Villain Retirement

"You are a multiversal freak."

"That is very rude, Pirate Queen Xra. And I was told that the multiverse does not exist."

"...Who told you that?"

"Captain Nana of the Taladier."

"Cap— right. You were with people. We better return, I don't know if your friends are still alive."

"They are not my friends, Pirate Queen Xra. But I am sure one of them is still alive. Are we no longer killing each other?"

Pirate Queen Xra was about to fly away back to the ship but stopped as soon as she heard Riley's words.

"I do not die, and you resurrect each time you die. I do not see the point in us continuing."

"Kill me once and I will have your abilities, Pirate Queen Xra. I am sure I can find a way to make our battle not so pointless," Riley shook his head as he blocked Xra's path, 

"If you wish death, I believe I am the best creature in the entire universe suited to make it come true."

"Who said I wish for death?" Xra raised an eyebrow, "I have lived past enough the point of seeking death a long time ago, Riley Ross. Also, I sort of want to visit Earth, I would like to see how it has changed after almost ten millennia."

"..."

Xra began to fly away, but once again, he was blocked by Riley.

"You really want to fight? I was hoping to harvest that sun right there, but if we fight that thing will be gone. So, let's go farther if you want to—"

"I have a question, Pirate Queen Xra," Riley asked, "When did you stop seeking death?"

"A few hours after I left Earth's atmosphere."

"...Why?"

"Because I have a mission."

"To destroy the Universe?"

"No," Xra closed her eyes and shook her head, before turning to look at the star shining brightly from afar, 

"That's just… the price."

***

"What… happened here?"

Xra's colossal ship, the Bloodcruiser, always had an excess and an indiscriminate number of ruined ships inside its hangar, it was basically a graveyard for the ships they hijack and steal. But the hangar itself had always been clean; without even any signs of damage. But now, there were gashes everywhere—with some of the ships even stuck like gum on the walls that were made with one of the strongest metals in the entire universe.

"..." And as soon as Xra's foot made contact with the floor, she heard a small yelp whispering in her left ear. She quickly turned to look, only to see Captain Nana hiding beneath one of the debris.

"Eep!" Another yelp then resounded in the air as Xra disappeared from her spot, only to appear already lifting the debris that Nana was hiding under.

"What happened here, little cat?"

"I…" Nana quickly looked around for another place to hide; covering her head and refusing to look at Xra as if that would void the fact that she already found her. As soon as she saw Riley floating and landing behind Xra, however, she quickly stopped hiding and crawled toward him.

"H… Hera… she… she needs help!"

"..." Riley only looked at Nana, before turning to look at the mess that seemed to be the aftermath of whatever was happening with Hera.

"You are certainly having fun here," a small smirk then crawled on Xra's face as she heard Nana's words. And after a few breaths, she closed her eyes and stepped away,

"Blood sense."

And then, a ripple only she could see waved through her entire ship; echoing like a radar, until they returned to her almost instantly—carrying any rhythm and beat of life it could find within the vicinity.

"...Oh," she then followed as she started walking deeper into the hangar. As for Riley, he just shrugged his shoulders before casually following him. Nana… Nana didn't really know what to do. In front of her are literally two of the most powerful people in the Universe.

Just… how did she get caught up in this mess? And her ship…

Nana then very slowly turned to look at her ship… which was now in several pieces. The Taladier had been her home, and the home of her children for their entire lives; and now it's gone… just like that.

It didn't even have a proper place to die, it just became part of the many scraps in this ship graveyard they call a hangar.

"That's a scavenger ship, right? I will replace it with a custom Wormworld brand."

"..." Nana blinked a couple of times as she turned her head toward Xra, who was glancing at her before continuing to walk ahead. And as soon as the word 'Wormworld' registered in Nana's mind, a small but very deep breath escaped her mouth. The frown on her face, completely gone and replaced by a smile that could rival Riley's.

"A… custom Wormworld brand?" Nana could barely contain her breaths as she practically sprinted behind Riley and Xra, "What… what kind of customization?"

Xra didn't really answer her, and only pointed to the left. Nana, of course, almost instinctively turned her head to where she was pointing, only to see a large purple ship equipped with several… armaments.

