Marvel: Impregnation System-Chapter 171 - 164: War Resolution

"Merlyn sends his regards," the crab-like monster hissed, regurgitating the exact words it had been ordered to utter.

"AMBUSH! WE GETTING AMBUSHED!" Johnny roared the first thing that came to mind, yanking his pistol from his waist and snapping it forward.

BANG

BANG

BANG

The shots rang out, not at the grotesque, crab-like monster, but at the horrifying, decapitated heads scuttling onto the docks, their crab-like appendages skittering unnaturally against the wood.

"Huh-" Louis' head turned back, confused by the sudden roar only for his pupils to shrink and his words interrupted by someone pushing past him.

"Benny? BENNY!" Louis shouted, his voice laced with urgency as the moment he saw where Benny was headed, he bolted after him.

Benny's breathing was controlled, his pace fast and steady, his eyes locked onto the critters that dared to encroach upon the Luciano Families dock.

"What the hell is that?!" One of the grunts yelled, barking out with fear laced in his eyes as his feet didn't step forward, but retreated slightly.

"Help, HELP!" One of the unfortunate workers who had been near the swarming yelled, wobbling away from the oncoming tide only to trip and fall.

It was then that the workers paled, rendered almost breathless as they watched the creatures swarm him.

The decapitated, sewn-on heads suddenly opened their mouths, revealing fangs and mandibles that clicked and chittered, jagged, serrated like grotesque shears.

These unnatural appendages twitched as if savoring the moment, their sharpened maws capable of slicing through flesh with ease

Rows of needle-like teeth lined their nowed gaped mouths, dripping not with salvia but with a thick, viscous slime that reeked of decay.

It was only a second later did that tide of horror overtake the man as he barely had time to scream before they latched onto him, their claws puncturing his skin as their grotesque mouths tore into his flesh.

Chunks of muscle and sinew were wrenched from his bones, the wet, sickening sounds of crunching and tearing echoing through the docks.

Blood spurted in violent bursts as the creatures devoured him, their malformed human heads twisting unnaturally, mouths frozen in silent, eternal screams.

Within moments, all that remained was a bloodied husk, stripped to the bone, as the creatures scuttled forward, hungering for their next victim.

"JESUS F*CKING CHRIST, BACK UP!" Johnny yelled, his stomach twisting with nausea, but there was no time to be sick.

His voice cut through the frozen atmosphere, roaring at the runners and workers to fall back since this was way beyond anything they were capable of handling.

But just as he turned his head, a sudden figure flickered past the edge of his vision as his instincts screamed at him to react, but all he caught was the brief, stuttering image of one of the creatures lunging straight for his face.

SPLAT

Green blood splattered onto Johnny's face as, just before the creature could latch onto him, a crowbar came crashing down on its head, caving in its malformed skull.

The one wielding the weapon was none other than Benny, his grip tight, his breath steady, and his eyes burning with a straightforward determination.

"YOU PSYCHO!" Paolo screamed from the side, watching Benny kick over a barrel and take off running across the dock, his crowbar dripping with the grotesque green blood of the creature he had just crushed.

SPLAT

Then, as if he were standing at home plate, Benny swung at a flying creature hurtling toward him, his crowbar connecting mid-air with a sickening crunch, launching the grotesque thing away.

Before he could even pause, another lunged at him, only to be met with the same brutal force, its body sent sprawling.

While doing all of this, Benny kicked over another barrel, the tide of creatures shifting towards him as their jagged claws scraped across the black liquid spilling onto the docks as their hungered, hollow eyes locked on his running figure.

Louis huffed, out of breath and stopping right next to Johnny while placing his hands on his knees.

"Boss, we gotta do something! That psycho's trying to get himself killed-" Paolo yelled, rushing over but as he spoke, Johnny's expression shifted, realization dawning in his eyes.

"KICK OVER THE BARRELS! DUMP THE OIL ONTO THE DOCK!" Johnny roared, his voice cutting through the chaos.

The evacuating workers, who had been scrambling away, suddenly hesitated before doubling back, their fear momentarily overridden by the urgency in his command.

"Screw that! I ain't getting paid to be fish food!" one of the workers yelled, voicing out the opinion of all the others while bolting off the dock without a second thought.

