Chapter 119: Chapter 118 : From Zero To…

Vostel closed the event out as usual and the sea of frenzied souls made their exit from the venue. Leaving, they excitedly discussed the match and upcoming movie.

Interestingly, instead of Ralf’s name dominating the air space, this time, it was Rei’s. His awe-inspiring entrance, cool demeanour and outstanding combat prowess made up the majority of talks, with many voicing their desire to see him appear more, especially those of the fairer sex.

As the crowd exited, Samuel and co waited in their booth for Ralf to return. They would wait for five minutes as he was held up by the fighters and staff along the way.

The cold treatment he had received the last time he passed through those corridors was nowhere to be seen this time around. Having confirmed he was legit, Ralf was welcomed warmly. Admiration and respect were exchanged at each interaction.

Ralf kept the interactions short and sweet. Saying a few words and handing out candy, he moved on and on....until he finally managed to loop around.

Back in his previous attire, he entered the booth to a host of beaming faces and congratulatory words - to deliver to Rei. The group lingered in the booth to avoid the heavy traffic. This wasn’t usually allowed, but the Duke had approved it.

Ten minutes of chatting and snacking later, the group left the Combat Arena too. Hopping in the cars, they headed for Samuel’s manor. A short celebration/inquiry session ensued and thirty minutes later, the Ganurgians headed for Ganurg leaving Samuel, Ralf and Hana alone. But they wouldn’t be alone for long. Minutes after Greg and the others’ departure, the trio of Vincent, Chloe and Walton arrived.

Ten minutes later…

Everyone sat around couches, playing card games, snacking and chatting/inquiring.

“So, who’s really stronger?” Chloe asked.

At the question, Ralf’s left hand slipped another biscuit between his lips while his right hand slipped into his clothes. Retrieving the silver coin from before, he tossed it her way before focusing on the sweetness enveloping his being.

“Mmm?”

Catching it, Chloe tilted her head. While she was slow to understand, Walton was not.

“You’re saying it’s a coin flip?”

Ralf munched a bit before swallowing, then nodded. “Yep, that’s right. We’re more or less equal, so the outcome of any fight is basically a coin flip.”

“I see, I thought as much when comparing the performances. You’re both incredible fighters.”

“Thanks.”

“Ralf,” Vincent started. “How about Silver? Where does he stand in comparison?”

The question saw everyone’s senses strain to their limits.

Ralf floated another biscuit over while floating a card to the pile before answering. “Silver stands head and shoulders above Rei and myself,” he said plainly, without any reservations.

The answer and the manner it was delivered, made Samuel, Vincent and his two bodyguards recoil.

From their contradictory comments earlier, it was clear that Ralf and Rei were not ones to easily place others above themselves. So for Ralf to do so for Silver spoke volumes.

“He’s that much stronger than you two?” Chloe followed up with her brows raised.

“Yeah,” Ralf pointed to the coin in her hands. “Rei mentioned it. If Rei and I are the individual sides of the coin, Silver is the whole thing. That’s not just a metaphor. Silver isn’t another personality like Rei, he is the perfect fusion between Rei and Ralf, “he revealed as he fanned his cards across his face. “It’s not as straightforward as one plus one but Silver is significantly more capable than us as individuals. Mm, for example. If we both fought him at once, we’d lose most of the time.”

Shock reverberated across the faces of Samuel and the others at the statement.

“That’s quite something,” Samuel echoed the sentiment shared by his peers.

Hana nodded with a proud look on her face. “That’s right, he’s something special,” she nudged Ralf’s shoulder with a smitten expression. “My boys are all amazing.”

Agreement flooded the faces of those in the surroundings.

Chloe floated the coin back to Ralf, who received it while downing his drink.

“That’s some praise, I’d like to see him in action, or better yet face him myself. How about it? Rei made an appearance, what about him?”

Ralf drained his mug. “Don’t hold your breath. Silver is a picky eater. He doesn’t like fighting people Rei and I can beat ourselves, so he’ll probably not show his face in the ring.”

“So there’s a chance,” Chloe said, not letting go of the thread of optimism that hung before her.

Ralf smiled wryly. “I suppose, but it depends on the performances of the fighters. If they can push me or Rei to the brink, then, we’ll have no choice but to become Silver. Though, I can’t see that happening. Rei and I are pretty capable.”

The group were content with the answer and moved on.

Not long after, the group was hooked up to the Duke’s personal telepathic network and they began rewatching the earlier match and the debut match’s footage.

