Villain Retirement

"It's not working."

"...Figures."

There were still a lot of people trying their hands at the trials of the Black Tower. In fact, there were a lot more now that the news of it broke through the entire city. And of course, as the first official member and official Cardinal of the Religion of Riley Ross, or as they were calling it now, RRR, Cardinal Elizabeth took this chance to poach-no, to recruit people from other sects to join them.

As for the Hera who found herself suddenly being thrown into the real reality, she was trying to attempt the trial to see what it would do to her. She did not really have any reservations about putting her arm inside since her body wasn't really reacting to it negatively... and she quickly realized the reason why;

It was doing nothing.

Hera could really only let out a long and very winded sigh as she removed her arm from the hole.

"I... can't imagine what you're feeling right now, Hera," Karina partnered Hera's sigh as she placed her hand on her shoulder to comfort her, "I'm sorry this is happening to you."

"You could, actually," Hera just let out another sigh as she smiled at Karina, not really being apprehensive of her at all, not even a single bit, "You just realized the world you have been living in for 600 years was... well, not the reality you know."

"Except... the reality I know still actually exists out there-or in there. The logistics of things could be confusing now since we're in a place that's outside the multiverse. It's... I don't honestly even want to think about it anymore since it makes no difference," Karina then gestured to Hera to follow her back to the tent, "I feel like it doesn't matter, you know? Multiverse, outerverse, or whatever verse there is. It all just feels mundane to me now."

"I'd bet," Hera let out a small scoff as she saw Riley just casually sitting inside the tent, "I'd ask if you don't find all of this confusing, but you're already used to meeting different versions of different people. The Hera that you know... what is she like? Aside from divorcing Tempo."

"We... weren't really that close."

"But it sounds like you know her a lot."

"Living for more than a hundred years together would do that," Karina chuckled.

"I still find that crazy - you guys spent more than 600 years without again... while a war between god-like beings was happening?" Hera shook her head, "And what was once more than hundreds of trillions of people, there's less than 20 billion now... and that's counting all of the races?"

"Yes," Karina closed her eyes.

"I could see why Darkday's crimes would be irrelevant," Hera blinked a couple of times. "But don't make a mistake, Hera..." Karina also stared at her father, "...Dad is still the most dangerous entity out there."

"Really?" Hera raised an eyebrow, "Because if you ask me, this Paige woman is the most dangerous. Kill her when you have the chance."

"...My siblings would disappear," Karina shook her head, "I want to find a solution to this problem as much as Dad. If there's a way for the two realities to live, I'd want that - it's the only way. My god... Renna and Lucy are still so young."

"Well, then, I guess we better find out how to make that work," Hera then stretched her arms to the side, "The Pope's groupie told me I and the other Heras could be the key to solving all of this problem, so... I'm more than happy to help."

"That's good and all, but... we have no idea how to proceed with this," Karina then let out a loud groan as she just fell on the chair beside Riley, "Do they just stick to you and then they'll be safe after Paige deletes the universe she created?"

"You would need to ask the other Heras for that," Hera shrugged before glancing-no, outright staring at Riley, who was truly just keeping quiet and not doing anything at all, "You know, if you weren't a murdering psychopath that caused all of this, you could have been some sort of model in another life."

"I was, Miss Hera," Riley answered without any hesitation, "You actually put me in several commercials and even gave me a role in a movie."

"For real?"

"Yes," Riley nodded, "But I do believe it never aired because certain mishaps happened. I do not really remember much about that except the part where I could not meet the other voice actors of Italian Mafia Reborn, which you promised."

"Huh..." Hera just looked at Riley before once again shrugging, "...Anyway, where'd the Pope's groupie go?"

"She told me she would be searching for a Hera, Miss Hera," Riley answered, "She told me one visited the city not long ago and she might still be here, or if not, just within the area and could be easily found."

"Oh..." Hera took in a small gulp, "...I didn't think I might be meeting myself anytime soon. How weird would that be? Are all of them actors like me?"

"I do believe so, Miss Hera," Riley nodded, "With a beautiful face like yours, life is obviously easier."

"...What the hell does that mean?" Hera raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, Dad. What the fuck does that mean?" Karina rolled her eyes.

"It means you are beautiful, Miss Hera," Riley answered without any hesitation, "I have said that to Hera as well - objectively, in human perception, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."

"Oh god..." Karina covered her ears, "...Ack, is this what Mom fell in love with?"

"You know..." Hera then subtly pointed back and forth between Karina and Riley, completely trying her best to change the topic and feign indifference at Riley's words. Her face, however, was clearly turning red, "...I've actually been meaning to ask this and I think we're in the right casual mood to ask. Who's your mother?"

"Katherine?" Karina slightly winced, "You might know her as Scarlet Mage?"

"Scarlet Mage!?" Hera's subtle pointing became aggressive as she looked at Riley, "Isn't she like my age!?"

"She was, yeah," Karina didn't really know how to react.

"Huh... did you know we were considering her for the Hope Guild?" Hera placed her hand on her chin, "Bulwark was retiring so we were trying to find a replacement and... what the fuck." "Wait, Mom was going to be a part of Hope Guild?" Karina slightly raised her voice, "Wow, you really did destroy Mom's future, Dad."

"I do believe she was the first one who came on to me, Karina," Riley let out a small sigh while shaking his head, "We were in the parking lot of Mega Academy when she suddenly-" "No! I do not want to hear any of that!" Karina once again covered her ears, "And can we please talk about saving all of reality instead of talking about our personal lives!?" "Speaking of our personal life, you still have not told me about that woman we all saw in your trial, Karina."

"That's none of your business," Karina waved her hand, "And why are you not out there also trying to search for variants of Hera?"

"I might get lost, Karina," Riley shook his head, "And it is better for me to be here just in case something happens with the Black Tower."

"Are... you really not going to proceed with the trial?" Hera asked.

"I will again soon," Riley shook his head, "I see merit in Angela's theory, and the best way to somewhat test it is to revisit the trial. And if I did, there might be a chance that you will also

be brought back to that reality, Miss Hera."

"We won't know until you try," Hera sighed.

"And if you are returned there, then it would make it a lot easier for me," Riley nodded, "I

will once again kill myself. As for you, Miss Hera-"

"You want me to try and bring someone else with me?" Hera quickly caught on to what Riley

was trying to achieve.

"Yes."

"Well, that should be a lot of fun," Hera started stretching her arms, "When do we go again?" "Let us wait a few more hours for Angela, Miss Hera. And then we'll-"

"Karina...?"

And before Riley could finish telling his plan, an extremely familiar voice entered the tent along with their steps. Not only Karina, but even Riley turned to look at who it was. "You..." Karina's eyes widened to their biggest as she looked at the person who entered the

tent. She then turned to look at Riley with the same eyes before once again focusing on the

woman,

"...Katrina? Aunt Kat?"

"Yes!" Katrina then just rushed toward Karina, even using her wind abilities to leap and

embrace her, "I... I never thought I would see you again! And... wait...

...is this Riley? Riley Ross?"

Katrina Collins - the original one.

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