Before long, the only ones who remained on these infested docks were the grunts and the runners.

Gritting his teeth, Johnny didn't waste time arguing as he sprinted to the side, grabbed a barrel, and heaved it over.

"AHHHHH!" a man screamed, his voice raw with terror as the massive crab-like monster yanked him onto the fish boat.

The creature callously discarded a decapitated head before its grotesque claws clamped down, tearing into him limb by limb.

Then, once it discarded the useless limbs, its mandibles shot into the head, piercing through the skull as the severed face twitched violently.

Beneath the skin, tendrils writhed, slithering through the flesh, puppeteering the muscles as the monster forced the head back to life in its grotesque control.

"Merlyn sends his regards, Merlyn sends his regards, Merlyn sends his regards—" The decapitated head of the grunt stammered, its voice warped and mechanical, repeating like a broken record.

The eerie chant droned on, narrating the horror unfolding before them, as if the creature sought to engrave the message into their minds, branding them with fear while their comrade's lifeless form twitched in agonizing mockery.

Bam

Bam

Bam

Benny repeatedly kicked over barrels, sprinting for his life as, with every passing second, another creature lunged at him.

The entire tide had fixated on him, their grotesque appendages now slick with black oil as they skittered closer, seeking to engulf him completely.

Yet, some stragglers broke away from the horde, their unnatural movements hinting at an eerie intelligence as they slithered toward something, or someone else.

One particular creature slithered into the dark waters, vanishing beneath the surface with an eerie silence, while the others scuttled toward the grunts and runners desperately tipping over the barrels.

Their jagged limbs scraped against the wooden planks, closing in with unsettling speed, their grotesque heads twitching and muttering in distorted, inhuman whispers.

"AHHHHH, GET IT OFF, GET IT OFF!" One grunt roared, tipping over a barrel only for the creature to lunge at its chest.

Anchoring itself to its flesh with its claws as the man tried to pry it off, staggering backwards only for Paolo to lunge at him.

SPLAT

Digging his switchblade into its hollowed eye socket, he tore the creature off the grunt and slammed it onto the ground with a sickening thud.

Paolo breath came in ragged gasps as he raised his heel, his muscles tensing with raw fury and then, with a sharp grunt, he stomped down mercilessly, grinding it beneath his boot as a splatter of putrid green ichor burst around him.

"COME ON! THE ONLY THING THEY GOT ON US IS THAT THEY STINK LIKE DAVID!" Paolo yelled, trying to rally the runners as they nervously dodged the scuttling stragglers.

Morale is a crucial element in warfare, often acting as the invisible force that determined the tide of battle.

It's not just about tactics or firepower, but how a soldier can feel at a certain moment that may become the difference between victory and utter collapse.

Fear, after all, is one of the greatest poisons known to man, spreading like a disease through the ranks.

A single crack in a soldier's resolve could ripple outward, turning disciplined formations into panicked retreats.

History had shown time and time again that armies with lesser numbers and weaker weapons had triumphed simply because their spirit refused to break.

Conversely, even the most well-equipped forces could be reduced to chaos if doubt and terror seeped into their bones.

It wasn't just about survival; it was about belief, belief in the cause, belief that winning was possible, and, most importantly, proof of their own ability to fight and win.

It was just a single, hateful moment of frustration as Paolo, annoyed at the grown man sobbing over a small, grotesque creature, barked his insult without thinking.

But what truly caught the attention of the other runners wasn't the mockery; it was the way he stood firm, unshaken in the face of horror or at least hid it under his annoyance.

Often more than not, fear thrived in the gaps between courage, latching onto uncertainty like a parasite.

But Paolo didn't give it space to fester as his defiance, however crude, was a shield against the creeping terror that sought to break them all.

A soldier who surrendered to fear was as good as dead, but one who stood firm, even in foolish bravado, could spark something greater, a ripple of resistance in the tide of despair.

And in that moment, Paolo wasn't just yelling at a coward; he was challenging the fear itself.

"Paolo's right, they ain't nothing compared to what we hit each other with!" One of the normies yelled, grappling with his fear only for his courage to surge forth.

