Villain Retirement

There was a weight in the air. A weight weighed down even more by the quiet hums and breaths of the people in the room. Hera was quite taken aback at first when she saw the different versions of herself that took on the unique role of each of the members of the Hope Guild.

Although they all clearly look like the same person, their personalities are completely different — to the point that even if they were all wearing the same thing, Hera would probably know who's who.

It did not take long for Hera to adjust and treat them accordingly, and soon, she started telling them her story. Her universe, about Riley, about King and how they are where they are now.

Hera's Heaven, HH, is what they call it.

There did not seem to be a certain seating arrangement on the large V-shaped table, as no one was at the single point. There was no clear hierarchy amongst the 7 Heras of this place's Hope Guild, but Hera could not help but address the one that seemed to be taking the role of Whiteking the most.

And while the Heras were busy, Caitlain was busy trying to find something to drink. No one really seems to mind him other than the Heras in dark gray suits who served as HH's guards and soldiers.

As for Riley, he was just standing near the large windows, his eyes reflecting the endless sky and the islands that were floating from afar.

"Interesting." This was probably the tenth time he was uttering the very same words. He did not even bother listening or confirming Hera's accounts of everything that had happened to them, as he had been hearing everyone explain to everyone why and how they were in a certain situation so many times now. It was almost as if they told the story to anyone who was remotely relevant.

"This isn't part of the multiverse, this is a domain," Riley continued to whisper to himself as he started walking around while still looking at the view. He had tried stretching out his telekinetic zone as far as he could, but there was actually no end to this place — no such thing as an outer space.

It was almost as if it was just one big atmosphere of an endless sky. As for the thing that looked like a sun, it wasn't a sun at all but just a mist of light.

"Supers truly are still the most interesting beings in the multiverse," Riley finally strayed his eyes away from the view of the outside as he looked at the 7 Heras. And of course, as soon as he did so, all of them subtly looked back; extremely and incredibly wary of him. Riley, on the other hand, was truly just curious.

Most of the Enders that Bard mentioned were humans. And considering they held the most mysterious powers and forces in the universe, it wasn't a surprise at all. But what was most interesting for Riley is that there are actually Supers that are connected to their variants, directly or indirectly.

His grandmother, Charlotte Lane, is directly connected to her variants emotionally and mentally — sharing abilities across the multiverse. Delivery Man is an enigma even for Riley. He does not seem to be a unique existence, but his variants are essentially all him — and they are only alive whenever someone orders through them, sharing memory and everything.

Chihiro and Paige; Riley does not really know what to think of them yet, as they were not really truly humans.

And now, Hera. She is connected with her variants essentially through her version of death here in the HH.

Just what is the supervirus, exactly?

…And why could someone like him, a suspected Primordial, able to absorb their abilities if they could kill him?

"And that's it."

And after a couple more minutes, Hera was finally able to explain everything right down to the minute details that her variants needed to know.

"It checks out." The first one to stand up from her seat was Whiteking Hera; her eyes, looking at each member of the Hope Guild and nodding at them. And after what seemed to be a silent conversation among them, Whiteking started walking around the table to approach Hera.

"There has actually been an influx of newcomers lately — and they all confirm your story that there is a Bernard Ross out there that is hellbent on destroying everything. We have believed you from the start," Whiteking Hera placed her hand on Hera's shoulder,

"And…?" Hera squinted her eyes as she looked at Whiteking Hera's hand.

"And you are free to go," Whiteking Hera just shrugged as she gestured toward the elevator, "Although we do need to study how you were able to bring someone else to HH, so visit when we call you."

"Wait, aren't we gonna do something about King?" Hera forced out a single chuckle as she looked at the other Heras.

"And what exactly is it you want us to do?" The sound of gold clinking jingled in the air as Empress Hera lifted herself up from her seat, "We're dead, Hera. There is a reason why this place is called Hera's Heaven. This is it, this is the paradise we have been waiting for."

"W—I am not dead!" Hera scoffed as she shook her head.

"You were surrounded by an army of cherbis," Empress Hera sighed, "You are probably more dead than the rest of us combined."

"I was able to get out of there before I was absorbed!" Hera raised her voice as she looked at Whiteking Hera, "If I wasn't, then she would be dead."

Everyone then turned their heads to Caitlain, who was just calmly rummaging for anything to drink on the small refrigerator provided in the conference room.

"T—"

"Wait," Whiteking Hera placed her hand on her chin as she glanced at Caitlain, "What Hera said makes sense."

"Thank you!"

"But I don't know how yet."

"F…" Hera could really only grit her teeth in frustration, "Stop pretending to be Whiteking if you're actually dumb! I realize most of you have already grown relaxed and complacent here…

…but none of us are dead! We are literally unkillable, that is our shtick. And this place? You are mistaking heaven for paradise. This is paradise, none of us are dead. Riley and Caitlain being here literally prove that!"

"But this place—"

"May I?"

And before the Heras could start deliberating the crisis they found themselves in, Riley raised his hand and started… moving to the pointing end of the V-shaped table.

"There is a high chance that this place is a Domain, Miss Heras," Riley calmly said as he made a chair for himself created from the floor, "I have been to a few domains and this place reminds me of them."

"A… domain?" Whiteking Hera placed her hand on her chin again, causing Hera to roll her eyes.

"A place outside of the Multiverse," Riley nodded as he took a seat, casually placing his hands on the table, "Miss Hera is right, none of you are dead."

"It's—"

"And you do not need to seek for further proof because the proof is already in front of you," Riley stretched his arm to the side,

"Me."

"Ah!" Hera quickly pointed at Riley as she realized what he meant.

"The proof that I am here means that none of you are dead, Miss Heras," a small smile crawled on Riley's face, "I am a being which Death can not hold."

"...I don't get it," Tempo Hera looked at her variants to see if they were as confused as she was, "So, this isn't really heaven?"

"Hmm," Bulwark Vera's golden eyes flickered, "Well, I have always thought that wasn't the case. We literally built this place to what it is just a decade ago or so."

"Wait—right," Hera started looking at her variants, "Wait, wait. God damn it…

…You freaking morons are just role-playing!"

"..."

"..."

The Heras of the Hope Guild all looked at each other, before all letting out a collective sigh and shaking their heads.

"I told you I should have played Whiteking!" Empress Hera started taking off the bangles attached to her arms as she pointed at Whiteking Hera, "You're too stupid to play that role!"

"W—"

"Stop!"

And before the Heras could start arguing with one another, Hera slammed her foot on the ground, causing the entire tower to shake.

"Okay, it's my fault because I am just that good of an actor," Hera tried to calm herself down, "But what the heck…? Are you guys serious? I wasted my time explaining all of this to you and—"

"Everyone, that's enough."

And all of a sudden, all the Heras in the room excluding Hera all shut their mouths as a somewhat tiny and high-pitched voice resounded in the conference room. It was then followed by the sound of a door opening — a secret door near where Caitlain was.

"..." Caitlain could really only blink a couple of times as… a small girl stepped out of the door, perhaps barely even 5 years of age. Each of her steps, however, seemed completely confident as she walked toward Hera and Whiteking Hera.

"Go, shoo," the child then started waving her hand. And as she did so, the other Heras all just sighed and started heading to the elevator, even the guards.

"Sorry for all the theatrics, Hera."

"..." And as the little girl tried to hold her leg, Hera could really only take a step back as she looked at her. Hera's eyes, slightly trembling as they reflected the little girl… which closely resembled her,

"How…? W... Why?"

"Oh," the little girl looked at herself and just chuckled,

"I was the first Talia to be sent here…

…the Hera of King's universe."