Villain Retirement

Chapter 1173: Chapter 1173: Confusion

"We did it!"

Far away—no, that wasn’t quite right. Where Riley was... distance held no meaning. He existed in a dimension entirely separate from this one, unreachable and immeasurable.

While Riley was violently spreading the religion of Fate in a realm beyond comprehension, back in his home dimension, his family was celebrating.

They had done the impossible.

With the combined efforts of Hera and her variants, the intellect of two Dianas, one Renna, and—most miraculously—a surviving variant of Bernard Ross, they had finally cracked the equation.

The equation that would allow Lucy and Renna to live—without unraveling they very fabric of existence itself.

And they had done it right here, in Riley’s penthouse.

Laughter and joy filled the air. Lucifer was practically bouncing off the walls, jumping in excitement as he strangled Arthas in a bone-crushing hug. Arthas didn’t even try to stop him. Instead, his own smile stretched as wide as it possibly could.

Renna, usually as emotionless as Riley, was crying.

No—she was sobbing.

Her face was buried deep in her mother’s embrace, arms wrapped tightly around Liza as if letting go would make this moment disappear.

Everyone was here.

Hannah. Nannah. Diana. Dee. Alice. Hera. Katherine. Katrina. Liza. Esme. Karina. Arthas. Renna. Lucy. Enel... and even Aerith.

Almost everyone who mattered in Riley’s life had gathered here. Forgotten by the rest of the universe as it continued to move forward... yet still, they moved in their own way.

But then—

"Does... does this mean Dad’s coming back?"

The celebration stopped.

The energy in the room shifted. Laughter died. Silence took its place.

All eyes turned toward Lucy.

But only his mother stepped forward.

"It’s... a little more complicated than that." Katrina’s voice was gentle as she cupped her son’s cheek, her touch warm but filled with sorrow. "Your dad is... staying away for us. To keep us safe."

"But it’s done."

Lucy pulled back, looking down at his hands as if trying to feel for something.

"I can feel it. I’m not fading away anymore. You did it—you stopped the universes from colliding. Grandma, tell them!"

Diana sighed. Slowly, she turned toward Lucy before shaking her head.

"Your father’s existence—my son’s existence—is far too great and dangerous for the multiverse to handle, Lucifer." Her voice was quiet, almost reverent. "You don’t understand how powerful he is now. He could snap his fingers and erase a universe. The only reason he hasn’t... is because it would be too simple. Too... boring."

"Father would never do that."

Renna stepped forward, standing beside her brother. Her expression was sharp—unyielding. "He won’t do that while we’re here."

"It’s useless to argue with these children, Grandmother."

!!!

A sudden, violent gust of wind tore through the penthouse.

Aerith and Esme moved instantly, their bodies snapping into action as they flew toward the patio—where Aerith’Ross suddenly stood, unwelcome.

"You... what are you doing here?"

Renna’s expression darkened as she glared at the new arrival, but Aerith’Ross only smirked.

"How’s the arm?" Her tone was mocking. "I was aiming for your neck, but I keep forgetting who our father is. That one wasn’t so lucky."

She stepped forward and pointed at Karina, intending to enter the penthouse—but Aerith was faster.

She placed a hand on her chest, stopping her.

"Leave." Aerith’s voice was stern, but there was a sense of gentleness in it. "Please. This isn’t a fight you can win—and I don’t want to hurt you."

Aerith’Ross blinked. Her gaze flickered between Esme and Aerith, darting back and forth.

And then—she laughed.

A soft chuckle, followed by a small shake of her head as she lightly swatted Aerith’s hand away.

"You don’t have to be so soft with me—you’re not my mother," Aerith’Ross muttered, shaking her head as her white hair cascaded over her shoulders. "It’s another Aerith. Weird, right?"

"Another... Aerith?" Aerith blinked, her confusion evident.

"Don’t get jealous." Aerith’Ross sighed again, rubbing her temple. "I don’t know how or when it happens, but it happens. It’s weird. Anyway, I’m not here to start trouble."

