The Red Hand

Chapter 493 – The White Dawn.

"Enslaves?" Halifax paused midsip as she took in Akagi's words. "Before I answer, why are you asking? That's a random question even for you."

"Humor the kitty." Akagi snickered.

"Alright..." Halifax took a sip as she thought for a moment. "There are many Divine Weapons, each have a unique property or ability... But enslavement? Hmm... I don't... Unless you count raising the dead? I guess that's a kind of enslavement."

"There's a Divine weapon that specializes in necromancy?" Akagi asked with a raised eyebrow. She'd never imagined that the divine would create something that specialized in such a thing. "How odd. I would've thought such a thing to be repugnant to the Divine."

"Most people are not a fan of raising the dead, and that includes me by the way." Halifax said as she indicated for another can of juice, which the Demon provided. "I've fought enough undead over the years that I'm quite sick of them. Fucking Mr. Quackers raised a massive army of corpses and unleashed them on the continent a while back. Mind you I still have no clue where he got all the bodies for that whole thing, and I honestly didn't want to ask too many questions."

{AGAIN WITH THE DUCK?!? What the fuck kind of evil was that thing, and where did it come from?!? I HATE THAT EVERYONE SAYS THAT NAME LIKE ITS NORMAL TOO!} (Akagi)

"Reheal has the weapon in question by the way." Halifax continued as Akagi debated asking about Mr. Quackers. "Though unlike Arcus, her Divine weapon is not alive in the same way. It has no mind of its own, at least not as far as I'm aware anyway."

"I've heard much about that Angel of Death. I've had the Ninja try and tail her, but she's something else." Akagi commented. She'd originally wanted to track Rehael, but the one and only time the Ninja managed to encounter her it was quickly realized that none of them sans Chloe stood a chance against the Demi-God in a fight, and thus it was decided not to risk it. Thus she had no idea where the Angel was or what she was doing.

"It would take someone of at least my level to pin her down. If Rehael doesn't want to be found, she won't be." Halifax replied. "Not to mention that she's dangerous, and I wouldn't recommend your people get anywhere near her since she'll kill them without a second thought."

"I believe you've said once before that the two of you would be roughly equals in a straight-up fight. That's hard to believe now that we know your true origins." Akagi said.

"As unbelievable as it sounds, it's true." Halifax nodded as she took another sip. "We've never fought at full strength, but I don't need to to understand just how powerful she is. Out of all Demi-Gods, she stands far above the rest. Her Scythe, Mawt, has the ability to automatically resurrect anything she kills and bind it to her will as an undead creature. Its how she grows her undead army of fun."

{Interesting name.} (Akagi)

"The hell purpose does that even serve?" Akagi asked. She understood the value in creating undead minions but couldn't pin down why the Gods would find such a thing useful.

"No clue, I never asked." Halifax shrugged. "The Angel of Death is best left alone. She's Gale's favorite little lapdog and most potent enforcer. If he sends her in to do a job, you can guarantee it's going to get done."

"In the most bloody fashion I'd imagine." Akagi snickered.

"You laugh, but you'd be correct." Halifax said, recalling the bloody scenes she'd come across the few times they'd worked together. "There is a reason her name terrifies people. Just the idea that she's out stalking Enoris is enough to make people freaked out."

{Out of all the Demi-Gods, she's by far the worst too. She exemplifies everything wrong with the Gods, and even worse, she revels in death. Mortal lives mean nothing to her, and I'm certain she enjoys killing merely for the sake of it.} (Halifax)

"Guess I'd better up my game." Akagi said as she stretched. "Can't have people being afraid of someone other than me. This world ain't big enough for two BBEGs."

"What brought this on anyway?" Halifax decided to get back on the original topic. "Asking about a weapon to enslave people is oddly specific, even for you."

"I promise I don't want to do anything bad! I merely wanted to make sure that everyone is a slave to the kitty's floof and cuteness!" Akagi chuckled. "All must worship the kitty! Mew!"

"Ah, finally a religion I can get behind!" Halifax laughed. "The kitty could never be evil! It can only be a silly little goober and the goodest of all good kitties!"

"But for real, I brought it up because..." Akagi paused as she thought about how to word things. "Do you recall the origin of the Black Sunrise?"

"You said it was the weapon used by a character in a story you wrote. Something about it being a big, bad, evil, scary blade of doom or something." Halifax replied. “I've heard those kinds of things a million times so I don't recall the specifics.”

"Well you remembered it well enough because your little summation is correct. The Black Sunrise is the weapon wielded by the Emperor of Black within that story." Akagi nodded. "Its 'gimmick' is that the blade can destroy anything. It can sever fates and destroy reality itself, but if you recall, the Emperor of Black had a counterpart."