Grabbing an old, wooden plank from the side, he sprinted toward one of the creatures scurrying toward the coven kids, who were desperately chanting their spells and with a sharp breath, he swung down.

SPLAT

A sickening crunch followed as green blood burst in all directions, the grotesque remains of the creature smeared across the wood.

For a moment, silence clung to the air, then realization struck as a regular kid, armed with nothing but his own will, had crushed the thing with sheer force.

That moment of raw defiance rippled through the others as their fear wavered, replaced by something more primal, momentum.

One by one, the others grabbed whatever they could like boards, bricks, metal scrap and followed suit, emboldened by the simple, brutal truth: these things could die.

Donning his brass knuckles, Louis pounded his fists together before charging down the path carved out by Benny's reckless advance.

His breath came hard and fast, adrenaline fueling every step, until, from his blind spot, a creature lunged and just as its mandibles stretched open, ready to clamp down.

A single hand rose.

"Wind Blade."

WHOOSH

SPLAT

A razor-sharp gust sliced clean through the air, and the creature was suddenly gone, its shredded remains splattering against the docks.

Louis felt the warm spray of green blood coat his cheek as he turned slightly, locking eyes with Jeremiah, who had just finished casting his spell.

Neither spoke since words weren't needed and they simply nodded, a silent agreement forming between them before both charged forward once more.

Benny had nearly exhausted the length of the dock, his boots skidding against the worn wooden planks as he reached the very edge.

Just as he raised his leg to kick over the final barrel, a blur of movement cut through his vision as a creature lunged.

But before he could react, its jagged mandibles sank deep into his left arm, ripping through flesh and muscle.

Pain exploded up his limb, his nerves screaming in protest, but Benny didn't falter, gritting his teeth, swinging his crowbar down with everything he had.

SPLAT

The iron met the creature's skull, caving it inward with a sickening crunch as green blood spewed from the wound, coating his hand and arm, but that didn't stop his next motion.

He ripped his weapon free and, with a furious kick, sent the last barrel toppling over, its thick, black contents spilling across the dock.

Louis scanned the surroundings, his head jerking from side to side before his eyes locked onto something, an idea clicking into place as he didn't rush toward Benny and instead, he bolted to the side.

SPLAT

SPLAT

More creatures fell, but the wounds on Benny were stacking, his movements slowing as blood seeped from his torn arm.

He stood at the very end of the dock, his back nearly against the ocean, yet his eyes remained locked on the nearing horde.

Benny just kept swinging, his crowbar a blur with his defiance, each strike cracking through flesh and bone.

But for every one he took down, more came, their claws clicking against the soaked, black wood as they closed in.

"BENNY, JUMP!" Louis roared, his hands fumbling over the controls as he recklessly swung the crane hook in a wide arc.

Most people would have hesitated, looked around, questioned the shout, maybe even frozen in fear for just a second too long.

But Benny didn't, he just jumped.

The world blurred as his body left the dock, the wind rushing past his ears and just as he turned midair, the heavy steel hook came swinging into view, way too fast and way too sudden.

BAM

It slammed into his ribs, the impact jarring every bone in his body, but instead of tumbling helplessly into the ocean below, Benny bit down.

His jaw clenched tight, his arms wrapped around the metal with a vice grip, and with sheer, unyielding will, he held on.

Louis bit his outstretched tongue, his fingers tight on the crane's controls, the taste of blood sharp in his mouth at his own teeth pressing into his gums as he fought to steady the hook.

Benny's blond hair whipped in the air, his body swinging wildly, but his eyes remained locked on the dock below.

From up here, he could see everything as the runners, the grunts, fighting for their lives against those godforsaken creatures.

He could hear Johnny barking out orders, trying to keep it all together, until his gaze lifted and his jaw went slack.

"Benny-"

"DO IT!" Benny roared, his body twisting with the crane's momentum.

Johnny didn't hesitate as his hand darted into the torn fabric of his suit, pulling out his lighter.

With a flick of his wrist, the wheel spun, a small but deadly flame sparking to life.

The horde, the same one that had been laser-focused on Benny's swinging figure, froze for just a moment.

Their twisted, malformed eyes tracked the arc of the lighter as Johnny smirked, his voice carrying over the crackling docks.

