World Bane

Those who are broken down will always have the chance to be rebuilt. Similarly, those with nothing always have the chance to gain everything. Nothing is forever lost; everything is forever gained.

---

Cain slowly strolled back to the Organization's headquarters under the cover of night. He didn't think; he didn't speak.

When he got back, as he expected, the situation was handled, and most of the Organization's personnel and secrets were recovered or destroyed, preventing the Family from gaining anything substantial.

Cain didn't get to rest; instead, he was called by Omega. In his empty state, he was more docile than usual and immediately went to meet with his "leader".

"Ah, you came sooner than I thought. I expected you would need to prepare or settle down a little first." Omega paused for a second, lowering his drink. "I heard about the traitors and what happened to them and their families. I am not proud or upset; it was simply what needed to be done. You will not be reprimanded."

"Indeed."

Cain stood in the doorway silent. Omega stood on a balcony overlooking the city. They were near the city's center. The Organization's Headquarters was right under the Family's noses.

Walking over to the bar built into the balcony, Cain poured himself a drink and joined Omega.

Gazing at his companion, Omega smiled. "I'm glad you were saved that day when Cell-83 attacked that convoy. Perhaps if that never happened, our organization would have long collapsed. I thank you for staying and joining us. With you and your strategies, we might win; what you did tonight proved that much."

Swirling the liquor in his glass, Omega intently stared at it; he was deep in thought. He then suddenly asked, "What do you think about the Family, the cannibalism I mean."

Hearing loud and clear, Cain tilted his head towards the sky as he muttered with a hint of ridicule, "Barbaric. However, if there is a reason behind it, it might truly be a curse. But that depends on how you look at it; perhaps the effects of human flesh are far superior to other foods."

Laughing, Omega responded; it was hard to tell if his tone was serious or humorous, "True haha. Hah, we still don't know enough information. Cain, you have a unique way of looking at things hehe..."

Cain vacantly stared at the sky, his face held no emotion. "When someone sees a lot, they also gain a lot. Through seeing many viewpoints, you can see many different meanings. We live in a forever-changing land; there are forever-changing ideologies."

Omega stayed silent; he took a sip of his liquor and gazed up at the sky as well. The two stared for a long time.

...

"Uncle, those bastards warded off our attacks! Their safehouses housed nothing, and our targets mysteriously disappeared! I believe the informants that gathered the information are spies!"

A young noble angrily spoke before his uncle; it was obvious they were close; otherwise, the youth's attitude would be met with punishment.

"Sabastian, how could it be all our informants are spies? Most of them are indeed informants of the "Organization", but the rest are not, and some are even our family members." Lifting a report, the uncle threw it to his nephew at terrifying speeds.

Catching it without exerting himself, the nephew began to read it.

".....Our hidden informants in that organization died? How did they know?!"

Taking a glass filled with red liquid, the uncle swirled it before taking a sip. "It seems the enemy has a powerful mind at their side. That mind successfully guessed our intentions and made countermeasures. I will inform the ancestor of this development and continue with our plans but expect most of them to be seen through. We will wait for another opportunity."

"Yes, uncle." The youth made no arguments and did as he was told.

...

Reading in a library, Cain flipped through pages in a book he had already read over ten times.

Today he came personally to act as himself because Inspector Zoe was due for a visit, and with everything that currently happened, it would be a good thing for Cain to be in full control if anything were to go wrong.

"Hello again." Like always, Zoe came through the front doors and casually walked up to Cain.

"Hello, Miss Inspector."

Zoe sat down beside him. "Heard of anything going on recently?"

Cain shook his head, "No, besides Jinx's gossiping, that is."

Usually, by this time in the quick exchange, Zoe would lead the conversation to a close and leave, but she didn't do that. Instead, her face turned grim and pulled close to Cain.

She then whispered into his ear, "I know what you are, World Bane."

Cain lifted his eyes from the book and turned to Zoe in confusion, "World Bane? May I ask what that is?"

"You know what you are, World Bane. I know you have been somehow involved in what's happening. Now tell me what you have done or I will kill you right now!"

Cain felt nothing hearing the Inspector's threat, but he was still curious about what a World Bane was.

"Seriously, I don't know what a World Bane is. Could you elaborate?"

Zoe didn't find this response funny; she pulled out her pistol from its holster and slammed it against Cain's temple.

"Tell me what I want to know now, or I'll blow your brains out!" Her hushed tone was filled with determination and killing intent.

Seeing the pure energy around her ripple, Cain realized how important his response was to her. But again, he responded in a monotone voice, "I don't know what you want. I don't even know what you're talking about."

The Inspector silently yelled at him in frustration, "Of course, you know, you have to know! World Banes are those not of this world and come to destroy everything. They are those with a home among the cosmos and are trapped here. Because of their fate, they take out everything in the world and cause chaos!" 

'Cosmos?'

Cain's attitude changed; it remained still but swirled into a vast stance, looking down on everything. A frightening aura came into being that suppressed everything in the vicinity.

Cain asked, "Cosmos? How do you know of such a thing? The sea of stars is only hinted at in ancient texts."

The aura around him made it so Zoe could only lower her head; the weight of her gun felt like it rose a-thousand-fold as her arm collapsed under the weight.

This was what happened when powerful beings used their status against others. The pure energy around them couldn't help but become affected, leading to an aura that was infinitely close to being seen with the naked eye. Of course, Cain wasn't at such a level; he could only suppress people without powers like Zoe.

He not only did this to get answers but also to confirm the Inspector didn't have any powers.

Watching her, Zoe felt the pressure increase, she couldn't help but answer him. 

"I-I don't know; I've only heard of it from some confidential information we have on file. One of the main things we guard against is World Banes, then it's the creatures that roam the old world. From what I'm told, such a World Bane was the reason this place became like this; they are the reason we have to hide behind these walls!"

'A World Bane caused the territory to become like this?"

Cain decided to press further, "What else do you know?"

"That's it, I swear! I only know they come from the cosmos and cause destruction! That's all my superiors ever told me!"

'Cosmos... from outside the Landfill?'

Cain became silent, and his aura rapidly receded.

"Just to clear things up, I was born here and only sent elsewhere due to supernatural factors. Even I have never been to or seen the cosmos."

Zoe finally raised her head, her eyes red and puffy, she was scared but remained calm. "Then what are you?"

"A traveler. Though, I suppose you could say I'm on a pilgrimage to find my home..."