"The Emperor of White." Halifax said, recalling the other half of the story. "You mentioned them in passing, but nothing about what they do. I presume they're the counterpart and seek to protect the world from the Emperor of Black?"

"You are correct that they are the Emperor of Black's counterpart, the two are fated to exist in opposition to one another, but the Emperor of White is not the Hero of the story." Akagi shook her head before explaining. "In fact, depending on your viewpoint, the Emperor of White could well be the worse of the two Emperors actually."

"I presume their ability has something to do with enslavement then?" Halifax figured that that was why Akagi asked her original question.

"In a sense, yes. The Emperor of White indeed seeks to prevent the destruction of the world by the Emperor of Black's hand. And while their ultimate end goal is a peaceful and prosperous world, they must be the ones in control of its destiny. Just as the Emperor of Black wields an almighty blade, the Emperor of White has one as well, and that blade..." The Demon said as she snapped her fingers to create an illusory blade in her hands. It shone brightly, nearly blinding Halifax, and its metallic blade seemed to flicker and flow as if it were made of liquid gold mixed with sunlight. "That blade's name is the White Dawn, and it has the power not to kill those struck down by it; rather, it binds the defeated to the Emperor of White's will permanently." She said before ending the illusion. "The blade is wholly incapable of harming the flesh, simply passing through a person's body as if it weren't there in the first place. Naturally, the blade is not harmless, and it, in fact, damages the target's soul. Take enough damage and you become bound to it and its wielder's will forevermore." She continued. "That is the true power of the White Dawn. It enables the Emperor of White to create their ideal world, a world where none can stand against them, a world without dissent, a world united, a world brought together under one eternal being and unified by their vision. A world where everyone does what they say."

"I... I can see why some would find them more distasteful than the Emperor of Black." Halifax replied with a wry smile. "In a choice between eternal slavery and death, I suspect many would choose to die on their feet than live on their knees even if promised prosperity."

"And many would choose the exact opposite." Akagi chuckled. "As you and I have seen across two world and two lifetimes there are many who gleefully join the winning team if that means they survive another day."

{Rats tend to flee sinking ships after all.} (Halifax)

"An interesting premise for a conflict, I'll give you that, but what does it have to do with anything?" Halifax saw the tangential connection but didn't think it was relevant to the prior discussion of the Angel. "Rehael turns people into zombies, not slaves in the sense that you are describing. If anything, you are the being closest to that Emperor of White, given what you've done to Shiroe and certain other people."

"Indeed, and it was merely a passing thought, nothing more." Akagi shrugged. "My curiosity got the better of me is all. I was wondering if such a thing existed in this world, and it seems I've gotten my answer."

"You've got that look in your eye again." Halifax glared at the Demon. "You're thinking of something crazy, I can tell."

"Who? Me?" Akagi said, faking shock at the accusation. "I would never do anything strange! I don't know who you take me for?" She said as her lips curved into a wicked grin.

"If you ask anyone who knows you, they'd answer that you're a troublemaker who cooks up crazy schemes that cause everyone else problems." Halifax said flatly.

"Such harsh words, and here I was going to give you some exclusive kitty time since Yumi will be busy with her debriefing for the next half hour." Akagi winked. "But I suppose I can find someone else to play with if you're gonna be so mean to me."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's not get too hasty there, my fluffy friend." Halifax replied with an eye roll. "If it's pets you need, then I will take the arrow and provide them so that no one else shall be burdened with such demands. Can't leave that job up to someone else now, can I?"

"Hmmmmm, sure, why not?" Akagi laughed as she transformed and hopped next to Halifax on the chair. "MEW! You need to give me good fluffs to make up for all the bad things you said about me, MEW! Am good kitty!"

"Yes, yes. You're a good kitty." Halifax said with a small smile as she rubbed the Catkagi's head. "But isn't Yumi going to be mad when she finds out? She's probably been dying for kitty time, and it's been a minute since I've seen you two love birds sharing some time alone."

"Oh, trust me, that idiot gets far and away more time with me than all you other idiots combined." Akagi snickered. "Time dilation in my shadow means that we can have as much fun as she wants and then pop back out without skipping a beat, which she abuses maliciously."

{Pure Priestess my foot.} (Akagi)

"As long as I don't have to watch out for a knife in my back." Halifax said as she scratched the Catkagi's ears. "I've seen Noblewomen do exactly that before to monopolize a shared Husband's attention."

{I've had to investigate a few mysterious disappearances too.} (Halifax)

"Never fear! My petting harem is filled with nothing but good vibes!" The Catkagi laughed as she was pet. "All who wish to pet the kitty are welcome, and are awarded their fair share of the floof!"

"Except Miji." Halifax commented.

"Yeah! She gets priority!" The Catkagi snickered.