Villain Retirement

"But you did…

…Gracy."

"L…let go of me!"

"But you're the one who lunged at me, Gracy."

Gracy was able to get near Riley. But alas, she was now just floating right in front of him; her arms still fully pressed as she tried her best to set herself free from Riley's invisible clutch.

"I… I won't be part of this fucking massacre!" Gracy, however, even with her absolutely unflattering position, still fiercely looked Riley in the eyes; straining every bit of her vocal chords as she screamed at his face.

"I thought we were bonding, Gracy," Riley sighed as he stood up from his throne. He then very gently placed the back of his hand on Gracy's chin while shaking his head, "But I am liking you more and more compared to Gary. You are both recklessly brave, the only difference is that you actually have the strength to stand in the road your mother walked on—you have the potential to be Megawoman."

"I don't fucking care about that!" Gracy once again let out a shrilling scream.

"You should," Riley removed his hand as he walked past her, "That is the only reason you are alive right now. Ahor Zai… return her to her universe."

"W… wait!" Gracy tried her best to turn her head, once again screaming out of her lungs and causing Ahor Zai to slightly flinch back, "That means you will lack a member! You…

…that means you're disqualified!"

"...This is my Tournament, Gracy," Riley blinked a couple of times; tilting his head in confusion as he looked at Gracy, "But you are right, what fun is there if I will be breaking the rules of my own Tournament?"

"So, you'll stop all of this!?" Gracy smiled as she looked at Hannah and the others.

"No," Riley shook his head, "There is still one more thing that you and Gary have in common, Gracy…

…you are both replaceable."

And as soon as he said that, the air behind him cracked open; ripping apart space itself as Chihiro stepped out.

"Oh…" Chihiro quickly hummed as she saw everyone looking at her, "...Did I mess up the timing?"

"Not at all, Chihiro," Riley shook his head, before gesturing to Ahor Zai, "I am giving you the chance to do something, Gracy. Prove to your universe and this one that you are not useless…

…try stopping this."

"What are you even—"

And before Gracy could even finish her words, Ahor Zai waved her hand—causing some sort of portal to emerge from the floor right beneath where Gracy was floating. And without even giving her the chance to say anything else, Riley dropped her down.

"Now then," Riley returned to his throne, "Is there anyone that still wants to forfeit?"

"..."

"Good, that is good," Riley nodded to himself as he sat back down, "Who wants to fight next?"

"He's only one man! We can take him! We have the themarians and the evaniels on our side!"

"Are you stupid? He just told us he has our people hostage."

"How do we even know what you showed us is true!? In fact, all of these sound like some sort of show. What about the Primordials you mentioned earlier!? Where are they!?"

"I am not sure if the mysterious group really are the primordials, random humanoid," Riley sighed and shook his head, "But the themarians are saying that the energy they give out—or rather the fact that they are not giving out energy at all is the same as me. I was told by Navi, one of the Primordials, that I am the same as them—and therefore my guess has merit."

"W—"

"Enough delaying. The Humans vs… how do you pronounce this, Ahor Zai?"

[Es'embres.]

"The Humans vs. the Es'embres," Riley raised his hand, "S—"

"Riley!" Hannah roared, "I will fucking off myself if you continue this!"

"If you kill yourself, then I will kill everyone—whether people find it entertaining or not," Riley quickly responded, "And not just here, but the other universes out there will receive the same treatment. I will scorch them down and they will not even know why it is happening to them."

"Riley…"

"Oh, and please do not attempt to lose purposely," Riley looked at Bulwark, "I will also destroy Earth and everyone in it if you lose."

"..." Bulwark squinted his golden eyes as he glanced at Bernard, who just closed his eyes in response.

"Are you serious, Riley…?" Hera stepped forward and stood beside Hannah, "You have friends there. What about Paige? Katherine, the mother of your child?"

"I have no friends, Hera."

"What about Italian Mafia Reborn!?" Hera breathed out and smiled, "If you destroy Earth then no one will be able to make it anymore!"

"I know you bought the rights to Italian Mafia Reborn, Hera," Riley blinked, "You bought it because your body and your mind knew that it is the only way you will be left alive even if everything else turns into ruin…

…You will make Italian Mafia Reborn if you wish to survive."

"Fuck… he's right," Hera sucked in a deep breath as she glanced at Hannah.

[The Humans vs. The Es'embres!]

And before anyone else could get another word in, Hera and the others were warped away along with their opponents.

"Well then, eat…" Riley opened his arms as he looked at everyone that was left in the banquet hall, "...the food you people have actually been eating and enjoying since earlier have been prepared by me and my clones."

"!!!"

As soon as everyone heard that, some of the champions instantly started vomiting there and then. More seemed to want to vomit, but their digestive systems do not really have such capabilities.

"That is rude," Riley sighed and shook his head, "I painstakingly learned recipes that are completely and literally alien to me and prepared them. Wh—"

And before Riley could finish his words, fireworks started appearing in the ceiling of the banquet hall as Hannah and the others appeared back in the banquet hall as fast as they were warped away…

…with Bernard's white suit completely slathered in blood.

Bernard didn't really say anything. He just glared at Riley, before sitting back at the Earth's table. It was the same with Hannah; except she did not even look at Riley as she took her seat. Tempo, who had been quiet since the beginning, only turned his head down as he approached Princess Vera, who immediately embraced him in her arms.

"Hm," Riley nodded, "As expected of Father. Next—"

"Riley, what are you doing?"

And finally, Aerith stepped forward and started to approach Riley.

"This is enough. Let's just… go," Aerith looked Riley in the eyes, "I promised to stop you, and I am asking you to stop now. Let's just go."

"But we are just starting, Aerith," Riley tilted his head to the side.

"Is what we talked about meaningless?" Aerith breathed in as she stood in front of Riley, "Am I… actually just meaningless to you? Didn't we just promise to just be together and leave all of this behind us…? I thought you loved me?"

"I do, Aerith," Riley nodded, "You are my favorite person next to Sister."

"Then—"

"That's why, Aerith…"

"Hm?"

"Aerith…" Riley looked at Aerith; his eyes, seemingly filled with utmost endearment,

…versus all the remaining Normal Races."

"...What?"