The Heart Five

13: This has become a one-sided war... Or is it?

FIVE YEARS BEFORE THE PRESENT TIME

“If it weren’t for Mr. X’s luck we would’ve been aiding the enemies in your war or worse,” A man with brown hair wearing a black suit and a letter A-marked mask takes a breather, “we’ll be taken hostage or killed.”

“I’m glad you feel that way gods of balance and order,” As the head captain, I welcomed the foreigners. “What are gods like you doing in Essence Verse?”

“Oh no-no-no, I am not a god I’m actually mortal.” The masked man proclaims, “These faceless fellows behind me are the actual gods called the Neuters. I am actually Mr. A, emissary of the Supreme Being of balance and order, Alpha Boss Exal.”

Those gods behind him are like us except that we have personalities. What we have in common is that we are sexless. They look like the real mannequins, but even realizing there are gods who have worse case than us, I will not stop the pursuit of completion. Even without limbs, as long as I have a gender, I will be fulfilled as the god of courage.

“Oh I see,” I was lost in thought for a bit while looking at the Neuters. “I am the Head Captain of the Essential Beings, Gazbleir Celxion Rare the god of courage. The army you see right now are Essence Beings.”

“Nice to meet you,” Mr. A shakes hands with me. “Now on point, the reason we are here is because the verse is out of balance. We must restore it. We noticed a spike with gaps and lack of essences… emotions, awareness, critical thinking, etc.”

“I understand where you are coming from,” I invited them to my office. “Let us have a chat.”

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“We have been watching the Supreme Being for quite a while now,” Mr. A’s eyes flicker with strange light. “Please don’t mind what I’m doing. This is one of my powers given as blessing to me by the Alpha Boss. It is called CYBER INITIATIVE.”

“You are a cyborg,” I assumed.

“Yes and No,” he shrugs his shoulders. “It’s complicated. However, we are here to discuss about restoring the balance of the verse which brings me to my suggestion that we will be providing support in the war to drive back Lord Voix back to his Death Verse.”

“Give me five more years,” I marked the calendar.

“How many days or months is your ONE YEAR?” he asks. “This is my first time being in this universe of yours.”

“Lord Xpir follows the living conditions of the mortals from every planet Earth out there.” I showed him the calendar.

“Convenient indeed,” he scans our calendar with his power. “We will be sending a lot of Neuters during the war. Of course, I want to be a part of that war as well. You don’t have to worry if we send too much of Alpha Boss’ army of Neuters because he can just manufacture them into existence. These gods don’t have essences in them and freewill… makes them easier to control according to Alpha Boss…”

I stayed silent while looking at the faceless gods behind the mortal emissary.

“Anyway,” he breaks the awkward silence, “it must be rough… for all of us.”

I looked back at him, “Probably…”

“It’s really rough and tough,” he stands up. “Sometimes, I also feel like I’m being a Neuter to Alpha Boss because like them… I am also a tool to balance the universe. My age resets every year so that I will stay as thirty years old forever. You know when I was still a normal human, I used to believe in only one god… and then I found out there were others just like him. At first, I thought Alpha Boss was just a devil trying to lure me. But then I realize that it was the ploy of the one I used to believe in that ‘thou shalt not have any other gods before me’ was just his act of selfishness and secrecy towards us. Then, I found out about the secrets of the verse and beyond like fiction and then I realize how puny I was. These emotions and awareness that I have is because of you gods. I don’t know why I am telling you this but… maybe because you are the god of courage that I am able to open up like this. Looking at you gives me courage already. It will be an honor to work side by side with you when time comes.”

The way he said it, it just put a smile on my face. “It’s already a privilege for me to get some help from another race of gods and a mortal.”

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PRESENT DAY

“This is pretty surprising even for us,” Quezar Xarion Bata (Inspiration) shares his awe. “Head Captain Gazbleir Celxion Rare, I am inspired to work side by side with these Neuters and their amazing mortal emissary!”

“It will be privilege to know your true name, sire,” Xaicerc Zilv Quinquennium (Wonder) shakes hands with Mr. A.