"F*ck your regards."

Without any hint of gestation, he chucked the lighter as the runners and grunts didn't need to hear another word.

The second they saw the tiny flame descend, they bolted as the lighter slowly touched down onto the center of the blackened dock.

WHOOSH

BOOM

A fiery explosion roared through the air, consuming everything in its path.

Flames surged outward in a violent wave, devouring the wooden planks and swallowing the blackened oil in an instant.

The horde, this mindless horde, unfeeling, unknowingly doomed, crawled forward without hesitation.

Their hollowed eyes stared blankly as the inferno slammed into them, their bodies catching like dry kindling.

A chorus of unnatural shrieks filled the air as their flesh bubbled, crab-like limbs blackening.

One by one, the creatures collapsed under the weight of their own burning husks, writhing, but still, they crawled and still, they pushed forward.

But the fire was absolute, consuming the drones as if it was their fate to fall here.

The dock groaned under the relentless inferno, wood splitting and cracking as planks caved into the churning waters below.

Smoke billowed high into the night, a dark pillar marking the end of the creatures' rampage.

"Benny! Benny!" Louis yelled, stopping the crane head above the end of the dock just as Benny lost his strength and fell but before his limp body could crash down, arms reached out.

Jeremiah and the other coven kids had conjured a cushion beneath him as Benny's blue eyes fluttered open, met with the sight of their frowning faces.

"You said you're Benny, right?" Jeremiah asked, subtly acknowledging the reckless kid before him.

Cough

"With a Y," Benny corrected, making sure Jeremiah wasn't confused as the kid rolled his eyes just while Paolo lugged himself forward from the side.

"Good work, psycho." Paolo gruffed, his own way of giving a compliment as he limped, a deep cut on his left leg.

"Aye, help all the injured and-" Johnny ordered, watching the kids and grunts gathering at the end only for his entire body to freeze at the words.

"Merlyn sends his regards, Merlyn sends his regards, Merlyn sends his regards-"

Amidst the billowing smoke, the hoarse message rang out, the flames seemingly insignificant as the monstrous crab-like figure slowly emerged from the depths of the blaze.

The words faded only as the head, melting and blackening under the searing heat, was finally discarded.

"OH, COME ON!" Paolo yelled, voicing his frustration for all of them as his slow pace turned into a full-on charge.

Boom

BOOM

The dock groaned under the relentless advance of the crab-like monster, its hulking form barreling forward with the sole intent of disfiguring them, to make its message brutally clear with their heads.

"STAND YOUR GROUND! DON'T LET THIS F*CKING MONSTER INTO OUR TERRITORY!" Johnny barked, holding firm as a grunt shoved a tommy gun into his hands.

The other grunts raised their muzzles, unleashing a relentless barrage of bullets, while the coven kids cast their spells in unison.

But the bullets, hell, even the spells, barely seemed to faze it as the hulking beast pressed forward, its grotesque form shrugging off the onslaught like raindrops on steel.

If brute force was all it was, then only brute force could stop it.

Benny struggled to his feet, determination flaring in his eyes, but before he could move, Louis had already charged ahead.

"LOUIS, WHAT ARE—HOLD YOUR FIRE!" Johnny yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos as he watched the kid barrel toward the hulking figure, a beast three times his size.

Thump

Thump

Thump

Louis' heart pounded against his ribs as every instinct screamed at him to turn back, to retreat but his feet didn't listen.

He charged forward, eyes locked onto the monster that would undoubtedly kill him.

His X-Gene flared within him, anchoring his body to the ground as if he were carved from the very earth itself.

Louis stood, not as a mere kid, but as the immovable object he was meant to be as his eyes burned with resolve that wasn't here to win.

He was here to hold the line, for the family.

'Five seconds. I'LL HOLD THIS BASTARD FOR FIVE SECONDS!'

The thought roared through his mind as he braced himself, knowing full well what it meant as for once in his life, he would be the shield, the sacrifice, he wouldn't be the one caught behind.

The crab-like monster lunged, its massive claws raised high, casting a shadow that swallowed him whole.

"The child has resolve!"

The words resonated within the air as Louis barely had time to process what had happened.