Ralf was beset with questions from the others. He dealt with them expertly. Summoning multiple Psi Clones to aid him, he answered them with ease. He gave his analysis, the thoughts he had in certain moments and answered plenty of ‘what if’ scenarios the others had brought up. Thirty minutes of this passed before the Duke and co were satisfied.

From there, it was more questions. Ralf handled it as he always did, denying, deflecting and redirecting, all while keeping his audience wanting more.

Finally, an hour after they came, the Duke and company left. Ralf and Hana said their farewells as well and returned home. Rei popped back into the fray, much to Hana’s delight.

He was immediately enveloped in her warm embrace and doused with high praise. Rei soaked it up with a smile on his face, in his mind, thinking that the night’s earlier unpleasantness was well worth the price for his current reward.

Following this, the trio headed for the living room, where they plopped themselves on a four-seater couch that was made to face towards the fireplace - their now usual spots. The fireplace was set alight and the trio chatted merrily while basking in the comfortable heat.

“Reading the title card, I was surprised. Till then, I thought your name was spelt R-A-Y, not R-E-I. The ‘E I’ version, what does it mean?” Hana asked the question that had been gnawing at her.

((It’s a counter for zero,)) Rei said.

Hana frowned. “Zero,” repeating the word, the light of anger entered her gaze. “You’re the furthest from that,” she declared strongly as her anger continued to surge. “My other self was a real piece of shi - ah, Rei? Oh, this feels great.”

Hana’s agitation was made to quickly subside as she was doused with waves of pleasure.

Rei, as a Psi Clone, applied his Oscillation Wave to her shoulders, and immediately unravelled the tenseness that plagued them only seconds earlier.

“This is even better than before,” Hana praised.

((Practice makes perfect. Allow me to practice further.))

“Go ahead.”

Hana’s eyes slowly shut and her mind went adrift. As it did, her heartfelt emotions began spilling from her lips.

“Those five years were horrible...”

Her opening words caused the duo’s heart to grow heavy. They quickly steeled themselves for what was to follow.

“...Every day, my world’s forecast was cloudy with a hundred percent chance of rain. But that all changed when Ralf finally awoke. At his arrival, those dark clouds that constantly blanketed my sky were obliterated in an instant. This was great on its own, it was all I’ve been wishing for years after all. But it got better. You arrived as well. Your name might not mean it, but you’re no different than one to me. Like a ray from the sun, you’ve come from afar, endured the vast coldness of space to finally make it here. You landed in my life, bringing your precious light and warmth.”

Rei was set alight by the words. He took control of the body and rushed into her embrace.

“Aah, this is what I mean...so warm, I can’t get enough,” Hana returned the embrace with equal strength.

During this, Ralf kept quiet while enjoying the benefits. From past experiences, he knew that any input from him would bring about an immediate end to the hug. This wouldn’t do. So, to keep mum, he kept mum.

“Ray.”

“Rei?” Hana repeated with a head tilt.

Rei considered nodding in response, but with soft flesh preventing any further advance, he instead pulled back before explaining himself.

“The ‘A-Y’ version...I’ll use that from now on. Since that’s what you think of me, I’ll happily change it,” Re- Ray announced with a soft smile on his face.

Hana’s eyes flickered in delight, and not a second later, Ray found himself in her embrace again.

[[Thoughts, my other self?]]

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[[I’m all for it. A name change that changes everything and nothing at the same time. I’d be really troubled if it was something too different, but this is perfect. Also, with it, you’ve done a full name change from Rei Winters to Ray Fawkes. Congratulations partner.]]

[[Thanks.]]

The hung came undone shortly after this exchange. From there, decks of cards were cracked open. Ray continued his massage while Ralf and Hana went at it.

“Mm, Transmigrator, what does that mean exactly?” Hana asked as she placed her card down.

((You see…)) Ray kindly explained the term.

“I see. If that’s the case, Ralf would be one as well, right.”

“Yep,” Ralf said as he picked up her discarded card from the pile. “Our titles are shared. Combat Master and Transmigrator apply to both of us, oh and Silver too.”

Rearranging his hand, he then tossed his leftmost card and hoped a nine or five would swing his way.

“Transmigrator,” Hana’s mind lingered on the term as she drew her next card, “I’m sure people are working their brains into knots right now trying to decipher the true meaning. The word’s two components don’t strike someone like Lightning this or Fire that, but in reality, it’s far more grandiose, perhaps the most grandiose title to ever exist. When the meaning eventually comes to light, it’s sure to create a great fuss.”

