Infinity in the Void – Freedom in the Abyss

Montecristo Island, this place is interesting... throughout history, people have always come and go, leaving their marks on this island.

But those marks were usually blood, bled onto the rocky land. Besides the logical reason of being unsuitable for human habitation, there is a strange power that causes misfortune for those who stay on the island for too long, chasing them away or outright killing people.

From the shore I can feel the ominous energy already... a curse so strong it soaked every single rock, every blade of grass...

One is inherently human.

"Enna, go up to the sky and look for anything suspicious.", I commanded.

"Alright...", she sighed and flew up.

While on the ground, I began to expand my calculation.

Hmm... this island is hollow, there is something beneath this place. An underwater cavern seems to be the case.

I headed deeper into the island, hiking over the hills in order to reach closer to the source of the aura. I can feel the malicious veins getting denser and denser, twisting around like a spiral...

"Avalon, what is under here?", I asked out loud.

A brown snake slithered towards me. I extended my arm to let it crawl up.

"A cavern filled with gold.", they spoke.

Then a bird landed on my shoulder.

"Cursed not once but twice."

Then the snake proceeded to lunge at the bird, swallowing it whole.

"By the blood of man."

A goat then looks at me from above.

"And by the rage of nature."

And they went away.

So by the power—

"Could you please monologue so I can hear it too?", Lugh interrupted me.

I rolled my eyes.

"So by the power of humanity and nature, fed by the hatred of the people and nourished by the world.", I walk as I talk.

"And what can it do?", Lugh asked.

"You will understand when you see it.", I smile, looking up to see Enna landing in front of me.

"Yeah... I would like to go back onto the ship. I don't enjoy the atmosphere here, as if there is something staring at me.", she stated, looking behind her.

I glance back at Lugh, who is... chewing weeds and wildflowers... I will ignore that.

"Any insight you may offer?"

She swallowed and then spoke, "I have none, being stared at is nothing unusual for me."

I rolled my eyes, returning to Enna.

"You can go back if you want, I'll take ninety percent of your savings.", I walked past her.

"Wha— Hey! You can't do that!!", Enna yelled back.

I took off my glasses and glared at her, making the Fallen Angel shiver from my gaze, "You haven't fully paid me back my money."

"But you have infinite money!", Enna tries to reason with me. Being with me for a long time, she should know I operate with questionable logic.

"Infinity plus one is still more than infinity.", I stated, keep on walking, "You can challenge me for..."

I stop myself. Better not give her any idea of freedom—

Actually, this is the perfect opportunity to draw out the Legacy of Monte Cristo.

"...your freedom.", I whispered.

"What did you say?", I can feel her glare.

"I said, you can challenge me for your freedom.", I look back with a smile, "So, do you want to fight me right here?"

Her hands are twitching, she is thinking about it...

"No... not today.", she shook her head, "I know your game, Charlotte. And I won't be playing them."

"You are no fun.", I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

And she flew away.

"Your relationship with her is quite bad, Charlotte.", Lugh nodded to herself, "Pushing her buttons won't do."

"I know. I just want her to explode in anger.", I really want to see her fighting at full power, no restraint, no morality or reason binding her.

 

=0=0=

 

I reach the center of the island, where I can feel the ominous aura leaking out. And so, I took off my chest plate.

"Deconstruct.", my chest plate exploded into pieces

"Reconstruct.", and it turned into a black tower shield with the symbol of the Rose Compass on it in silver.

I raised the shield up—

And slam it down!

BOOM!!

The shield exploded, sending me into the air, and creating a crater.

With a smile, I slammed the shield into the ground again at a greater height.

BOOOM!!

And the ground caved in, exposing a mountain of glittering gold coins...

I descended into the pit, using the shield as a board to ski down the numerous gold coins. I performed a kickflip and landed on more steady ground.

"Ooh, shiny.", Lugh floats down using invisible wings. I can vaguely see them.

I turn my attention back to the golden coins, picking up one... I can't help but smile. On them are two slashes, creating a cross. These coins, have 99,99 percent purity and...