One second, he was ready to take the full force of the beast's charge, and the next, a figure blurred past him.

CRACK

Ricky, draped in his black knight attire, wielded not his sword, but a shield with a brutal, unyielding wall of force and with perfect timing, he slammed it into the monster's face.

BAM

The impact rippled through the air, a sickening crunch echoing across the docks as the crab-like beast's momentum, once unstoppable, was devoured by the shield's sheer defense.

But Ricky didn't stop there, planting his feet, he drove it forward, forcing all his weight and power into the strike.

The creature's thick, fleshy shell fractured, splitting open like brittle stone before it was hurled backward, crashing into the inferno behind it.

"What is your name, young warrior!" Alexander, steadying himself with a firm grip on Ricky's shoulder, boastfully asked while turning his gaze to the boy before him.

Louis, still catching his breath, felt the weight of those words settle over him as his chest heaved, his heart pounded as his eyes widened.

Before he could even think to answer, Ricky slowly turned, his black knight armor gleaming against the raging fire behind him.

A blue aura swirled around his form, flickering like ghostly embers as his presence alone made the air feel heavier, charged with something beyond mere strength, something ancient, something unstoppable.

Then, just as the blue aura sought to corrupt his form, Ricky exuded a towering blaze of green aura that surged forth, consuming the encroaching energy and forcing it back down.

The sheer force of it sent a gust rippling through the battlefield, kicking up dust and embers as the swirling green light cast Ricky's figure in an almost spectral glow.

"L-L-L-L-L-" Louis stuttered, unable to even voice what was asked of him as Ricky raised an eyebrow at him.

"What's wrong with him?" Ricky asked, turning his head towards Alexander still waiting for the name to present itself.

'How dare you not only diminish my formidable form to a blunt object but also disregard its price!' The Ebony Shield bellowed with pride, its essence pulsing indignantly at Ricky's crude yet effective wielding.

But Ricky barely acknowledged its protests as his sovereign aura flared, a towering blaze of willpower that pushed back the creeping madness seeking to seep into his mind.

Losing himself to these ebony artifacts, that was the one thing that Ricky absolutely refused to accept.

If one paid close attention, they would notice the subtle shifts in his energy, the way he had been training, refining, and reinforcing his sovereign aura.

This power wasn't just an extension of him, it was him.

His will, his defiance, his refusal to be controlled and so long as Ricky breathed, his mind would remain his own.

Before, he was broken, a man burdened by his own cowardice, the cracks in his resolve laid bare for all to see that had stunted his own Sovereign ability.

But now, Ricky's eyes swirled with his sovereign aura, a force of sheer dominance that sought to crush anything in his path.

"Boss Slick, his name is Louis," Benny said emotionlessly from the side, his hollow eyes flickering at the sight of Ricky, who turned to him, realization settling in.

"Hey, what's up, Benny?" Ricky waved casually, acknowledging the catalyst behind his runners finally getting along.

The other kids stood in stunned silence, slack jawed at Ricky actually knowing his name, but Benny, unfazed, simply waved back with the same detached expression.

"The sky," Benny said, looking up and nodding to himself before turning his gaze back to Ricky.

"No, dumbass, I meant how are you?" Ricky burst out laughing with Alexander chuckling as well, standing fearlessly before the two of them.

"I think I broke my ribs," Benny informed him flatly, actually telling him of his current state as Ricky nodded, taking in the state of things before shifting his gaze to Johnny.

"Aye, Johnny, get everyone out of here," Ricky chuckled while ordering, his nod carrying a subtle approval, an unspoken acknowledgment that Johnny had done well.

"YES BOSS!" Johnny saulted, yanking Benny and Louis away before kicking the slack jawed Paolo and Jeremiah forward.

'I do not understand why I was brought in if you are simply going to use my useless sibling to hit the creature.' The Ebony Blade stated plainly as his sibling glared at him hatefully within the mental space.

"BECAUSE I AM THE WALL THAT HOLDS THE LINE-"

"And yet, he used you like a mere club," the Ebony Blade scoffed, taunting his younger sibling as the stubborn, brutish shield stomped in place.

