Chapter 9: Chapter 9: An unexpected visitor appears!

Stepping out of the shadows I am back in Lux. Looking around, it’s still dead. Looking at the clock and noticing the time, Lucifer should be back in an hour or so.

 

Walking to the corner I have unofficially claimed as my own for magic training, I sat down and closed my eyes to focus. When I felt one of the seals release, I also felt something else within me.

 

Frowning and tiling my head, I continued to focus on the strange feeling. It took me an unknown amount of time, but I was finally able to locate it again. Focusing on the feeling, I tried to draw on it.

 

Suddenly, I felt something on top of my lap. Opening my eyes in confusion, I looked down to see what I had summoned. My eyes widened in surprise at what was on my lap.

 

Artoria: “Isn’t this…”

 

Lucifer: “Well now. If it isn’t Avalon? If not corrupted, which shouldn't be a surprise really. ”

 

Getting slightly startled, I turn to Lucifer with a tilted head.

 

Artoria: “When did you get here, Lucifer?”

 

Smirking while holding a glass of liquor he says, “A while, Artoria. You’ve been in such deep concentration for several hours. You looked so adorable trying to focus. This was the result?”

 

Artoria: “Har har. Still not having sex with you. And as for your question, yes. So it would seem. But I don’t know why I still have it... Thought I lost it.”

 

Gasping in mock offence he says, “You wound me, My Lady! But why would you lose it?”

 

Artoria: “Simple, I don’t believe in it anymore. Avalon is a joke. The perfect paradise doesn't exist.”

 

Lucifer: “I see. Makes sense I guess? Well, I can tell the connection between you two is as strong as the connection between you and the sword. Do you need more of your seals lifted before you can use it maybe?”

 

Artoria: “I knew you knew I was sealed, heh. But, as for them being the key to use Avalon? I doubt it…”

 

???: “You’re correct. As you can see by how it is also corrupted, the meaning of that scabbard is different. It has changed with you, and while it still recognizes you, you fail to recognize it. Once you do, you'll be able to use it again.”

 

Artoria: “Oh? What makes you thin–”

 

Turning to the new voice, my question died in my throat.

 

‘There’s no way. There’s no way! RIGHT?!’

 

My eyes widen and almost pop out of my head at the person standing in front of me.

 

Lucifer just sighs in annoyance and says, “Father.”

 

‘STAN LEE?!’

 

One Above All (OAA) just chuckles at the situation.

 

OAA: “Hello son. Good to meet you as well, Artoria.”

 

Trying to close my mouth, I just instead sit in a seiza position and slam my face down into the ground, cracking the floor.

 

Artoria: “It’s an honour to meet you Stan Lee! I mean One Above All, I mean God!”

 

OAA just lets out a good natured chuckle, while Lucifer sighs again.

 

Lucifer: “Right. You know the real identity of my Father from your world.”

 

OAA: “You can relax, Artoria. I won’t do anything to you. For good or for ill. I came here because your recent little venture caused a bit of a disturbance with the ‘higher ups’ as it were. They wanted my opinion on what to do with you, an anomaly. They are worried because they know nothing of you. Or rather, it’s more appropriate to say, they can NOT know anything about you.

 

Even when I tried to look into you, I also came up blank.”

 

Lucifer choked a little on his drink when he heard that.

 

Lucifer: “I am sorry, what?”

 

OAA: “Honestly son, did you never try and see her future? Her past? Anything at all beyond what is just in front of you?”

 

Lucifer just huffed in annoyance, and crossed his arms.

 

Lucifer: “Of course, and when I saw nothing I just assumed you were preventing me. You’ve done it before, so I didn’t think too much about it. And Artoria, get up already.”

 

Hesitating a little, I eventually got up out of the position and stood fully. I also dismissed my armour fully to not cause offence.

 

Lucifer: “Okay, wow. First, nice dress, and wonderfully glowing gold eyes Artoria. Second, I am hurt that you have never shown me this side of you before this.”

 

I just turn to him with a deadpan face.

 

OAA: “Ha ha ha. Anyway, to get our conversation back on track, I am mostly here to confirm my suspicion on why I can’t see anything on you Artoria. And it looks like I was right. I am doubly glad now I told everyone to let me investigate this, otherwise this could have turned ugly really fast.”

 

I turned to OAA with confusion in my eyes and a tilted head.

 

OAA just gave me a wry smile and said, “Yea, I am not surprised you don’t know you are marked.”

 

Lucifer and Artoria: “Marked?”

 

Nodding his head like an old sage OAA said, “Yes, marked by a being so powerful, she makes me look like a piece of shit on the side of the road.”

 

My eyes just widen and my mouth falls open all the way in a dumbfounded state. Meanwhile, Lucifer did a wonderful spit-take with his drink.

 

‘I am sorry, WHAT. Something that makes OAA look like that?!?!’

 

Lucifer was coughing still but managed to get out a question, “You’re joking, Father?!”

 

OAA just let out a loud belly laugh at our reactions before he calmed down and answered.

 

OAA: “Don’t be so surprised son. You know of the Omniversal boundaries?”

 

Lucifer: “Of course.”

 

OAA: “What do you think is outside of them? Nothing? No, you’d be wrong. It’s another Omniverse, well a lot of them actually. Really, humans have come up with some wonderful idioms. Frog in a well is very apt here. To put it simply, I am only ‘All powerful’ when it comes to my section of the True Omniverse. And even then that has a few limits.

 

But out there, in the True Omniverse, there are some really scary entities. The one who has marked you, Artoria, is the scariest of them all.”

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Having my mind blown already, I was a little hesitant to ask but my curiosity got the better of me.

