"Alright, we had our fun. Let's not bother them anymore." Cupid retorted, as he'd take out a substitute Talisman and tore off the one covering Ji-mon's face. Upon such removal, it would show his eyes and tongue also possessed them, making the boys wonder what exactly were those talismans for. Cupid would seal back the seal on his face again, a new one in its place, as the two made their way around. "I like to give my thanks, by the way, for providing my student the experience necessary to learn from, Princess. I wish you well in your adventures."
"Waow! Waow! You're welcome! Bye bye, silly Zombie guy!" Tsukiya would wave to Ji-mon as the group departed, being given a half-hearted wave back by the Necromancer in response. Despite her small injuries, she doesn't seem to care about needing them patched, as the wounds she acquired would be healed by the Shikigami themselves, using their own arms and bodies to cover the wound. Before long, the group would arrive at the Black Castle, following along the staircase to the very top, looking out to the kingdom itself. Such a land felt dreary, dead even. Any emotion or hint of color was washed out, replaced with the massive mass of black instead. There are those that try to provide such coloring, yet such attempts would be swallowed away, constantly replaced by the one pigment, bringing ire to the civilians. What they assumed would be depression and hostility, was in truth attempts of making the place lively, all for the sake of the king that ruled the place.
"Maaaaaan. They swallowed the red I have earlier."
"No kidding. The blue I left a week ago was gone too."
"How are we supposed to cheer up our king if this stupid ink keeps swallowing stuff?!"
Outcry came to the people, yet it wasn't targeted. As soon as Harvard and the others entered the kingdom itself, however, such potential and optimism quickly sunk to its lowest. A pressure left by all, unable to perceive what was beyond its mighty doors. Stolas was the only child that knew about such power, as he'd stomp his way across, determination locked into his eyes. He'd help his friends get through this immense dread, finally opening the doors that separated them from the kings in the Omega's Circle.
A banquet, littered with food of all shapes and sizes. Cloaked figures that were behind their respective ruler, five of them in white and gold, the other five in black and grey. One of such kings looked to be the same size as the children, funnily enough, yet his aged face more than makes up for it. Small droplets of black ooze pouring down his pours, his greasy, black hair dribbling down with it. His body, meanwhile, was pure white, the chest and legs sporting a Rorschach image that constantly shifts whenever. His hands and feet don white gloves and socks, stained by the ink-like skin that is coming out his body. His crooked, cracked smile and crow's feet on his eyes indicates that he's under immense stress, a mere pin hitting the ground enough to set him off. On the other side of the table is the complete opposite. A man with a muscular build, beard and moustache, and two crowns to act as his shoulder guards. Shirtless, yet carrying many scars across his body, a sign of his experience. His eyes are covered by his crown, big enough to wrap around his head, ornamented with two jewels, one of which Harvard knew most: The Devil's Eye. The two kings looked towards the entrance, the pressure now immeasurable, as if they were before warring Gods that threatened to oppose each other. Such pressure was enough to make them kneel, their heads bowed, their eyes darting around in panic.
"You have arrived. I thank you for bringing our children here." The man with muscles beckoned, his voice booming across the hall, an echo that they cannot deny. It was at this moment that the children recognized who they were. Sozo Kurorai and King Cliffside themselves.
"Bit late to the function, though. For sure I thought that we gave them a notice." Sozo would comment, his smile slowly lowering so he can get back into business.
"Prophecy kicked in again. Had it not been for the kids, we would've started it too early." Envy would answer, raising an eyebrow from Sozo and a grunt from King.
"Then I shall give my thanks again then for stopping such an event. What are your names exactly?"
Harvard would try to take a deep breath, trying to ignore every warning sign imaginable between the two rulers, understanding that even in this moment, they were outmatched in every category. "H-Harvard Helsing. Card Magician. These are my friends: Stolas, Solomon, and Zazel-"
The moment he brought up their names, everyone grew alarmed. They looked on at one another, even at the opposing faction, whispers made to one another. Sozo's expression shifts to a more studious look, staring at the boys in trying to understand what they have and what they could do. King, meanwhile, simply raised his crown and looked at the four, his cerulean eyes watching each and every one of them. "Helsing? Stolas? Azazel? Solomon? You actually made your appearance here?" he'd ask.
"Er-... Zazel. Zazel is just fine." The demon retorted.
"Regardless... These news are extraordinary. Legends have came and gone towards our zone, but never have we thought you four would arrive here."
"Wh-... Legends?"
The King nodded his head as he lowered his crown. "The intervention of the Umibozu, as well as the Island incident, are more than enough to make your names known in the public eye. However, I doubt you're here just for such a tour, were you?"
Harvard would nod his head, struggling to raise it up with the immense pressure by the King, the effects now easier to understand the longer they remained in this room. "Yeah... We're here because of a supposed intervention with a Demon. Jesta Spade. Ever heard of him?"
Gasps were made by the cloaked figures, looking towards two specific ones. Sozo merely raised his hand to halt their murmurs, as he'd speak up. "To say we haven't would be a lie. Am I correct in assuming that you're going after him?" The boys nodded again, bringing Sozo closer in trying to understand them. "As I suspected. You came, however, at an unfortunate time. We were just about to announce our declaration for such destruction within the circle. Had we met earlier, perhaps one of us could've assisted. Alas, our time has come nigh, with the prayers given that the Apocalypse must occur, to return the world back in its primordial state."
"Denounced. To destroy the world means to destroy the people that live here. Such an order is considered unethical." King's words boomed once more, yet Sozo remained unfazed, waving his hand in ignorance.
"Please... Much like Tiamat and the other Mesopotamian gods, or Nidhogg with the World Tree, or The Beast in the Revelations, There will ALWAYS come a time where everything ends. My family has seen it, my people have seen it, I have seen it. To not accept this path is to not accept the facts." He'd gesture towards the murals, depicting the three beasts: Dragons, each one harboring an Apocalyptic event. "There's no purpose for us here. It will all end eventually, so why not depart them to somewhere better?"
"And ignore our efforts? I highly advise against it."
It was clear at what they wanted, yet Harvard would still notice that, even if King is an actual person worth fighting with, Stolas eyed on him with such determination. He knew more than anything else that he wishes to fight him. He can't really see himself and others allying with the one person that would rather test them than fight with them in their stead. "So... In order to do this... You want Envy and Tsukiya dead, is that right?"
"Correct. My son knows that role, his Daughter knows that role, everyone else knows it-"
"Then you're not getting to them. I'm sorry, but... I don't think I want another death in my conscious."
Sozo's words being interrupted would bring his attention towards the Card Magician. His neck stretched, the miasma that acts as his ink tethered, his amorphous body allowing him to reach the boy, looking at him in his eyes for such conviction. Despite being nervous at the powerhouses, he simply took his breath, and stared back. Their eyes locked towards one another, as both understood that they are each other's perfect mirror. One who values life, and one who values death. "...Very well. Know this, however. Your words are now our declaration. I will give you solace in that you will die with no regrets by the time we're done."
"I'm counting on it." Harvard's retortion to the Nihilist brought him to another small smile, as if he was waiting to hear such words. King merely nodded to the boys as he understood that he is their enemy as well.
"If you're willing to be in this war, you may need to gather your forces just as much. We will not hold back. We will not accept pity. We will not stop." The King added, letting them know they're also against him
"I know. As I said...I'm counting on that." With such words given, the boys would make their leave, the doors closing behind them.