Battle.

Zen Flaminia's technique is Primordial Existence. It comes with a barrier by default. The only way to win using this ability is to overwhelm your enemy in the first phase before the two minutes are up and the conditions are lifted. After two minutes, the user is granted the ability to limitlessly reshape the insides of the barrier. However, there is a way to bypass this restriction, and it is only known to the Power's beholder.

The singular defense for a domain that comes by default with a manifested Power is an innate barrier mastered and imbued with a more polished technique. There is no technique more polished through the generational progeny: the Unconquerable.

Apollo ran, crossing both arms and manifesting daggers of Fate between the cracks of his knuckles. Upon jumping into the air, he flipped over Talen's head, throwing the knives at his foe. The incoming blades turned to ash around him as he turned around, kicking across his foe's face. Easily, the younger man ducked under the kick; curving his fist from the ground to uppercut Talen into the air.

Briefly landing against the domain's ceiling, the Unconquerable jumped back at his opponent, attempting to chop the top of his head. Smirking, Apollo's hand quickly raised, slapping away Talen's attack—hastily grabbing his face and smashing him into the rocky ground below.

Another leg connected to his chest, sending him tumbling down the platform. With a simple flick of his fingers, Apollo reshaped the domain; manifesting several stone walls behind his foe's soaring form. Amit uncontrollably crashed through numerous walls laid out behind him, landing within a crater his back formed in another wall. Blood leaked down his face, his head raising slowly.

Despite the wound he'd sustained, the determination within his dark-emerald eyes shone brighter than the rising sun. Talen rose from the crater, feeling the gore leak from his injuries; he longingly sighed. Apollo chuckled.

"What's wrong? I thought you had that Unconquerable aura around you. Isn't it supposed to be impenetrable?" he asked.

Talen's labored breathing naturally slowed. 'He's so obviously taunting me, but… I can't help but agree with him. Save for Uriel, who can counteract the aura's effect with his own, it shouldn't make sense.' Recovering from his hunched-over posture, he shot daggers into Apollo's very soul. "This isn't an issue. All I need to do now… is get serious!"

It's an old story. The predator hunts the prey. Natural selection. Those who possess strength advance through the ranks of society while the weak suffer, despairing at their powerlessness. Regardless, aspects such as 'strength' or 'weakness' in the world of Kismet are truly irrelevant. Everyone is granted a specific technique when marked at birth. It is up to the user to claim victory in their way.

Currently, Talen was in the middle of realizing that. The surging feeling coming from his chest and coursing through his veins wasn't another power beckoning to awaken, nor was it his unrivaled resolve gleaming through the darkness. No. It was something more.

Ten years ago, he'd all but perished at the hand of the Disastrous. The moment before he was unknowingly revived by Atlas, though he'd long forgotten, he'd felt it. Though brief, on the brink between life and death, Talen touched the core of his soul and by extension: Fate itself. Upon touching that which encompasses all living creatures no matter the world, he was granted but one thing.

Enlightenment.

Using that brief experience, Talen was able to imbue his aura with the defensive protocols he wields today. However, it'd been a decade. The memories of his resurrection all but faded, and with it, his enlightenment. The Unconquerable, Talen Amit, was nothing more than a fraud. But no more.

'I now understand my role. The Empire believes me to be the pinnacle of everything; the embodiment of Fate. Unfortunately, I'm nothing more than a fraud who ran away at the sight of his weakness. I was afraid; ashamed. I couldn't save anyone. I thought that by drowning myself in smoke, I could forget everything. But I can't. I shouldn't. Despite how much I hate myself, or how much I hate others, there's one thing I can never ignore. When I see tears leave good people's eyes, I can't help but feel compelled to do something about it. I can't sit back and do nothing anymore! I have to move!'

Apollo's eyebrow raised. "'Serious'? Quit messing around. The legendary Unconquerable, Talen Amit, driven back into a corner by not even the strongest Displacement." His finger pointed at the lawyer. "I'm sure you had such faith in your strength before today, right? Well, how's it feel to have your weakness so blatantly thrown back at your face? You must be experiencing the depths of despair, huh? Don't be shy, boy. Show me that expression!"

Talen chuckled, showing his eyes. "You leave me no choice," he said.

Two slices appeared on Moloch's shoulder. Blood endlessly gushing from both wounds, the Displacement felt his strength deplete upon falling to his knees. Widened eyes staring at the gore drip onto the platform, he slowly turned around.

'What? What was that just now? It couldn't have been him, right? No. That's impossible. If that was him, I would've at least seen a glimpse. But I didn't. Is he really… that fast—?'

Talen's smirk was dirtied with blood. "Displacements are theorized to come from parallel worlds beyond our own. But that can't be. Beings like that… shouldn't be weak like you."