She raised both hands in surrender before leaning slightly to the side, peering into the penthouse.

"Grandma called for me."

"Diana...?" Aerith’s narrowed gaze flickered between Aerith’Ross and Diana.

And Diana simply nodded.

"See?" Aerith’Ross gently pushed Aerith aside. She was about to step inside when she came to a halt—Esme still stood firmly in her way.

"I told you, I’m not here to fight, big girl." Aerith’Ross sighed. "For once, this isn’t a fight I can win. The legendary Themarian in the flesh? Trust me, I’d be asking for an autograph under different circumstances. But..."

She clicked her tongue. "Duty calls, duty calls. Oh, holy shit—is that a Bernard Ross? Where the hell did you even find him?"

Her slightly wide lips curled into a grin.

Esme didn’t say a word, simply studying her for a moment before turning away and walking back inside.

"Okay then," Aerith’Ross shivered slightly before stepping in behind her. But as soon as she entered, she was met with nothing but cold, glaring stares from the rest of the room.

She raised both hands again. "Alright, this is officially getting weird. Like... seriously weird. This whole multiverse mess has to stop at some point, right? I mean, now that most of the variants are dead and all..."

"Mom."

Hannah, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke, stepping beside Diana and gripping her wrist.

"Explain why the fuck you called her."

"Language," Diana sighed, slipping her hand free as she stepped forward. "Everyone, calm down. Okay? It’s true, I called her. I needed to show her something."

"Show her something?" Hannah’s glare didn’t waver. But then realization struck, her eyes immediately darting toward Enel’s room.

"No way—don’t tell me...?"

Diana nodded. "Yes."

She gestured for Aerith’Ross to follow her.

Aerith’Ross raised an eyebrow but ultimately shrugged, moving past the others with a smirk. "Damn, you all are acting like I just killed someone. Well... this time, I didn’t."

But as soon as Diana opened the door to Enel’s room, the smirk vanished.

Gone.

Aerith’Ross’s entire demeanor shifted as her eyes locked onto the portal.

A low hum filled the air. A faint ripple, as if space itself was unsettled by its presence.

Her body tensed.

She didn’t know why, but she felt something.

Something deep. Something... familiarly wrong.

"What... is that?"

Diana didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she calmly reached into her pocket, pulling out a photograph.

"You told us you’re from the future," she said, eyes fixed on the photo. "That your universe was born after this one died."

"Yeah." Aerith’Ross barely acknowledged the words, her focus still locked onto the portal. "And I asked you a question. What is that? Why does it... why does it feel connected to my universe? The future?"

Diana finally turned to face her, her gaze sharp.

"You also said you killed Karina," she continued. "You even brought her head to show Riley—meaning, you weren’t close at all. Not even remotely."

Aerith’Ross scoffed, crossing her arms. "And?"

Diana stepped forward, extending the photograph.

"Then explain this."

Aerith’Ross lazily glanced at the photo—

And then froze.

Her entire body stiffened, her breath catching in her throat.

Her pupils shrank.

Her feet shuffled backward.

"What...?"

Her voice barely escaped her lips.

She stared.

Stared at something impossible.

The photo in Diana’s hand...

It was her.

Smiling.

Standing beside Karina.

And not just Karina—all of Riley’s children. Together. Close. Happy.

"This..." Aerith’Ross’s voice cracked. Her fingers twitched as she slowly raised her trembling hand toward the photo.

Her mouth opened—but no words came.

"You said your universe is singular." Diana whispered.

"Only one timeline. No branching realities.

"So... why does this exist?"

Silence.

A heavy, suffocating silence.

Then—

A forced chuckle.

A nervous, shaky chuckle.

Aerith’Ross slowly turned toward the portal, her lips curling into a crooked smile.

"Well..." she exhaled, her hands gripping her own arms tightly.

"...This just got a whole lot more confusing."