Nana's entire body shivered as soon as she saw that. People have probably been killed inside that ship… but did it really matter? She was a scavenger in the first place, death is the reason why she has a job.

"It's in purple too, my favorite color."

"..." Riley glanced at Nana for a few seconds, before shaking his head and sighing, "You shouldn't be taking stuff from dead people, Captain Nana."

pAn,Da n<0,>v,e1 "You're a mass murderer!" Nana accidentally blurted out as she pointed at Riley. Her hand, turning into a cannon and blasting at Riley without any warning.

"..." Nana's eyes instantly widened as she saw the ball of energy floating just inches away from the back of Riley's head; her entire being, in complete disbelief at what she had just done. It would seem she had been spending so much time with Hera that her nagging was starting to affect her—the only difference was that her powers didn't guarantee her survival.

"That… that is—"

"Accidental pre-release, Captain Nana. That is quite common for late bloomers, you do not have to be ashamed about it."

"..." This time, Nana chose to shut her mouth and just follow behind the two.

"You have infected her?" Xra whispered as she once again walked unusually close to Riley; her arm, sticking to his.

"You know that the source of our abilities is a virus, Pirate Queen Xra?" Riley tilted his head.

"I've lived a couple of millennia, Riley," Xra scoffed, "I would notice people around me gaining powers when I am around them. At first, I thought I myself was giving the powers, but I figured it out in time as I noticed the discrepancies in their blood."

"Interesting," Riley squinted his eyes, "I believe my mother would very much like your input, Pirate Queen Xra."

"...Your mother?"

"She is a famous scientist, maybe you know her? Her name is Diana Ross, Pirate Queen Xra."

"If she's from Earth, then no."

"Her real name is Caitlain'Ur."

"What!?" Xra instantly stopped in her tracks, causing Nana to hit the back of her leg, "Your mother is Caitlain?"

"Adoptive mother, Pirate Queen Xra."

"Why did you not say so earlier?" A small chuckle then escaped Xra's lips as she continued walking, "Caitlain and I are old friends, you mean she's on Earth?"

"She was, Pirate Queen Xra. But we were on our way to Theran when we got separated."

"She is going back to—Now, that I have to see." Xra's chuckles soon turned into a fit of laughter that reverberated throughout the entire hangar, even causing some of the ships to shake from the sheer force of her excitement,

"But first, let's go see your acquaintance."

Xra then suddenly stretched her hand to the left, and after a few breaths, someone's neck suddenly landed straight into her hand, coming from an unknown direction.

"C…Captain!?" It was Moira, the blue-skinned alien that invited Little Riley into the ship, "We… we're about done here! Did you kill Riley Ro—he's still here!"

"Yes, yes," Xra sighed as she dropped Moira, "Calm down. Where are they?"

"We… we're trying to kill Riley's companion," Moira meekly said as she subtly glanced at Riley, "But we can't—"

"Enough, enough. Riley, you didn't tell me your companion is also stro— Riley?"

Xra turned to look at Riley… only to see that he was no longer there.

"...This is why I hate children," Xra could really only let out another deep breath as her shoulders dropped.

"C…captain, what's going on?" Moira stuttered as she glanced back and forth between Nana and her captain, "Why is Riley still alive?"

"Because I can't kill him."

"You… can't kill Riley Ross?" Moira blinked a couple of times, "He… is that strong?"

"He is that strong. But you don't have to worry about that…" Xra did not bother looking at Moira, but instead just pointed at Moira's shoulder, "...You have your own problem."

"...What?" Moira stared in confusion for a few moments, before turning to look at her shoulder… only to see Little Riley there with his arms crossed,

"L… Little Riley!? You… you're alive!?"

"No," Little Riley let out a small harrumph as he looked to the side, "You betrayed my predecessor. Do you think you deserve to be my friend?"

"That's… I'm sorry. I—"

"Okay. I forgive you."

"...Oh."

"..." Nana, who was still just existing there, could really only just sigh and shake her head from all the things happening around her. It was official…

…her common sense was no more.

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