her smile would waver however as Ren began pointing out how the civilians began lifting Oliver up into a crowd surf.

  "That's a bit overboard I think..." Ren laughed awkwardly.

  "No, I think that's called a surfboard..." Olivia retorted.

  Ren laughed loudly at her joke - causing Olivia to jolt from surprise. It was such a stupid joke, but Ren was laughing?

  "It wasn't that funny..." Olivia said, now being the one to laugh awkwardly.

  Ren calmed down from his howling laughter, wiping the tears from his eyes.

  "It wasn't... But I really needed that after the day I had. Thank you." Ren said with a smile.

  Olivia blushed slightly, though it felt we

  ird. It wasn't like her normal blushes. It was a blush that let her forget about the despair she experienced earlier. It was something genuine.

  "Umm... You're welcome”