"They did it…" Variable rose, the dull gleam of his metal body reflecting the firelight in the ruins. "My calculations assigned a one percent probability... they prevailed."
Veronica scanned the aftermath. Ash. Smoke. A crater where Calamity once stood. Everyone scattered and broken. Besides Rhenvar and Bunnygirl. Yet the silence, the kind that only comes when a nightmare ends.
"They did," she replied, arms crossed. "And I'm not sure we're ready for what comes next."
Bunnygirl took a shaky step forward, eyes glossed with disbelief. "Calamity is dead but the cost..."
(Her tone was hollow. Survivors always sound like that.)
"Yet with his death," Variable said, "we now possess the opportunity to guide this world to rational peace. A world not ruled by monsters but maintained by order."
Bunnygirl turned defensive. "Ultimateman was order! He was our hero!"
Variable tilted his head. "He was also the one who held your leash. Your crutch. An unregulated power dictating global stability with no oversight. Remove the emotional veneer, and he was an extinction event waiting to happen."
Veronica interjected before Bunnygirl could object again. "He's not wrong."
They both looked at her.
She met Bunnygirl's eyes. "Take Rhenvar, for example." She gestured to the man jumping on the golden dragon. "He fought beside us. Bled for us. But we all know he's unstable. You've probably seen it. One day he can save a child, and on the next, kill a man because he looked like food."
"Rhenvar is a hero-" she tried to argue but Veronica cut her off.
"And a monster," she said firmly. "They're not mutually exclusive for someone like him."
Variable nodded slowly, as if she'd passed some unspoken test. "Then perhaps you understand. Corvessa, Willow, even that dragon, they're liabilities. Wild, unchecked anomalies capable of reshaping reality. This moment is crucial. While they are unconscious or disoriented, we neutralize the threat. No more lost cities. No more surprise apocalypses."
He took a step forward. Calculated. Predatory.
Veronica took one to match it. Calm. Patient.
"You want to kill my friends who just saved your world?" Veronica's tone was calm but the venom was there.
"I want to remove a long-term threat to this multiversal quadrant. They are destabilizing elements."
"Then what does that make you?"
Variable paused. Just for a second. But she saw it, that flash of annoyance behind the golems eyes.
"I act in defense of a sustainable civilization."
Veronica laughed.
"No. You act out of fear."
That stung. He stiffened, as much as his metallic body could. "Fear is irrelevant."
"No, fear drives everything," Veronica said. "Fear made you hate this, Ultimateman. Fear made Calamity. And now, fear is making you dangerous to people I care about."
Veronica stepped closer. "You sound like someone who can't stand not having control. Using equations, for a 'greater good.' But here's the truth: if we start executing people because they might lose control, then the only thing separating us from Calamity… is power."
He shifted his metal face to retort but was interrupted by a shrill giggle.
"WOW that was a big kaboom~!" Viir spiraled into the air, crimson sparks trailing her. "I think everyone died! Haha! Oh well!"
Variable turned slowly. His body tensed like a program recalibrating threat levels.
"…"
He was silent.
Viir stopped mid-twirl. "Oh hi tin can! I'm Viir, wow you look silly! You must be new! I like your metal. Can I rip it off?"
Variable took a step back.
(Smart.)
"I wouldn't try anything around her," Veronica said. "She's… unpredictable."
"She's not living, she's another monster," Variable muttered.
"Correct. But she's my monster right now. And if you want to get near my allies, you'll have to get through her."
Viir snapped her fingers, black spike spilt in front of Variable. "Ooooh! Can I kill him? Can I? Can I?"
"Not today," she said calmly. "Not unless he keeps testing me."
Variable straightened. His optics dimmed slightly, an expression of annoyance.
"Aucteros spoke highly of you," he said after a moment. "Tactician. Analyst. The real mind behind your team. I now see why."
"Is that a hint of fear I smell." Veronica smirked.
"I do not fear, I have no need of it." He turned, the conversation slipping from his grip.
"You're wrong, though," she said, letting her voice carry. "It's not just fear you have. You also use it as a weapon. That's why you refuse it and turn it away."
He paused mid-step.
"You talk about removing threats. But I know a secret, Variable. Something your perfect calculations told you, but you ignored."
He didn't look back, but she knew he was listening.
"Sometimes, the monsters are the only ones keeping the worst monsters in check." Behind her, Viir giggled again. She was like a red star flickering above her head, humming.
Variable left them tapping his arm.
(Good.)
She turned to Bunnygirl, who looked like she'd aged five years.
"You, okay?"
"No," she whispered. "But I'm glad you're on our side."
"Don't be," Veronica muttered. "Sides don't mean anything anymore."
She waved her hand.
"Syrethe."
He slithered from the shadows. "Yesss?"
"Keep watch. If Variable so much as twitches, I want you to kill him."
The serpent hissed in delight and shrunk, following Variable.
"Don't you think that's a little much?" Bunnygirl asked.
"No," She said, brushing off her clothes. "Now, let's go see if any of our monsters are still alive."
Metal flying drones came overhead. They picked up Variables' unconscious companions.
(That doesn't matter; I need to heal everyone. We can worry about killing them later, for now I hope no one died.)
In an instant. Rhenvar appeared next to her and Viir. "Oh, I wanted to- "
"Rhenvar," Veronica put her hand up. "I need to heal our injured friends?"
"Oh, you can do that? Awesome!" Rhenvar's eyes looked odd.
Rhenvar staggery ran to Willow, gesturing her over.
(Typical. He'd choose her over himself.)
She walked over.
"Willow? WILLOW!" Rhenvar was shaking him. "We just talked!"
"Willows' dead hehe!" Viir chirped.
"Rhen, move, I'll heal him."
He moved and she dripped blood into his mouth.
(Heal.)
"Your turn," She turned to Rhenvar. He looked like a half beaten corpse. Like he was going to collapse at any second. He put his mouth to her wrist and drank. And drank. And drank…
"Enough!" She pulled back.
"S- sorry. Blood is part of my magic…" he looked ashamed.
(Was he going to drink me dry? I'm feeling uneasy.)
Willow woke up and hugged Rhenvar. "Rhen!" He said.
"Jeez again?" Rhenvar teased.
Veronica turned to help the others.
"Ow Willow, too tight!" She overheard Rhenvar as she was walking away.
After a while and lots of blood loss.
That should be it.
She finished dropping her blood into Urithax's mouth.
(A God like him required a lot of my blessing. While his wounds were seemed nowhere near severe but that explosion… he tanked most of it protecting Sinephilim.)
Urithax raised his head. "Thank you, Veronica." His voice, calm and soothing.
"It's nothing."
(Yet my head hurts. I never used my blessing this much. Everyone almost died.)
"Your hair is beautiful like a red sun has bled into a beautiful waterfall." He said.
(What? Oh, Gods above. Am I blushing?)
"Uh thanks…" She said, turning. Her face burning.
(What the hell was that?)
"Hey!" Rhenvar said as he walked up with Viir.
"Rhen! Feeling better?"
"Sure am! I almost forgot to ask. Do you want to see Charles again? I was planning on torturing him."
(Uh? What? Rhenvar, Gods above, how do you casually say something like that?)
"Uh no Rhen… are you… ok?"
"Pfft. Never better but whatever, fine. Viir let's go!" Rhenvar twitched awkwardly.
He and Viir vanished in crimson light.
(There it is again. That bad feeling.)