Famine was sitting in a room, his chair was wooden behind an oak table with another chair opposite— the lights dimmed, but an array of trophies and awards sealed behind Famine in a frame irritated the room. He leaned forward— beside him a grandfather clock chimed, his ghastly aura petrifying the desk as he looked at his hand.

  He twinkled with them, his eyes sharply on the jewellery— the signet rings as he opened and closed his palm. A pack of cigarettes alongside a lighter as he released, he gently unravelled the casing; putting the blunt to his mouth, gently as he began to smoke.

  The flame from the lighter still burning on the desk, as it lightened the room, revealing a shadow at the timber door ahead of the Boss.

  “Ivory…” Famine’s teeth brightened— a displacement of silver grills flooded the room, “You have returned from your trip.”

  The silhouette walked forward— a faint clapping sound was heard, not from their feet but hands.

  “Advisor.” A raspy voice echoed, the individual walked toward lighter on the table— glowing due to the torch.

  A face was visible: It was divine— perhaps fallen was the better word. Their skin was mahogany, slight freckles formed around the cheek area as their chin carried a beauty mark, their nose was Nubian as their eyes glowed a pristine, pure white. Their dreadlocks were sky blue— highlights fading orange as their stature was extremely tall and muscular. He was dressed in a lion’s loincloth, hiding scars and leopard markings throughout his body. Flowered wings sprouted from his back.

  “Ivory the First, I had the increase the height of the room just to fit you, the entire mansion actually.” Famine pointed to the ceiling, a crystal chandelier dangled, “Why are you at my home? Why not go to the Lord after arriving back?”

  “I want to speak with you.” Ivory raised his left arm— his index finger pointing at Famine’s head, “I want to directly— if there has been any carnage lately.”

  “There has my friend,” Famine chuckled— his cigarette jolting as he clutched his belly, “You know of the terrorism that’s been happening lately— regarding Samiel’s forces.”“I want to fight.”

  “I know— have you any idea where the other horseman are?”

  “I am not one— don’t reply with a question you bastard.” Ivory’s teeth grit— stone as he lifted his left arm up, hand balled into a fist.

  Famine stared— his hollow eyes glistened, “I know your heritage makes you extremely strong, I don’t want to be on the receiving end so can you put your hand down.”

  “Child of Thidos.” Ivory tilted his head, “If you know of that then why tempt my destruction?”

  “You are born into the world that I possess, why would I be scared of a charlatan.”

  “You speak words of chaos.” Ivory grinned before he jolted his head up— and began sniffing.

  “I smell, I smell that fiend.” His eyes widened as he then snapped back to look at Famine.

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  “You actually know where the Imp went? Slavi’s been gone for days.”

  “I’ll track it! I’ll track it and make it speak to me! My friend!” Ivory snatched his body around, robotically walking towards the door— before bolting.

  The door slamming off before momentarily being reattached mentally.

  “Have fun.” Famine lit another cigarette before staring at the clock.

  It struck 12pm.

  Gabriel was walking through a street within Ostra— it was destroyed, entirely.

  The scent of smoke filtered the air as burning buildings tumbled, civilians desperately trying to scavenge out of the debris as blood stained the walls as if it was a mural. Gabriel’s mask shown no emotion— both sides were stationary, expressionless. On his back was Zero— barely conscious, their body thrusting up and down as Gabriel trudged through the decay.

  “Halt!”

  Gabriel froze as he turned around, behind of him was his colleague, Ivory. He itched his head and began to chortle, “Oh Ivory! Your back?”, his tone demure.

  The man walked closer— metres turned to centimetres as he leaned into Gabriel’s ears and whispered.

  “I’m so bored, I want to fight you.” Ivory backed away smiling as Gabriel’s mask turned into a frown.

  Ivory returned to his former stance before posing.

  Gabriel dropped Zero to the ground— far, far, far away, “Do you have an actual reason?”

  “I won’t kill you don’t worry— you’ll wake up at the Castle believe me.” Ivory began to warm up, jumping on the spot as he swayed his head and body left and right.

  “If I have no choice.” Gabriel lifted his right arm— it glowed as a large square emerged from his palm, phasing through everything around them and encompassing the whole city block, “I choose this, as my domain.”

  POW.

  Ivory launched himself at Gabriel. His fist struck the mask and sent Gabriel upward into the dark sky.

  “Why are you always like this?” Gabriel howled, flapping wings as he pulled two buildings together to pin Ivory. He unleashed gale-force winds and darted aside.

  “LET ME DRINK YOUR BLOOD!” Ivory howled and crashed through a rooftop into the sky, pulverizing the structure into dust. He unhinged his jaw and vomited a beam of light that tracked through the air.

  “YOU’RE ANNOYING!” Gabriel roared, phasing into a pocket of air and firing a reply, “RAYS OF LIGHT!”

  The attacks braided into ghostly pillars in the night. Ivory grinned. Gabriel panted, clutching dirt and scrap. “Fight me hand to hand,” he said through gritted teeth.

  “Okay!” Ivory cheered and slammed into the ground, making a crater. He rose unhurt.

  They closed with bone and muscle. Gabriel swung, aiming a punch at Ivory’s ribs; Ivory snapped his torso and avoided it, then headbutted Gabriel backward. Ivory drop-kicked, slammed him repeatedly into the pavement. Flames licked the ruined street. Ivory lifted Gabriel by the leg and slammed him until the Archangel crumpled.

  A grin spread on Ivory’s face. “I made sure not to damage your mask — put a little of my love into it.” He dangled Gabriel, taunting.

  “Cheers.” Gabriel’s breath came in ragged pulls. The ground shot up into a cocoon and trapped Ivory; Gabriel dropped out of the sky and leaned against a battered restaurant sign that read Closena. He grinned wryly. “Thank God that bootleg got demolished.”

  He gathered a handful of flooring, shaping it into a rifle. “I’ll just use light as my ammo.” He aimed through a makeshift scope.

  Crack.

  Crack.

  Crack.

  Ivory busted out of the cage— his eyes spiralling as he began to drool, bloodlust.

  “Just like Zero aren’t you.” Gabriel grimaced as he shot the light bullet.

  .

  .

  .

  ??

  “You lose!” Ivory caught the bullet with his left arm— gripping onto the beam of light as he was fleering. “Was that your gambit? Is this why you are only the fourth!”

  Gabriel’s mask shifted— it was frowning as he looked down to the ground. His mind raced only to one thought,

  These people are on a different league.

  Gabriel faltered to the ground— unconscious.

  “Dododododo!” Ivory was yodelling— he was skipping throughout the destroyed city to walk to the Castle, in his left arm was Gabriel— lying unconscious; whilst in his right was the Imp who was asleep.

  “That was fun! I’ll fight someone stronger though next time— you are quite weak.”