The Last Avenger and the World of Omni: Homecoming

[Erik Vrell]

Erik tilted his head inquisitively at the guard’s description. Hair shaped like a duck’s behind? The more the psychic thought about it, the more apt the description seemed. Stifling a smile, Erik followed Victor through Nippur’s streets to meet the king’s hand. An excited feeling welled up in Erik’s chest as he saw Sasuke, reminiscing on the relatively short time he had spent with the Dante’s Abyss champion. Despite his excitement, Erik managed to suppress his emotions and keep his deadpan expression. 

Trying to ignore Victor’s banishment serum, and the ‘precious little minion comment’, Erik recalled his memories of the fight for the chidori blade. There was the man in the red mask, of course. And at least two men commanding the power of lightning. There was also Shay and the young girl he was fighting with. And then there was the man who moved in as darkness swept over Erik.

“There was a man who had your sword. I never caught his name, but I haven't heard anything of him since. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to best him in combat. Before I died, however, another prime moved to engage him. I can only assume that he killed the one with your sword and took it for himself.” 

“What did he look like?” Sasuke asked eagerly. “Do you know his name?”

“I don't know his name, and he was… Strange looking. He wore a suit of dark armour, but it seemed to be part of him?” Erik said uncertainly, only to receive an unimpressed look from Sasuke. “Here, let me show you instead.”

Erik’s eyes flashed with violet energy as he probed for Sasuke’s mind. The shinobi resisted for a moment, before allowing the psychic access to his psyche. Erik was careful not to touch any thoughts or memories of the King’s hand, instead focusing on playing back his last memories of the battle before death swept over him. 

Their minds linked by telepathy, Erik and Sasuke watched the psychic’s last moments through his eyes. A green beam sailed towards them, the red masked man’s mad laughter ringing in their ears. In a last act of defiance, psi flowed from their sleeves and solidified into a large bow in their hands. They drew the string back and levelled the bow at the man as an arrow formed in their hands. Muscles subtly tightened and adjusted as they mentally calculated the angle and speed of the shot. Satisfied, their fingers released the arrow, watching it fly towards the red masked man, cutting his laughter short. 

The beam hit hard, sending them rolling across the blood stained Nexus floor. Focusing on the red masked man, a mote of satisfaction bubbled up through the agony as the arrow hit home, knocking the man flat. Unfortunately, he was much quicker to rise than the wounded figure before him, but before he could deal a coup de grace, however, the one Erik tried to describe moved in to intercept him, rushing the red masked man before darkness clouded the observer’s vision.

“Go back.” Sasuke demanded through the telepathic link, suddenly tense. Erik sent a silent feeling of curiousity through the link, but obliged, running the memory back. 

“Stop.” The shinobi demanded as the armoured man came into view. Erik did as he was told, holding the image of the man in his mind’s eye, vividly remembering the sheen of his armour and the blazing light of the saber projecting from his wrist.

“Colonel…” Sasuke muttered, eliciting another curious note from Erik.

“Do you know him?” The psychic asked.

“You could say that…” The King’s hand said with a bitter note. “Thanks for showing me that. It's been helpful.”

Erik gave a small bow to the shinobi as he severed the psychic link. “Anytime, milord.” Satisfied that he had assisted Sasuke, Erik moved back to Victor’s side, ready to move out at his new boss’ order.