All while the Ebony Crown remained deathly quiet, observing Ricky because what had just happened shouldn't have been possible.

Each Ebony Artifact carries a power that manifests at the cost of its user's mind.

The Ebony Shield's ability allows it to turn away, absorb, or redirect any blow directed toward it, granting its wielder unparalleled defense, just as its edged counterpart can cleave through any obstruction.

However, magic comes with a price.

For the Ebony Artifacts, that price is the user's sanity and yet, that aura, Ricky's sovereign aura, had pulsed and neutralized the aftereffects, seemingly allowing him to bypass the restrictions entirely.

'I see.' The Ebony Crown thought to itself, turning its gaze towards the Ebony Blade turning away from the Ebony Shield throwing a fit.

BAM

BAM

The sounds of hte crab-like monster stomping on the deck resumed, prompting Ricky to look up at it as the smoke parted at its charge resuming.

"This is it, THIS IS THE EXHILARATION I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!" Alexander roared from Ricky's shoulder, his voice prompting Ricky to explode forward.

Ricky's body glided over the deck, the ebony artifacts pulled away by his translucent hands as his foot outstretched forward.

"THE PURE BLISS OF BATTLE!"

BOOM

The two figures collided, Ricky drove his heel into the same fracture in the creature's shell, shattering it further as his foot sank into the soft flesh beneath.

A brief silence, a blip of air, then the crab-like monster was sent hurtling backward once more.

But this time, Ricky didn't relent as he pressed down harder, driving his foot deeper into the wound.

The beast skidded across the dock, gliding atop the charred wood, its momentum dragging it toward the inferno.

And Ricky, unwavering, rode atop it, flames reflecting in his eyes as the creature finally slowed to a halt.

Snapping its abominable claws, the creature lunged at Ricky but he caught them with ease, his grip tightening like a vice as a bloodthirsty, hateful smile spread across his face.

"Did you think I'd just kill ya like that?" Ricky asked, laughing amidst the towering inferno spiraling around him.

SPLAT

"HUH?!" Ricky asked once more, yanking harder, slowly tearing the crab-like monster's arms from its body as green blood continuously splattered from the severed ends.

The last tendrils of makeshift tendons snapped as Ricky tore the crab-like monster's arms apart, green blood spurting beneath it as the creature finally reacted to the pain, writhing under his heel in agony.

"Merlyn wants to start some sh*t, fine," Ricky muttered, his eyes cold amidst the heat spiraling around him as he raised the detached arms.

SPLAT

"Then let's go to f*cking war," Ricky heaved, slamming the claws down onto the monster's head, splattering it into fleshy pieces.

"What do you say we write a message across dimensions, Alexander?" Ricky asked, flicking his hand as he pulsed his own flames through the inferno consuming his dock.

The green, sovereign pyrokinesis instantly dominated the meager orange embers, swallowing them whole in its oppressive glow.

With a slow, deliberate grip of his fingers, Ricky clenched his fist, snuffing out the flames in an instant, leaving only thick, rolling smoke in their wake.

"I'D SAY TO USE THEIR BLOOD AS THE INK!" Alexander cackled manically, his voice laced with the thrill of impending carnage.

"Then let's write them a f*cking masterpiece."

10 minutes later,

The massive, dismembered carcass of the crab-like monster crashed onto the meeting table with a sickening

THUD

Its green blood splattering across the polished wood and dripping onto the floor as the room fell into an immediate silence, the weight of Ricky's arrival pressing down on the assembled figures like a vice.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

Ricky, drenched in the creature's lifeblood, rolled his shoulders before cracking his neck, his sovereign aura still pulsing faintly around him before it settled.

He exhaled, then turned his gaze toward the gathered leaders, his expression dark with satisfaction.

"Merlyn wants to f*ck around?" Ricky muttered, walking around the table not with his suit worn, but his black knight armor adorned.

"Then let's make sure he finds out." Ricky cursed, plopping down at the seat at the head of the table.

"Does that mean?" Morgana asked, placing her hand above her evident smile as Ricky leaned forward.

"Yeah, this ain't no war committee anymore. This is the real deal, a war meeting," Ricky declared, making his stance clear as everyone sharpened their expressions.