“I am simply Mr. A,” he answers, “Nothing more and nothing less…”

“Just tell us who you are really,” I grinned. “Actually, Mr. A is already a good name already.”

“Let’s get in the meeting room everyone!” Zeharp Coxinov Haha (Peace) calls us out. “The enemy army are preparing as well!”

“So the enemies know that we’ll engage war,” Whenz Sholx Nana (Assurance) sighs. “I feel assured that we are doing the right thing.”

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In the meeting room, twenty-nine essential beings including a mortal emissary convene there plans.

“I’ll take the frontlines just behind the Neuters and Mr. A who are prepared to mobilize first,” I, Gazbleir Celxion Rare (Courage), looked at my four children and smiled. “You’ll be joining me in the frontlines and we’ll be facing their main force. Let us hope that Voix will be there and put him to his place.”

“The Heart Five stays together,” my eldest, Azalan Ixiden Rare (Trauma), grins at me while grabbing on to my coat.

“Dad,” my third, Axent Zealot Rare (Sloth) taps my shoulder, “we’ll stick together as promised.”

“We’ll show that Voix what the H5 are made of!” my second, Dizane Lamx Rare (Fear) holds my hand. “We’ll make sure he’ll flee from us!”

“F-frontlines,” Zorg Axcor Rare (Cowardice), my youngest, starts to feel nervous. “I’ll p-protect your backs guys…”

“Of course I will join you on the ground, Gazbleir.” Yxede Cazgat Mimi (Leadership) stands up from his seat. “Fighting up close with my trident is the best.”

“There’s no question about it,” Saxpir Razma Eden (Empathy) makes his stand. “I’m much better in sky battles using my powerful crossbow.”

“My Laser Blast is more suitable in the skies,” Quezar Xarion Bata (Inspiration) makes his choice.

“I’m the same as Quezar,” Leozena Xalia Cara (Service) glances at Inspiration and nods. “My Shower Ray is also better in those skies.”

“I’m with Leozena too,” Razelli Ernax Gaga (Luck) holds hands with her best friend. “I’ll show them the power of my Super Tornado~”

“I will also join the ground team,” Robax Zensi Zanza (Counsel) aka Kuma or Bart walks towards me. “I will be your Force Field. I’ve also positioned the rest of the essential beings in the sky, here in the ground, at the affected nations, and near Essential Core.”

“I will be your claws,” Zirack Xenode Felafel (Willpower) comes up to me. “Our victory is already expected anyway with the forces of Balance and Order on our side~”

“I’ll be near Essential Core, as planned, just in case they decide to attack our Fortress while we’re at war.” Whenz Sholx Nana (Assurance) fixes his shield.

“My long bow is at an aerial advantage,” Zamel Rixia Soles (Love) calmly takes a sip from her tea.

“I’ll be near Essential Core with Whenz,” Maozter Divix Kayak (Happiness) nods at me. Recently, we’ve already forgiven each other for what happened before.

“I’ll be honest with you, head captain,” Zenphea Palx Omro (Beauty) raises her hand, “You’ll need my beauty to get them distracted~”

“You could’ve said you wanted he by your side,” Suxil Zelvok Papa (Justice) jokes while Zenphea glares at him. “I’ll also be on the grounds.”

“I’ll be leading in the protection of the Essential Core with my crew as well,” Xilvas Shozas Lala (Fidelity) activates her gauntlets.

“Smash Bolt is best struck on the ground,” Semcaxa Dezlar Xerxes (Judgment) glances at me and smiles. “However, if the sky team would need my help, I’ll be flying in no time.”

“I will be staying here to protect the citizens,” Zeharp Coxinov Haha (Peace) grabs her two swords.

“As do I,” Texilon Prozei Ibid (Patience) grips his Sword Staff. “The women and children of the affected nations are in my protection.”

“They shall know despair,” Phoz Vax Jojo (Despair) grins while tapping his shoulder bag filled with throwing stars. “If they attack the citizens, we fight back.”

