The Anti-Light Reborn

While waiting for the rest of the Fullbringers to awaken, I decided to address all the Anti-Light, so I summoned for everyone who was on the planet. If I was going to be associated with them, I would need to know the full extent of their capabilities. 

Now waiting for all of the Anti-Light to be assembled before me, the Fullbringer members started to awaken one by one. Having plenty of time, they began to introduce themselves to me and inform me of their newfound powers. 

Much like Lenatti, each was interested in being renamed by me, which seemed to be an honor. I decided to hear what they did before naming them accordingly. 

There was, surprisingly, an older man that walked with a cane who had been with the Anti-Light for a while now. He was the weakest out of those who possessed abilities, despite his old age, due to him not training to use his Dark attribute magic for fear of being discovered by the church. His reliance on his cane has bonded him with it, giving him the ability, Silent Sounds. When he taps his cane, it lets off an irresistible noise that lures anyone who hears it towards him. I named him Montgomery.

Next was a woman, who constantly wore a smile on her face. Her bound item was a ring that was given to her by her now deceased husband when the church came for her once they discovered she was with the dark affinity. While wearing the ring, she has the ability, Overflowing with Existence. For every person she kills, their life is added to her own, so she would gain another life should she perish. I named her Phoenix. 

The most skilled in close combat, was a tall blonde man with glasses. His reliance on his glasses to enable him to see has given him the ability, Stare into the Masses. He can see wherever a certain rune is placed anywhere. I named him Odin. 

There was another woman, who hid her feelings behind her mask of calm demeanor although, I could feel her excitement at the power she possesses. In terms of magic, she was the third best of the Fullbringers. Her bound object was the knife that she carried as it was used to help her perform tortures and surgeries. Her ability is Relish in Pain, which allows her to inflict any poison that she understands when she strikes her opponent three times with her knives. I named her Achlys. 

Besides Gerald, there was one more who was the most skilled out of the group magic wise. In fact, his ability made him the second strongest Fullbringer. He was a young mage, born into nobility, whose bound object was the watch his father gifted him when he became of age. His discovered dark affinity led his home to be ransacked by the church with his parents being killed in front of him. His ability is Forsake Infinity, which allowed him to control the flow of time to an extent within the surrounding area. I named him Tempo.

The other three, I wasn't going to call them disappointments yet, as becoming a Fullbringer was an achievement in itself, but they could still only do the basic of their abilities. It was no matter; they would have to prove themselves in due time. 

Thankfully, due to the seriousness of the situation, the response was neigh immediate. The ten most powerful, the Fullbringers, kneeled before me. Behind them, were the more accomplished, the leaders who names I didn't remember. Then the hundreds of members of the Anti-Light, who were just rank and file. 

Looking at all the available members of the Anti-Light, I sigh a little bit. This is why I dodged the leadership role whenever I could. I had too high of expectations in people, and I was easy to be disappointed in other people. But I had nothing to lose by assisting this group. Worst case scenario, I just abandon them and start over elsewhere. However, there was the possibility that they would be the best underlings I could have. 

"When I look out before me, I see nothing but weakness. Dogs who grouped together against after getting the lash. No one knows you exist because you have made it so. Right now, all you can say that you have achieved is being oppressed then oppressing the weak. Disgusting."

They hold their heads down in shame, as they realize the validation in my words. But none dare defy me or my words, so I continue.

"But fret not. For I am here now. We will strike back at the church, show them the consequences of creating an enemy as formidable as us. Now someone tell me how we've been fighting the church before I got here."

Gerald comes forward. "So far, we've been using the intel we've collected to find others who are dark affinity users. Other than that, we've been just pillaging whatever we can from the planets of those we've rescued from. It is indeed shameful."

"Have you ever engaged in battle with the church?" I ask curiously. 

"With our limited resources against their organized forces, we always lost." He explains. Everyone holds their heads down further in shame. Ugh. They're just bandits at this point.

"Although I doubt it, do we have any allies?" I ask. He shakes his head no. 

"Are you self-taught in the dark affinity?" I question. How could he have learned such complex dark spells?

"No, I was trained by someone who has gone into hiding. I know where, but he has rightfully refused to assist us."

"Go to him again and get him on our side. As for the rest of you, from this point forward unless I command it, all further rescue efforts will be on hold. You will no longer be known as the Anti-Light as you have stained the name and purpose behind it. Today, we are reborn as the Midnight Covenant. We will be the opposition to the church that we were meant to be. I have high hopes for all of you. I hope for your sakes that you do not disappoint me. You're dismissed."

Everyone marvels at the new name for their group. They make vows to not sully the new name their lord has given them. Gerald stands, "If that is all, then I will take my leave. I will not fail to bring him my lord." I don't bother responding as with his abilities, he'd have no excuses for failing. 

I turn to the other Fullbringers, "There are many things that need to be addressed for the Midnight Covenant to successfully operate. First, I leave it to you all to appoint dependable leaders who can direct in your place. Secondly, we'll need money in order to finance our exploits. Lastly, we'll need renown, as our standing will have people just join us regardless of their affinity. What do we have that we can provide funds?"

They look at each other before turning back to me. Montgomery tells me, "My lord, this planet is just an average C tier. Resources here aren't abundant. But I have an idea if you will allow me?" I nod my head towards him. 

"It is no secret that demons drain humans of their mana for their own mana cores. Mana cores on different rarities could prove not only beneficial to boosting the mana of the lower ranking members but fetch quite the price on the market. As we have no way of encountering demons, the easiest way would be for you to grab them." He suggests.

I see his old age brought wisdom. I could see the logic in his proposal. Plus, it aligned itself with my goal to evolve anyway. Without responding to him, I throw open a Kumon next to me and step through it, leaving them to their own devices. If I needed to babysit them all the time, there was no reason to have given them the powers that they had. Surely, they could at least figure things out on their own for a bit.