At first, this was just a committee, meant to discuss the possibility of responding but after this attack, Ricky changed the script.

"Ain't no more debates, no back-and-forth on whether we should respond," Ricky continued, his voice carrying the weight of finality.

He swept his gaze across the table, the bloodied remains of the monster serving as an unspoken declaration.

"This is war."

The air in the room thickened, each figure shifting, their expressions hardening since what was once a discussion of possibilities had now become a necessity, an inevitability.

"Frank." Ricky uttered, his words speaking Frank into existence as he stood up from his seat position at the very back.

"YES BOSS!" Frank shouted, his chest puffing and his voice booming as he looked forward.

"Grab the mobsters, lock down the territories, nothing in and nothing out without our supervision." Ricky ordered, the other mobsters all standing up since this was now a time to act.

"YOU GOT IT BOSS!" Frank affirmed, thumping his chest and jerking his head to beckon the guys out the door.

They all shuffled out, unholstering their pistols while all tricking out until Ricky was now looking at Elias.

"Elias-"

"Do not worry, I shall be the shadow clinging to every alley's wall." Elias stood up as his telephat sounded, bowing delightfully as his eyes formed into crescent moons.

"Of course, for a small fee." Elias spoke his tone through the telepath, only leaving upon seeing Ricky nod his head.

"You know this war is gonna drain the family's wallet, right?" Lucky said, eyeing Ricky. He knew Ricky had been grinding to build their fortune, but war had a way of bleeding even the richest dry.

"True kings do not seek riches, they chase greatness. And in greatness, wealth follows," Alexander declared, raising his mighty gaze to Lucky.

Lucky opened his mouth to argue, then just shook his head with a chuckle since he honestly didn't have a retort to that.

"Alright, ya got me there." Lucky stood, adjusting his fedora with a smirk.

"And Slick." Lucky placed the fedora on his head, tipping it downwards as his glare was barely caught and yet, it was so fierce.

"Luciano's don't retaliate, we make examples." Lucky left his parting words, leaving it all in Ricky's grasp as he clenched his fist.

"Could you all give me a second with Morgana?" Ricky asked the others left, more specifically, Raven, Agatha, and finally, Selene.

Raven and Agatha looked at Ricky's unusually serious expression, understanding and promptly leaving only for Selene to stay behind.

"What?" Ricky asked, clearly not in the mood as Selene had her smile tugging at her lips.

"What?" Ricky asked, his patience wearing thin as Selene's lips curled into a knowing smile.

"May I be forthright with you?" she inquired, her fingers gliding across the table, just skimming over the streaks of green blood.

"Can you even be honest?" Ricky muttered, tilting his head as Selene chuckled, lowering her gaze for a moment.

"Sometimes," Selene admitted, swaying her hips as she closed the distance between them.

"The reason I am here today is to inform you that the Hellfire Ball has changed its setting," Selene revealed, halting just before Ricky's seated form.

Sigh

"Where?"

"Berlin, more specifically, at the gathering of the Olympics," Selene said with a warm smile, her fingers trailing over Ricky's bruised cheek in a slow, almost teasing caress.

"It's August 1st, two months away, to be exact, and you promised me you'd be there," Selene revealed, reminding him of their exchange at the Continental.

"I do not take kindly to those who break their promises."

With that, she withdrew her hand, turning away with a deliberate sway of her hips as she shook her ass in a seductive way towards the double doors.

The door closed, and with it, Morgana's chuckle echoed through the quiet space as Ricky leaned back with an annoyed sigh, rubbing a hand over his face.

"If I'd known-"

"Why did you cover for me back there?" Ricky asked, referring to when Morgana claimed he possessed interdimensional energy from the Otherworld instead of revealing his connection to the Nethergods.

"Cover for you?" Morgana turned slightly, the dim light catching the sharp curve of her smirk.

"You told them I had interdimensional energy from the Otherworld instead of mentioning my connection to the Nethergods."

"Because, dear Ricky, some truths are better left unspoken. Even among allies." Morgana chuckled, her fingers dancing idly along the back of a chair.

Morgana recalled their earlier conversation, the one that had bound her into this hallowed husk of a puppet, stripped of any properties that could make her a threat.

