Villain Retirement

1037  Chapter 1037: Faith

"D…Dad!? What did you do now!?" n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"D…Darkdaddy, what are you—I mean, Darkday, what are you doing!?"

"Did… you just call my dad 'Darkdaddy'?"

"That's because you said 'Dad' first, I just got confused! And why does it matter, look at what's happening now!"

Angela could not help but quickly back away from the tower as it lit up — starting from where Riley placed his palm on. The Black Tower's entire surface did not fully light up, no. There were just straight streaks of purple lines appearing everywhere; extending from Riley's palm and crawling all the way to the top of the tower.

"I knew it… see!? Pink light!" Angela pointed at the tower while looking at Karina, "The tower truly was made for your father!"

"Girl, that's purple. For someone who can supposedly see things as they truly are, I can't believe you're color blind," Karina rolled her eyes as she too, started taking a step back, "Don't tell me you don't even know you are wearing a red armor?"

"Can we stop talking about colors and just focus on the fact that something is happening to the tower!? It hasn't even shown signs of any activity for 200 years and yet now it's responding with Darkday's touch!"

"You're the one who mentioned the color of the tower!"

Angela was not the only one who was in complete and utter shock with what was happening. The Black Tower has truly remained completely just that — a black tower of nothing. Billions of people have placed their hands on the tower, some even climbed it to see if there was a secret entrance, and many beings of absolute strength tried forcing their way in and creating their own entrance inside.

But the Black Tower remained just that. But now, with just a single touch from Riley, it reacted.

His followers quickly kneeled down — most of them were initially just curious about Riley and not serious about the religion at all. After all, throughout their hundreds of years of existence, they have switched beliefs and religions more than they could count. And even after time started moving for them again, they still carried the same habit; after all, it was extremely hard to just get rid of something one has already gotten used to doing, especially for hundreds of years.

The only exceptions to this rule were the ones who were born after time had started moving again. Or… …those children who were lucky enough to have survived the 600 years, children whose brains and minds remained immature and underdeveloped at the same time.

Children like Elizabeth, the lady who was the first to join Riley's religion, who had remained 4 years old for more than 600 years, before just suddenly growing the past 16 years. Mentally, well, they are not okay.

They are, however, the friendliest beings in the entire universe; almost as if the people could instinctively feel that there was something wrong with them, something quite… innocent.

That was why all of the people she talked to were inclined to listen to her. Some of them now even part of Riley's religion even though it has not even been a day.

And suffice it to say, Elizabeth's view of the world was once again becoming… strange, askew. Her eyes were glistening as she stared at Riley's back — in truth, she was really only fulfilling a play since she was bored; she was not interested at all in anything now that she was an adult. But now, it was as if…

…she found her true purpose, why she was able to survive for so long even though it was almost impossible.

She was meant to find this mysterious and incredibly white man. And while everyone else was starting to back away… she stepped forward and stood just a step behind Riley; the smile on her face as she stared at the tower, almost child-like.

Riley glanced back at her, and she looked at Riley while nodding her head, excited with what was about to happen.

"I knew it…" Elizabeth laughed before taking a step back. She did not take a step back to get away, however, but to once again kneel, "...You are my god, from now on, and to eternity."

"Your eternity might be short-lived, Cardinal."

"Then so be it," Elizabeth nodded her head before fully bowing. And soon, Riley's other followers also kneeled back down. After all, how could they not with all that they've witnessed?

"Is it… is it opening?" And with those words whispering in the air, everyone turned quiet thereafter.

"..."

A second.

A minute.

An hour.

An entire hour, that was how long they have remained quiet until Riley finally removed his hand from the tower…

"...That's it?"

…as nothing really happened after. The Black Tower just lit up, it did not open any entrance whatsoever. People were about to lose interest in Riley — but 3 seconds after he let go, the tower began to rumble.

"Is it opening!?" Everyone then once again focused their attention on the tower. And finally, something began to happen, something opened.

A hole, several holes.

The size, just enough for the average human arm to fit. Of course, no one really thought it was for anyone to put their arms in… except for Elizabeth, that is.

"You—!!!" Karina could not really stop Elizabeth from carelessly inserting her arm through the hole. The only thing she could do was to try and pull her away. But as soon as she grabbed Elizabeth's arm, Karina found herself being blown away, being gently caught by Riley before her feet could land on the ground,

"...Dad? Did you do that…?"

"No."

Karina then quickly turned her focus back to Elizabeth, only to see some sort of bubble covering her from the outside world; her arm, still stuck inside the… big, black tower.

"Cardin—Elizabeth, are you okay!?" And of course, Karina also instinctively knew that Elizabeth was also one of the children who had lived through the 600 years, causing her to actually be slightly protective of her even though she had probably only known her for an hour, and barely even spoke to her.

"..." Elizabeth, however, did not respond at all and was completely motionless, and emotionless. And as Karina approached her, she noticed her eyes were wide open — their color, completely gone.

"What the fuck is happening…?" Karina tried touching the bubble, only for an invisible force to once again push her away; this time gentler, "And why would she just fucking insert her arm!?"

"You wouldn't understand, Karina," Angela also approached the seemingly unconscious Elizabeth and stood beside Karina, "Faith just means that one would leap even without knowing what is below."

"Sounds stupid is what it is," Karina clicked her tongue as she glanced at Angela.

"You've never once believed in a higher power?" Angela asked; the tone of her voice, incredibly sincere.

"Oh, I've always believed in a higher power," Karina scoffed, "I'm surrounded by them, literally."

"No, not just strength — but a creator."

"Uhh…" Angela twirled her finger and pointed everywhere, "...I literally lived in the remaining universe thinking they were real."

"But those are illusions."

"Say that again if you've met my siblings," the tone of Karina's voice lowered, "It's unfair, you know — we're not supposed to be able to interact with Paige's illusions, only those who are close to her could do that… and yet they were so real. I can touch them, feel them."

"But… aren't you close with Pearson?" Angela raised an eyebrow, "I know Diana is close to her, and Pearson even treats her like a mother when Darkday initially disappeared after Megawoman supposedly died."

"You're… right. I… didn't think of that," Karina could really only look away, "But still, my point stands — I've always been surrounded by a higher power, more than you."

"That—"

"!!!"

And before Angela could even rebuke Karnia's statement, a loud gasp whispered in the air as the bubble encapsulating Elizabeth popped. A right of light then started to surround the Black Tower, two of them; one higher than the other.

Both Angela and Karina did not care for the rings, however, as they quickly rushed to catch Elizabeth as she fell backward, and the first thing Karina noticed was how hot she was; almost scalding.

Karina did not react at all, however, but Angela did. Angela, who did not really feel the temperature since she was wearing armor — but Angela was not reacting to the heat, but rather to what she was seeing as she looked at Elizabeth's eyes which were now slowly opening.

"Where… were you?" Angela asked as her sewn eyes visibly moved inside, "I… can see a different place."

"I was… I was… I was in a test!" Elizabeth then let out a loud breath as she moved away from Karina and Angela, quickly rushing toward Riley and kneeling—no, groveling in front of him, "Forgive, please forgive me! I… I couldn't pass your trial, Lord. Please, forgive me! I… I was only able to pass the 2nd floor."

"A trial?" Riley tilted his head as he looked at Elizabeth before focusing on one of the holes on the Black Tower,