“I’ll bomb those who’ll get near the head captain,” Krozel Poxi Velvet (Jealousy) shows her grenade launcher to everyone. “The enemies who’ll get near… I meant to say.”

Xaicerc Zilv Quinquennium (Wonder) laughs, “That’s the spirit… I mean essence. I’ll be fine protecting the citizens. The enemy army is too large anyway so…”

“They’ll regret approaching me,” Ziplev Laxio Dodo (Hatred) removes part of his facial bandage. “I’ll be protecting the back of this military base from those undead wannabes.”

“Tell Lord Voix that he will not receive any sympathy from me,” Garxeus Zemore Yoyo (Sympathy) sharpens his spear. “I’ll be with the citizen essence beings to protect them as well…”

Raxion Cazus Ultimatum (Wisdom) sighs, “I’ll be in the grounds. Seriously, does every one of us need to speak?”

“Yes because it is vital information. We have to know everyone’s location,” Quaza Ronxay Wallow (Knowledge) eerily uses telepathy to speak. “As for my position, my powers are air-based, so I’ll be high above the sky in between Essential Core and the sky team.”

“I’ll be watching over the four champions,” Zereal Xilen Toto (Hope) looks at Dizane. “I definitely won’t let those undead harm the children.”

“There we have it,” I made a fist on my right hand and placed it near my heart. “Let us hope and pray that this will be our final war here in Essence Verse.” It was like old times during the time when the previous incarnate of Azalan and the rebels were our nemesis. We used to say a phrase, IT’S PLAY TIME CRIMINALS!”

My children and Mr. A knew nothing about this and were all surprised. Meanwhile, the rest of the party knew what to say already as they stood up and yelled, “f**k YEAH!”

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The war began as expected. With the Neuters doing well in the frontlines, our victory has been ensured. The undead essence soldiers are much stronger than our average essence soldiers, but with us essential beings fighting with them in the battlefield, we got the upper hand! In addition, with these Neuters with us… the war has already become one-sided.

It was all going so well in my part. I was enjoying my power at its fullest without holding anything back as I decimate an area filled with undead soldiers. In the heat of the moment, I got separated from the others and my children. I wanted to go back to them, but one misstep means certain defeat. They’ll just have to move faster to get to where I was. One after another, more undead showed up to ambush me and I obliterated them all.

Now, I am already halfway to the fortress of Voix. This war will be over sooner than I expected… or so it would seem. I thought everything went according to plan, I shouldn’t have assumed.

“LONG TIME NO SEE GAZBLEIR,” a bandaged hand grabs me in the face hard and slams me in the ground. Then, the mysterious attacker tosses me away. I crashed into the ground creating a large crater, “YOU MADE A BIG MISTAKE IF YOU THINK THAT I WILL NEVER GET DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THIS WAR.”

That demonic voice and that heavily bandaged forearm. I glared at the overwhelming presence as I feel the overwhelming pressure of the being that sucker punched me, “Voix…”

“YOU CHEATED WHEN YOU ASKED FOR FOREIGN HELP,” he summons his Ethereal Scythe. “REGARDLESS, I’M STILL GONNA KILL YOU IN FRONT OF YOUR MAKER~ I SUMMON THE FINAL RESTING PLACE: LAFRINN GEIST!”

Oh s**t, do I have to resort to THAT form? I never let my eyes off him, “They volunteered to help. I didn’t ask them.”

“COME ON NOW,” he laughs demonically like he know what I am about to do. “SHOW ME YOUR FULL POWER AS AN ESSENTIAL BEING… OR BETTER YET… WHAT WAS IT THAT XPIR CALLED YOU BEFORE?”

“I am the essential being of courage,” I tried to hide it, “What else could I be?”

“THAT’S NOT TRUE, BUT I THINK I REMEMBER NOW,” he maniacally swings his weapon at me pushing me back with his raw power even when I used my Scythe Scepter: The Heart Five to block it. He give me a menacing grin as he says, “YOU… … …ARE… … …A… … … …QUINTESSENTIAL BEING… … … …GAZBLEIR~~~”

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TO BE CONTINUED!

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