Blessed by Night

123  Revolutionary

Malachi wasn't sure when or if he'd ever see this guy again. But looking back, he realized that a scenario like this was inevitable and thinking otherwise was akin to a fever dream. However, he wasn't expecting for him to arrive with an entourage. Arias was surrounded by five men and women, all of whom had their faces covered by some kind of white cloth. One of them was recording this entire scene on some sort of high tech camera, and they would only find out later that this was being broadcasted to every man woman and child across the globe. "Excuse me everyone, might I have your attention for a moment?" "Who is he?"

"He's very handsome."

"Wait... those robes..."

Arias suddenly clapped his hands and smiled at the crowd like an artist who was finally about to begin his performance. "It is always a fine day when I get to see so many of our brethren gathered in one place. Even if there are a few... undesirables present."

He expertly picked out the so called undesirables within the crowd, and dragged his gaze over each and every one of the humans present. Luna prepared to step forward and say something, but Mal grabbed her wrist and shook his head as Anna and Sei hid behind his back out of fear. "Some of you have already heard of me, and for others this will be our first meeting. So let me introduce myself properly. I am Arias, bringer of the new day."

"New Day?"

"Is he like a religious missionary or something? Cause that's really fucking annoying."

"He's pretty so I'll keep listening."

Malachi finally moved through the crowd and came face to face with Arias, who smiled at his coming. "Ah, it's good to see you again, brother! We got ourselves into quite a few headlines the last time, no?"

Mal said nothing as his bright purple eyes burned behind his dark sunglasses. The atmosphere between the two was clearly very tense, yet no one seemed to understand why. "I apologize for trying to killl you last time, I was a bit too hasty in my judgement. But that's all water under the bridge now, right?"

15:37

"...."

"...Geez, you seemed a lot more friendly on tv a few months ago. I guess all that fame and money's went to your head, huh? It seems to happen to the best of them I'm afraid-"

"Where's Alex?"

Malachi's question was seemingly simple and lacking in any sort of emotion, but Arias could tell that his anger was simmering. "Ah, I see. We'll get to that in a moment and I think you'll like it, but be patient for now, k?"

Malachi prepared to say something when he started to notice something strange about the man in front of him. He couldn't quite place his finger on it but... something about this was wrong. Arias turned his focus back towards the crowd and held out his arms like he was offering an embrace. "My brethren. Does the current status quo make any sense to you? We are the literal chosen of the gods, and yet we are still behaving at the behest of man. Is that not an unthinkable delusion? We live and die for they who are too inadequate to defend themselves, and we merely accept it as if there is no other alternative. But there is one."

"That's enough."

Enzo pushed through the crowd to stand on the right side of Malachi, and for the first time since he'd met him he seemed to be rather serious. "This talk of yours... It is dangerous, cabrón. There is already enough division in the world as is, there is no need to add to the pile."

"Yes, exactly!" Arias excitedly pointed at Enzo like he had just grasped the entirety of his message. "There is only division caused by humans! They do it so much that it's practically a fucking pastime! Especially here in the states, they'd rather help a stray dog than a homeless person!" "No one said things were perfect as they are! We have a long way to go but we are making improvements everyday!"

For the first time, Arias lost his smile as he stared back at Enzo like he was a hopeless idiot. "Mr. Valentin, I suggest that you open your fucking eyes. With the arrival of the gates, we have resources to provide everyone on this planet with safe, clean energy that requires no maintenance or upkeep. But do the humans want to share things like that? Of course not! Their sole focus lies in keeping those in power with everything and making sure that those below have nothing, when they are the ones who should be begging for our scraps!" Arias gestured for one of his men to hand him something, and he received a black duffel bag that he reached inside of dramatically. "Oh god..."

"That's..."

"I-I'm going to be sick..."

The item that Arias pulled out was something that none of them could have anticipated; the severed head of Alex Heller. "This man was not at all what he presented himself to be! He was a narcissist and a psychopath who believed that he was above our brethren, so I killed him on the spot.

In the new society I hope to create there will be no discrimination between the blessed, there need only be companionship!

Whether you are blessed by the mightiest of primordials or a simple deity of spring, it makes no difference! You all have an invaluable place in our future!"

Malachi and Enzo watched as the energy inside of the room started to shift. Among the blessed, those who were blessed by minor gods were often overlooked entirely.

They received little attention, had almost no fanbase, and when they went into dungeons there would be practically no one cheering for them. Even though they were also putting their lives on the line, they received no praise or thanks for their actions. It was a heartbreaking way to live. Arias suddenly looked at Malachi and showed his usual cheerful and charismatic smile. "See? I told you that you would like it if you only waited a bit."

He suddenly tossed Alex's severed head at Malachi like it was a simple football, and Malachi caught it by his hair without even flinching. He tilted down his sunglasses so that he could look his once great enemy in his now soulless eyes. Using his golden flames, he set the head ablaze and reduced it to ash in only a few seconds, erasing the remaining traces of him from existence. "Quite the show that's taken place out here. I just poked my head out to see how the food was being received and now look what I find."

Morgan emerged from the kitchen wearing another of his famous aprons with an embarrassing phrase, while casually rolling up his sleeves like he was prepared for a collision. "Ah! It's good to see you, Morgan. Those lamb skewers were your doing, yes? I meant to snag one but it seems-"

"Cut the shit. Get out."

Everyone could see the tattoos on Morgan's body starting to glow beneath his shirt, and they simultaneously cleared the way for him to avoid accidental burns. Arias chuckled as he shook his head wryly. "There is no need to be unpleasant, I haven't finished my recruitment yet! It took a long time for me to prepare this speech so at least do me the courtesy of listening to the whole thing."

Again, Arias ignored the newcomer as he turned toward the blessed in the crowd. "I offer you refuge, unity, and your rightful place above the apes. You are my brothers and sisters in this life, there need not be strife between us. Join me as we pave the way towards a brighter tomorrow."

Malachi looked around and noticed the struggle taking place amongst the partygoers. Several of them looked like they wanted to run to Arias' side and join him, but they were scared to throw away their public images. Arias was taking note of those who looked like they were too scared to come forward, and made a mental note to go and visit them alone later without the fear of pressure bogging them down. 'Although I must say... I ever took you for one to care about such a thing.' n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Arias' eyes lingered on Aisha who was mixed into the crowd with a young girl in her arms. He thought for sure she would be one of the first to join him due to her famous disdain for society. As such, she was one of the first ones he'd started sending letters to. But alas, it seemed as though it was not fated to be. "Oh, I know!" Arias suddenly lit up like he'd had the most ingenious idea imaginable. "I neglected to perform a demonstration of some sort. You might think that I'm just some everyday activist if I don't provide proof of my power, so how about we play a game?"

Getting a bad feeling, Malachi rolled up his sleeves before dropping his sunglasses and kimono into the shadows at his feet and removing his iklwa. "I'll give you ten seconds to guess how long it will take me to kill every human in this room. Anyone have any bets?" Arias said with a smile. Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Malachi, Enzo, and Morgan all shot forward like bullets at the same time, determined to put a stop to things before they could go bad. Arias watched them approach with his same radiant smile as he shook his head in disappointment. "Sorry, that's incorrect. The correct answer is; no time at all!"

This might be a bit of a hot take but I think Hoopa is the best mythical pokemon ever