Villain Retirement

Chapter 1184: How Are You, Riley?

"Where are we, Fate?"

"In a world without you, Riley Ross."

Riley stood in front of a boutique window, gazing at his reflection in the antique television displayed on the other side of the glass. He looked down at himself—gray hoodie, baggy pants—the clothes he used to wear before everything… changed.

He turned to Fate. And she, too, had shed her usual divine appearance, now dressed in a simple floral one-piece. If not for her silver hair and glowing white eyes, she could have passed for just another person on the street.

And yet, despite the way her eyes glowed, none of the people passing by them seemed to care, like they couldn't see her. Or him.

A woman walked straight toward Riley, her eyes distant. He instinctively started to step aside to make way, but there was no need—she walked right through him, completely unaware of his presence.

"This world isn't real," Fate said, gesturing for him to walk with her. "It's a simulation I created, a reflection of the fate your world should have followed…

"...Although," she added after a beat, "calling it your world may be inaccurate. It never truly was."

Riley said nothing as he followed. His gaze drifted to the quiet night street—damp pavement shimmered under neon lights, cars hummed by, and pedestrians moved without a care for anyone else. A painfully ordinary evening.

It felt… strange.

When was the last time he'd walked like this? Just walked—no purpose, no violence, no chaos. Just the rhythm of footsteps and the hush of city noise. He couldn't remember.

Well, then again, his normal days were odd in the first place—this normalcy had always been foreign to him.

"Odd, isn't it?" Fate glanced at him. "A world without you?"

"Every world I have visited is a world I do not exist in," Riley replied with a shrug. "I have seen this before. Multiple times in the multiverse."

"No," Fate said, shaking her head as her eyes scanned the street. "Not like this."

She spotted a café up ahead and picked up her pace.

"This is a world where you truly never existed."

Riley followed silently, waiting for her to continue her words. But she didn't. Instead, Fate walked into the café and, to his surprise, interacted freely with the staff. She ordered drinks, spoke like anyone else, and no one gave it any thought.

"I assume you'd like a hot milk, Riley Ross?" she asked without turning.

"Yes," Riley replied.

"Good. Find us a seat, preferably by the window."

Riley didn't respond. He just stared at Fate for a moment, even as she turned her back to place the order. But after a few seconds of watching her talk with the cashier, he found a seat by the window, one that faced the street outside.

No one acknowledged him. No glances, no reactions. People continued to walk right through him as if he were a ghost.

He sat and looked out at the city, quietly waiting for Fate. It truly didn't feel any different from the other universes he had visited. At least, not yet.

He hadn't explored this world fully, and it was time to change that.

He sent out a telekinetic pulse across the entire planet and out into the vast expanse of the universe. He felt the familiar hum of life—ordinary people living ordinary lives. Strange.

Hannah, of course, was the first presence he recognized. She flew across the sky, still seemingly active as a superhero. Judging by her appearance and energy, she seemed younger here. At what point in time was this version of the world?

Aerith was also present, even higher above, calmly listening to the world below.

Despite the calm, despite the normalcy… Riley couldn't sense what was different. If this world truly was without him, it didn't feel all that unusual from the other variants of the universe. Just… quieter.

And as he was lost in thought, Fate took a seat beside him and placed their drinks on the table.

"So," she whispered, "Have you seen what's different about this world?"

"No."

"Understandable," she nodded, taking a sip of her iced latte. She then extended her hand to the window, running her fingers along the glass, leaving streaks on it. "This is a single universe, Riley Ross. No multiverses. No branches, no divergences. Just this—much like mine, as fate intended."

"Hmm?"

Fate didn't look at him. Her eyes remained on the glass. "The multiverse of this dimension exists because of you."

Riley tilted his head slightly.

"My realm and yours were never meant to connect," she continued. "And yet… here we are. Somehow, they did. And the only explanation I have is you. Your existence fractured the natural order. Your universe… is trying to fix itself by connecting my dimension to yours. You are a paradox it cannot reconcile—and so, it called for me. Fate."

She finally turned to him.

"You, Riley Ross, were born too early."

"I already know that," Riley replied, shaking his head before taking a small sip of his warm milk. "I have been told that before. I was not supposed to be born yet. That was why I instinctively want to destroy this universe—so that mine can begin."

"That much is true," Fate said with a casual shrug. "But you still don't understand the full extent of what you are. I could tell you…"

She paused before her breath turned into a sigh.

"But it is not my fate to do so. That role belongs to another."

Fate's hair began to extend and drift wildly through the café, writhing behind her before starting to glow, shaping itself into the silhouette of a gate, turning into a portal of silver strands.

"The one who can tell you everything lies beyond this portal, Riley Ross," Fate said as she stood up, still holding her iced latte. She walked toward the portal, which remained tethered directly to her head.

"Finish your milk, and then follow me when you're ready."

And with that, she stepped through.

"Hmm." Riley remained seated for a moment, silent. He glanced outside—then, just as instructed, he calmly finished his warm milk as he watched everything.

And after a few minutes, he rose, walked to the portal…

…only to bump his face against it.

"Hmm?" Riley blinked several times, then leaned forward again—only for his nose to press and flatten against the portal's shimmering surface. He reached out with his hand, but the surface was completely solid.

And as he pushed against it, the portal suddenly cracked, shattering like glass.

But what fell wasn't shards.

It was hair.

Silver strands, fluttering softly as they drifted to the café floor.

"Interesting," Riley murmured, crouching to pick one up. But as he stood, he noticed something different—the people in the café were now all staring at him. Their eyes met his. They saw him now.

"Oh?" he muttered, just as a knock tapped against the window behind him.

He turned—and there she was.

Hannah. A wry smile on her face as she waved at him casually.

Riley blinked, puzzled, but made his way outside. She was already waiting for him at the door.

"Hey there, Blankface."

And with just those words, Riley knew. This was his Hannah. No illusion. No variant. No echo.

His sister.

"Sorry," Hannah forced out a chuckle, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I asked the primordials to seal you in here, Riley."

"Hmm?"

"Fate doesn't know, so don't blame her. The seal won't hold, of course." She shrugged and looked out at the glowing street. "Maybe a few years? Ten? I dunno. They told me it would collapse because... well, because of you."

"Okay," Riley said, meeting her eyes. "But why are you also here, Sister?"

"Oh, psh…" Hannah rolled her lips and waved the question away. "It's just been so long, you know? I figured I'd spend a little time with my brother. So…

…How are you, Riley?"