Ricky neither trusted her nor could he afford to as it was obvious she had her own agenda, her own reasons for keeping him in play.

But now, he had been dragged into a conflict he had no intention of prolonging and now, he was going to end it.

"What was it you said earlier about being on the other end of the table?" Morgana asked, tilting her head as she leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand.

"I said I was at the other end of it." Ricky prompted, smiling to the side as those words had come back to bite him.

"Then, now that I have your ear, why don't we discuss the terms of our alliance-"

"How about we become allies until Merlyn is dead?" Ricky leaned forward, deciding to take control of the negotiations as Morgana tapped her cheek.

"And?" Morgana asked, watching Ricky place the ebony blade on the table.

"And I'll cut you loose, but if you betray me I'll-"

"Ricky, the only thing that matters to me is reclaiming my rightful throne. If you help me achieve that, I will forge an alliance that endures for the entirety of my reign." Morgana extended her hand, offering not just her allegiance, but the promise of Camelot's future by his side.

"Then you better get ready, 'cause we're leaving soon." Ricky clasped her hand firmly before reaching for the weapon at his side as he stood.

"Then I shall prepare." Morgana couldn't contain the excitement curling at her lips, she had just secured a deal with a true Black Knight.

With a purposeful stride, she exited the room, already envisioning the siege that would shape the future.

The only ones left were Ricky and the lifeless corpse before him and just as he was about to speak, a thought crossed his mind, prompting him to weave a soundproof spell around them through his grimoire, sealing their conversation from prying ears.

"It is better to be careful since you said this guy is calculating." Ricky said, leaning back in the chair as Alexander nodded while gazing up at him.

"So, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Ricky asked, his gaze locking onto Alexander.

Alexander slowly nodded, the weight of the unspoken truth settling between them, something they had both kept hidden until now.

"It seems so, then-"

"It has to be the coven. It's the only thing that makes sense," Ricky said, crossing his arms as Alexander continued to nod, his expression darkening

"Then shall we hunt this traitor?" Alexander asked, being scooped up by Ricky who placed him on his shoulder.

"Alexander, we call them rats," Ricky said, placing his hand over the corpse. Flames sparked to life beneath his palm, slowly consuming the chimera's twisted remains.

"Then let us hunt this rat."

Ricky soon afterwards exited the building while taking a deep breath of fresh air, about to go on a walk to really clear his mind when he saw Bumpy running over to him.

"Slick, I found them!" Bumpy waved the paper, the same one that was given to Ricky who raised an eyebrow.

"Wait, you mean that you've already found the girls from Harlme-"

"No Slick, I found them all."

Meanwhile in Staten Island,

One of the severed heads slowly surfaced from the water, creeping through the shadows as if guided by an unseen force.

It slithered through the underbrush, navigating the dark like a specter before slipping through an open window.

Inside, it crawled with purpose, inching its way across the floor until it reached a study, its final destination.

There, under the dim glow of candlelight, sat a man. A familiar figure, rarely seen by the family but one who held a high position within Agatha's coven.

The old man looked up, revealing himself as Cedric Hawke, a member of the coven's council and its second-oldest elder.

However, rather than fear or alarm, his expression remained neutral as the decapitated head slithered toward his desk.

Then, as if expecting it, Cedric reached for a letter opener and plunged it into the skull as the creature did not resist, revealing it had been made for this purpose.

As he tore the bone apart, no brain was revealed within. Instead, a crystal ball gleaned from the hollowed cavity.

With careful precision, Cedric placed the orb on his desk before lowering himself to one knee, awaiting whatever message would come forth.

"Cedric, it is time for you to once again contribute to our great cause." Merlyn's voice echoed from the crystal ball, rich with authority and purpose.

"For the promised king," Merlyn's words echoed from the crystal ball, resonating through the dimly lit chamber.

Cedric lifted his head, his sharp, aged eyes gleaming with an understanding that ran deeper than mere obedience.

"We must bear his sins."

Author's Note: Ik what I said about posting earlier but I was just playing CK3 and watching Game of thrones. Which is why I couldnt' help but think why hasn't anyone ever made a f*cking fic about both of them, COMBINED, I just don't get it but I was slacking and that's on me.