The entire domain spontaneously combusted, and with it, another cut sliced Apollo in the shoulder. Now without a right arm, he stood against the grass field with bloodshot eyes and spewing gore. Head leaned back, the Displacement achingly moaned as the little bloody droplets flew from his flesh and splashed into the corner of his eye.

Talen vented a sigh of relief. "That should be good enough for now." He turned around, facing his father and Amati still idle on their feet. "Looks like Moon has a condition-based ability that manipulates the senses. To allow for more power and potential, he restricts his senses as well. If he were facing anyone other than Father, he'd probably win flawlessly. It's a wonder Flaminia died so easily when his comrades are so strong," he said.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here." Upon turning around, Talen's widened eyes reflected Aella Raven crouching beside her fellow Displacement. "So nice to see you again, Talen Amit."

Tal sucked his teeth. "So you're in on it too, huh? That's unfortunate," he said.

"Really?" She chuckled. "What makes you think so?" She aimed her palm at him.

"Didn't you know? Back in my youth, I had a childish crush on you." He shook his head, stifling laughter. "How ignorant. Then again, who knows? Displacement girls like you probably know so much more compared to us confined on the continent. Tell me, Aella. Do you remember your home world?"

Raven removed her grip from Apollo's shoulder. Pink hair swaying before her eyes, she smiled at the Unconquerable, arms behind her back. "I'd like nothing more. Unfortunately, I can't stay for a long chat like that. Our job here is done." She snapped.

Flaminia's corpse and Apollo vanished from behind her. Talen didn't even bother moving as he watched her solid form slowly turn transparent. Slowly disappearing, she stepped forward; Amit flinched, subconsciously summoning Fate around him. Then, it fell. Her fading lips pecked his ear—nails around his neck.

"See you soon… Tal."

And just like that, she went with the wind. Talen was left alone on the battlefield only briefly before his head turned to spot his father walking back toward him with pocketed hands. He sighed, looking back at the house.

Eros grinned. "Have fun?"

"I predicted Uriel would attack this place but it wasn't like we had anywhere else to go. Now that he's the King, all of our homes are probably compromised. Our only choice… is to leave Barronia. Then again, I guess we already decided that." He sighed into the air.

"Yes. However, the King's influence dwindles the further we move from the Capital Kingdom. I'm sure you know that, don't you?"

"Of course." Talen nodded. "That's the reason for the racial discrimination in Helenheim, right? The old King didn't care enough about the kingdoms besides Barronia so he just let it run rampant."

"Well, that's true, but not what I'm talking about." The father's finger raised. "The Crown has a preset distance. It can only affect people it touches or whoever's in the same room. As corrupt as Helenheim is, we have no other choice. That's the best place to hide until you guys make up your next move."

"Right…" Tal slicked his black hair back and removed his glasses, rubbing his eyes while groaning. "How irritating. I can only warp a few people at a time so I'll probably be out of commission for a while after that." He looked at his father. "Answer me this: why're you helping us?" he asked.

Eros's eyebrow quirked up. "Huh? Is that a rhetorical question? You're my son. Why else would I help you?"

"Well, no shit, old man. But that doesn't explain anything!" Talen pulled his father by the collar, feeling the Unconquerable flow around him. "You left ten years ago. Not just to another kingdom; you vanished!" His head lowered. "Heh. I don't even care enough. You treated me like shit and threw Mom aside like it was nothing. Still, my siblings need their father. They're not me." He removed his hands and stepped back. "I don't know what your game is or why you left to begin with and you have no intention of telling us. I can handle everything on my own. So stay out of this. You don't get to pick and choose when to be a father—"

Talen's arm was snatched by his hand. Stopped in his tracks, he had no choice but to listen as his father's mouth opened.

"I know." Eros lowered his head. "Everything you said is true. I have no right to come back into any of your lives and act like a father, especially after all I've done to you. I'm sorry. But… I said Helenheim for a reason." He gazed deep into his son's emerald eyes. "I'll tell you. Everything. From the beginning. Alright?"

What more could he say?

The young Unconquerable glanced at the house and then back at his father. Briefly, he took a deep breath and opened his eyes, reflecting Eros' bearded appearance.

"Alright."

Trivia: Aella Raven was born on May 15th, 1994. She has long pink hair, pale skin, eyes with stars for pupils, and two moles under her left hair. A golden halo hovers above her head; she usually wears a thick black turtleneck and a regular silver necklace. Aella is a Displacement who came to aid Barronia by advancing technology and Predestined Powers. In the years following her appearance, the Capital Kingdom rapidly advanced to include smartphones, wireless earwear, and other cellular devices. Her existence is unknown to the Kismet Empire outside of executives in Barronia.