Villain Retirement

"I can't do it. Just kill me…

…I don't want to play this game anymore."

The light in Aerith's eyes continued to fade away. The people that were attacking her already stopped when her eyes glowed red in fear that they would just suddenly melt away. But now, even as the will to fight completely vanished from her eyes, the champions remained completely still; some even backing away as they heard Aerith's desperate and weak whispers.

The others, however, saw this chance to attack and once again rushed toward her… only to find themselves completely unable to move even a single inch.

"Are you going to kill yourself again, Aerith?"

And all of a sudden, Riley appeared in front of her, descending out of nowhere from above. He very gently touched her chin, lifting her head up so he could look her in the eyes.

"No," Aerith answered weakly as she returned Riley's gaze, "This is not my failure. I just refuse to be played and manipulated by you again, Riley. Just kill me. Kill everyone if you want—that is what makes you happy, right? You want to kill everyone and turn them into nothing, you want to be alone."

"Hm. I remember us having this discussion before, Aerith," Riley smiled, "I do not want to be alone. If there is anything that I fear, it is being alone — but with everything I have done, it is what I deserve, and therefore I strive for it."

"Stop it with the pity play, Riley," Aerith leaned her head away, "Just kill me. I am not going to play this game of yours anymore."

"Are you planning to manipulate me as well by saying that, Aerith?"

"I'm not one for mind games," Aerith let out a wry chuckle, "Just kill me and get this over with. You can always just find another me in another universe, make their lives hell instead."

"Hm, maybe I will do that," Riley smiled, "But I won't find another you, Aerith. The multiverse does not really matter to me, only the universe that has you."

"Why me…? Why does it have to be me?"

"Because it is," Riley leaned closer to Aerith, before wrapping his arms around her, "And I am truly sorry for that."

"Riley…" Aerith softly returned Riley's embrace, tight…perhaps too tight, "Diana! This is his real body! He won't hug me like this with one of his clones!"

[We're on it!]

"Diana! You can do it, just burst through the hall and help me restrain him!"

"..." Riley blinked a couple of times as he heard Aerith and Diana's words. Several thumps and explosions could be heard being broadcast throughout the entire planet as Diana and the others seemed to have completely destroyed the hall.

[Shout so I can hear where you are!]

"Here!"

[Where!? I can't hear your voice!]

"..."

"Diana…!? I'm here!"

[Wait, this… this planet looks completely different.]

"...What?"

"What…" Riley blinked a couple of times again as he very slowly turned his head; his lips, now directly on Aerith's ears, "...are you doing, Aerith?"

"Trying to stop you!"

"Hm," Riley's voice was incredibly gentle so as to not hurt Aerith's ears,

"What made all of you think that the battlefield was anywhere near the banquet hall, Aerith?"

"Wh… what do you mean?" Aerith's eyes very slowly started to widen, "You and Ahor Zai kept referring to this place as 'outside'!"

"Yes," Riley once again blinked, "Because it is outside… but several lightyears away. We won't be using warp technology if the field was directly just outside, Aerith—that would be too costly and Ahor Zai is on a budget because we're using the funds of the Common Council."

"..." Aerith's grip slowly loosened, allowing Riley to take a few steps back.

"Oh…" Riley looked at Aerith's eyes, which were filled with confusion, but most importantly, defeat, "...Don't be sad, Aerith. Diana and the others could still reach this place in a few minutes if they tried. It… was a good plan."

"..." Aerith could really only look at Riley as he started patting her shoulders like she was some kind of child that failed her math test.

"Solving things with your strength is truly your forte, Aerith. Do not be too disappointed with this outcome. We all have our own strengths." Riley then let out a small sigh as he backed away. He seemed to be completely lost in thought, even placing his hand on his chin before uttering…

"...Wow."

"..."

"I am truly impressed, Aerith," Riley slightly covered his mouth as he once again glanced at Aerith, "Your plan is working because I don't even want to go through with this after that."

"..."

"You people," Riley then turned to look at the frozen champions surrounding the two of them, "I am allowing all of you to go home now. Ahor Zai, take us back."

And as soon as Riley said that, Aerith saw her vision shift and found herself back in the banquet hall… which now no longer had a ceiling.

"Hm…" As for Riley, he just sat back on his throne; resting his elbows on his knees as he covered his mouth with his hands. And very soon, Diana and all the Higher Races flew back and returned to the banquet hall. Riley, however, did not heed them any mind as he just gestured to Ahor Zai to come to him.

[Hm, okay,] Ahor Zai started nodding as Riley seemed to be whispering something to her, [Yes, all Aeriths have the tendency to not think.]

[Hm, I agree,] Ahor Zai nodded again, [She should never be made to lead a plan again.]

[Hm, are you sure?] Ahor Zai squinted as she looked at Aerith, whose head was completely turned to the floor, [I do not think the pocket universe can help with increasing her decision-making skills.]

"Hm…" Riley then waved his hand, gesturing to Ahor Zai that he was done speaking to her. Riley then turned to look at the champions left in the banquet hall, before letting out a sigh and shaking his head, "...Who wishes to continue with the Tournament?"

"If the pocket universe is still on the line, then we wish to continue."

"As do we."

Both the Xanix and the Norinlad immediately raised their hands as soon as they heard Riley's words. And when Riley saw that only the two groups wanted to continue, he once again sighed and stood up from his throne.

"I promise that I will no longer plan anything evil and malicious for the duration of the Tournament," Riley raised his hand, "This—"

And before Riley could finish his words, a tear suddenly opened in the air at the very center of the hall. And without even a second later, a blinding flash of light exploded from it—a blinding flash of light that did not really affect most of the people in the banquet hall.

Another second later, several more portals opened up; scattered across the banquet hall.

And soon, Gracy, who was thrown away back to her universe, jumped out of the rift… along with the Bernard, Hannah, and Chihiro of her universe. And it wasn't only them, several more familiar figures from their universe stepped out of the other portals.

"We are here to help stop Riley!" Gracy started waving her arms before getting into a fighting stance, "Everyone…

…Assemb—"

"It's over."

"Huh…?"

"You do not need to stop me, Gracy. It's over, but...

...since all of you are here..."