 

Artoria: “And… Do you know who marked me and for what reason?”

 

OAA just gave me a warm smile and said, “Yes, I do. Her name is Lilith the Null Kitsune. I’ve met her a few times over the course of my existence. I won’t tell you more, because it’s not my place, but what I can tell you is that she has marked you for observation. So, she’s most likely just watching you for entertainment. But your mark also serves as a warning for Entities like myself.”

 

Lucifer: “Warning?”

 

Giving a wry smile OAA said, “Don’t fuck with my entertainment, or be erased.”

 

Lucifer’s eyes slightly widened at that.

 

Lucifer: “She has that kind of power?”

 

Barking a laugh OAA just said, “Oh, easily son, easily. She can erase my Omniverse and everything in it with less than a thought.”

 

Artoria: “Scary…”

 

Lucifer: “Agreed. So, how often do you meet people marked by her Father?”

 

OAA: “Artoria here is only the second one since I came to know her.”

 

Lucifer released a breath in relief.

 

Lucifer: “Then she isn’t one to interfere too much with things?”

 

OAA: “Not often no. But there are times when she becomes active and totally messes everything up to get entertainment. But, anyway, don’t worry about her too much you two. It’ll just cause you undo stress because you can literally do nothing if she does decide to show up.”

 

Lucifer and I just nod our heads to that.

 

‘Wow. So, now I know who sent that survey. But still, wow. The power this Lilith has, I can’t even begin to imagine it.’

 

OAA: “Anyway, now that I have confirmed you are indeed marked, by Lilith no less, I’ll make sure the others know to leave you alone. Ah, but don’t let this go to your head Artoria. Some entities do not know about these marks, or even care. So, it’s my suggestion to just carry on as if you didn’t have it.”

 

Artoria: “Yeah, okay. Sound advice. But uhh… are you really Stan Lee?”

 

OAA let out a good chuckle and said, “Yes, I am. I went around to several worlds to spread stories about some of my creations. Did you enjoy them?”

 

I gave him a nod and a smile.

 

Artoria: “I did, yes. Thank you for sharing them with other worlds, they are good entertainment. Even if that sounds bad now, knowing that all those events actually happened.”

 

He just waved it off.

 

OAA: “It is what it is. Normally, the worlds that know about me and my ‘comics’ don’t come into contact with the worlds from the stories. But it happens. Anyway, I am going to leave now. I came and saw what I wanted. It was nice meeting you, Artoria. Even you, Lucifer. Ah, before I go, again. You are connected to Avalon like you are with Excalibur Artoria. Just need to identify that connection to make use of it. That’s my hint! Goodbye you two.”

 

And with that, OAA was just simply gone. Looking down at Avalon in my hands, I then look back up to Lucifer.

 

Artoria: “That really happened right?”

 

Lucifer: “It did indeed. Surprised my Father is so whimsical?”

 

Shaking my head I say, “No, not really. More surprised he didn’t just snap me out of existence for being here.”

 

Lucifer just shrugged his shoulders and casually said, “My Father isn’t really like that. Even without that scary mark I am sure he’d leave you alone. So, this was kind of a wild ride for a while there, and it’s late to ask but whatever. How does it feel to have one of those seals on you to be removed?”

 

I give him a smile, “Great. I feel a lot stronger.”

 

Looking down at Avalon I continue, “But I have no idea what OAA meant about Avalon. Well, I understand, but I don’t know what exactly the new meaning could be. Something I’ll have to think about it seems.”

 

Crossing his arms and stroking his fake beard again Lucifer said, “Indeed. From the power I feel from you, you will be hard to hurt now, let alone kill. Adding on top of what Avalon is said to do? Well…”

 

Dismissing Avalon I just shrug and sigh, “Yea, more forms of healing and immortality are never a bad thing for someone like me.”

 

Giving me a nod, Lucifer turned around and headed towards the bar to refill his drink.

 

Lucifer: “Now that I am thinking about it, what did you do today that could cause a stir with some of the wardens?”

 

Artoria: “I killed Bane today. And well, a lot of other people got caught up in the fight when I released my aura.”

 

Nodding and giving me a hum in acknowledgement, Lucifer poured himself something to drink. Taking a sip, and turning to me and then leaning back on the counter he asked me a question.

 

Lucifer: “Can you show me the new power you have? Before, your aura covered quite the distance, and now that you are quite a lot stronger I am curious.”

 

Artoria: “Sure, I don’t mind.”

 

Summoning all of my armour back on, and Excalibur Morgan, I released my hold and used Mana Burst.

 

Lucifer let out a long and impressed whistle.

 

Lucifer: “Damn girl. The power I am feeling from you is very impressive. And to think you have even more seals on you yet. From what I can see, your aura would cover half of the city we are in right now if my barrier didn’t prevent it from leaking out.”

 

I frown at that.

 

Artoria: “I need to get a handle on this then. That could become very problematic as more seals are released.”

 

Lucifer: “I am happy you share my thoughts on the matter. I’ll set up a new barrier in my penthouse so you can train and not be bored. Now, I won’t stop you from going out and having fun, but I do want to ask if you could not fight in this city? I would be quite cross with you.”

 

Giving him a nod I said, “Yea, that’s no problem. I am not going to hold the mark over you, Lucifer. You helped out before either of us knew about it, and honestly, I like you. AS A FRIEND! You’re one cool dude, so I don’t mind honouring that request.”

 

Lucifer just gave a chuckle at that and a playful smile, “Oh my. Friend zoned already am I? Damn. Anyway, let's set up that barrier for you.”

 

Dismissing my sword and stopping Mana Burst, I follow him to his penthouse.

 

‘To think Stan Lee was actually OAA for real. Crazy.’