“Sure is…and I can’t wait to see it,” Ralf said as a devious smile surfaced on his face.

Seeing this, Hana’s smiled wryly. She prodded his forehead with her finger. “You’re grown into quite the menace, Ralf.”

“Guilty as charged,” Ralf responded proudly. “Setting others alight in the invisible flames of frenzy, I’ve taken it as my latest hobby.”

“Haa,” Hana sighed with a smile on her face, “well, at least it’s not real flames. Ray, don’t follow his example. If you both take up that hobby, my poor heart won’t last much longer.”

Ralf smirked at the words. “Unfortunately, your warning is a tad too late mother. Right, Ray.”

((…))

Ray chose to remain silent.

“Are you talking about the movie?” Hana quickly connected the dots.

“Yeah,” Ralf affirmed. “Everything I’ve done till now will be trivial in comparison to the stir that it will create. Not just here, but all over Inis. The aftermath will no doubt be glorious.”

Hana’s face turned wry. “So burning a single country isn’t enough for you two.”

“Of course not...until the whole multiverse is burning, we’ll never be satisfied, right, Ray.”

((…Right.))

Her sons’ comments provoked a helpless smile in her. “I see, I’ll prepare my heart for that eventuality,” she said, resuming the card game.

“Do so,” Ralf drew a card before discarding it. “ Worse comes to worst, we’ll just ask Micheal to give you a stronger one.”

“Ah, that’s right. I almost forgot about him.” Hana’s eyes lit up as she remembered. “He or Lisana should be stopping around here anytime now. They’re in for a shock. I’m sure even Micheal will be surprised by the existence of parallel worlds.”

Ralf nodded. “My thoughts exactly.”

[[Hopefully, surprised is all he’ll be,]] Ray commented.

Ralf shook his head at the claim. [[It’ll be alright. There are a few bumps and scratches, but overall, we’ve been good apples.]]

[[Mm.]]

*Tak*

“Ah? Mom, what’s that for,” Ralf asked with a wronged look as he rubbed his flicked forehead.

“You know why, you two are talking amongst yourselves, right.”

Ralf retreated a bit at his mother’s intense stare. Ray upped his massages but her fire refused to be extinguished this time.

“Ah, I can explain. You see…Ray was telling a dirty joke.”

“A dirty joke? Ray?”

[[Hey, don’t smear my reputation.]]

Ralf ignored his other self’s comment and continued. “Yeah. You don’t see it, but Ray’s quite the vulgar one. Every now and then, he’ll litter my ears with his dirty jokes.”

“That’s hard to believe. Hey, Ray tell me one then.”

Put on the spot, Ray went silent.

[[Hey, we can’t let her worry about Micheal so think of something. I’m counting on you partner.]]

Ray mentally sighed at his other self’s reasoning, but couldn’t find fault with it. He delved deep into the recesses of his infinite library in search of the most appropriate inappropriate dirty joke he could find. It might have been an overstatement, but Ralf’s assessment of Ray was definitely in the ballpark.

While thinking, a certain object entered Rei’s periphery. Locking onto it, his mind clicked with recollection.

“Ray,” Hana prompted.

((I’ve got one.))

“Oh, then let’s hear it.”

((Okay, but first know, I didn’t come up with this. I just read it somewhere.))

“Enough caveats, spill it.”

((Ah, okay. What do a...penis and a Rubik's Cube have in common… the more you play with it, the harder it gets.))

Hana’s face froze for a second before she burst into a fit of laughter.

“Ahahaha...”

[[Ralf, I have some important thin-]]

[[Don’t even think about it. If we die, it’ll be together,]] Ralf said as he covered his crimson face with both hands.

Hana’s laughter continued to ring out for some time before she finally collected herself.

“Ahaha haha….when was the last time I laughed like this. It was pretty good, that damnable cube is endlessly vexing. Ray, tell me another one.”

((…I’m out for now.))

“Oh,” Hana let out a disappointed mutter, “too bad, I wanted to hear more.”

((Yeah...another time.))

“Mmm, but to think you had this side to you. There’s still a lot I don’t know about you, and probably Ralf and Silver as well. I’m sure there’s plenty left to discover. I’m looking forward to seeing more, so don’t hold back on me, okay,” she said with a voice leaking anticipation as she gently caressed her sons’ forehead.

The duo shut their eyes at her touch, and by the next second, opened them, this time as Silver.

The fused being smiled. “Then, I’ll go all out from now on.”

The Fawkes family would continue to enjoy each other’s company deep into the night.

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