Hehahahaha!!

I can't fucking believe this! Each and every coin here, all of them imbued with a power to alter destiny and destroy fate!

There are two parts to the Legacy of Monte Cristo...

I step forward, parting the coins with Justice Mist. These coins... they are the second part, the Curse of Monte Cristo.

And as the mist, toppling the mountain of wealth, revealed what was buried underneath it all... a wooden badge carrying the emblem of Monte Cristo - a mountain of gold atop a blue ocean with a red cross on top of it - enveloped in a green flame. This is the first part... the Emblem of Monte Cristo.

Or as it should be called...

"Vengence of Monte Cristo.", I smiled, grabbing the emblem.

I look to the side, seeing that Lugh is getting curious.

"There was a man named Edmond Dantès, or what most people knew him as, the Count of Monte Cristo. He is a fictional character.", I examine the emblem, feeling its cold fire.

"Alexandre Dumas, the author of the book of the same title used two inspirations. First was his father, and the second is this place."

"Oooh, sound interesting.", she nodded.

"I'll skip what happened to his father. Dumas found out about the Legacy of Monte Cristo, and used it as the basis for his story.", I held the emblem to the sky, "The Curse of Monte Cristo has the power to alter destiny and sever fate, and the Vengence of Monte Cristo can..."

My hand ignited, burning a cold green flame.

"It can burn the soul, bypassing any defense.", it is basically something similar to my Justice, or more specifically, mimics the power of Judgement.

"I see, pretty interesting.", she stared at the green flame, "Is there any side effect."

"Yes, the side effects of this power specifically are it perpetuates hatred and mental degeneration. It will drive the user insane, turning them into nothing more than a monster driven by hate. As for why it is called the Vengence of Monte Cristo, because throughout history it had become a tool for revenge."

I grab a coin with my flaming hands, enveloping it with the green flame.

"The two parts of the Legacy of Monte Cristo, using these two in tandem bring misfortune to whoever the target of revenge is, focusing the distortion onto one person. The requirement?", I smile, handing Lugh the coin, "Give them the coin."

She took the coin with a smile.

"Hmm, this is interesting. Though I cannot help but wonder, what is the point of going here?", she asked.

"It is no fun to reveal what I will do with this wealth...", I grinned, dropping the emblem onto the gold coins, "Open, Gate of Akasha."

A drop of darkness fell from my fingertip, going down through the crevices created by the coins.

Then at the very bottom, a portal of absolute darkness appears, swallowing this curse treasure trove.

"Can you give me a spoiler, then?", she used her soothing tone.

Bitch, I know you are the most dangerous thing on Earth, currently. But I am a petty bitch.

"No, wait just like everyone else.", I waved her off.

Now, with the Legacy of Monte Cristo obtained. I guess I should go to Berlin to meet the Jury of the Pale Court. But...

I took out my phone, looking at the message from Seria.

[Will you go back home to celebrate Christmas?]

I closed my eyes for a bit. I am curious about what the Jury has to say, but Seria is my mother... although she act more like a dad.

I decided.

I will spend Christmas with my mother...

[Yes], I replied.

Now, Utopia only needs to speed up more. Since it's two days until Christmas. I guess I either need to travel through the states on the Atlantic side or I could crash through the Panama Canal again.

But I could just teleport using Delusion from here to Las Vegas instantly... nah, that's too simple for my liking.

"Hey, Utopia, can you reconfigure yourself into an aircraft?"

"[That is but a simple matter, Your Highness.]", he replied through my phone.

"Thanks. And while at it, make your body triphibian."

What is better than a ship that transforms into a mecha? A mobile fortress covering land, sea, and air! That can also transform into a huge mecha!!

I snap my finger, letting Justice Mist form steps for me to walk out of the pit.

Now that I have another piece for my grand plan, it is time to gradually execute it.

Heha~ really, I am just like Sinclair. I guess we are the same person in the end.

She destroyed the World, ending all life. While my grand plan is to cleanse humanity, for a restart, putting an end to this chapter of history...

And begin a new one.