An Informal Meeting (The Leviathan) (05/26/2022)

The Roundtable was having a scheduled meeting. They were discussing new containment procedures and potential upgrades to Geo-7. However, during the talks, the lights dimmed and their devices started to malfunction. “What the fuck is happening? Thunder, did you not recharge the generator?” Specter asks with an annoyed tone. Thunder responds defensively, “I charged it to 100% just an hour ago. Plus the tablets and phones are glitching, so it has to be something other than the power.” Then, a puff of pitch black smoke appears out of the corner with an elegant yet condescending voice emanating from it, saying, “So these are that green hat brat’s new friends?” The smoke dissipates and absorbs into the being.

He’s wearing a pitch black suit without a single stain to speak of on it. He stands tall, with his hands in front of him. He’s giving a grin, bearing his sharpened teeth. Strongman gets up and advances toward the intruder, but is blown back by an unknown force into the wall. “Is that how you greet guests?” The man asks in a disappointed tone. He then creates his own chair and sits down at the table opposite of Archangel. He looks up and down at Archangel sizing him up before giving a scoff. “Gods, I hate looking at you. You look too much like him.” Archangel looks a bit nervous but keeps his composure and responds, “Would you be so kind to clarify who you speak of? There's many 'hims' in this facility alone.” The man is taken aback a bit, and answers, “Well, you certainly are way more formal and put together than him. And by him, I mean your counterpart. From *my* universe.” Archangel’s eyes go wide and his temperature runs hot. “Does that mean, you are…?” He starts with a shakiness in his voice. There’s only a few things that can catch Strongman off guard. His ability prevents him from anyone getting the jump on him. He’s been through hundreds of trials in the field. It would have to take someone completely off the charts to slip by his abilities undetected. The man flashes a menacing grin once more and finishes Archangel’s sentence, “Levi Abaddon. You may have heard of me.”

The room goes silent. Witch gets up and casts an arcane missile at Levi. Levi simply lifts his finger as if shushing and the magic blast vaporizes completely. He looks at Witch and says, “So impulsive. I would sit down if I were you.” Reptile shouts, “Masks on everyone!” before jumping on the table and breaking several phials. The Roundtable Council put on their masks with filters and watched Levi, to which he simply stared. He finally breathes in, which takes out all the toxic fumes in the room into his nostrils with one inhale. He breathes out cinder and smoke. “Okay, you can stop playing around with your toys now. Sit down, and let me speak.”  With a wave of the hand, jet black chains coiled around each Roundtable member. Void Walker tried to slip their body out of the chains using their veil, but it completely disintegrated. “Impossible…” Void says to himself. Seeing this, Specter tries to phase through the chains and gets burned as soon as they try. They let out a pained yell before growling at Levi, “Fuck you, you 'Prince of Darkness' wannabe piece of shit.” Levi looks over with an amused face. “Feisty, I guess not all of you are as polite as your leader here,” he comments before covering Specter’s mouth with more chains.

He looks back at Archangel and continues, “I’ve been watching you. You and your little... organization. I know you’ve been talking with a sort of... rival of mine. He’s quite the character... Always getting in my way.” Levi clenches his fists, tightening the chains subtly, but then he clears his throat and adjusts himself. Archangel inquires, “What would your plans be in the ultimate scheme of things, Levi? I don't believe we ever got your side of the story.”

“My plans? Well, mostly to spread my love across all Worlds. Bring salvation across all of existence. Peace and order can only be achieved by having one ruler. What better ruler is there that knows order than yours truly?”

“How would you go about keeping order and peace across the Multiverse?” the Archangel asked, with genuine curiousity in his voice.

“It’s simple, let everyone know how great my power is. I can do anything. I can fulfill everyone’s desires and everyone’s wishes. They’ll believe in me. They’ll worship me. Why do you think the Havelocks came here, as they’ve done to dozens of universes? I’ve given them everything they wanted, and showed them the truth. They seek to complete my dream and theirs. Your universe is just another vessel that needs a bit of...discipline. I can’t have anyone in my way, you see?”

Wizard speaks up for the first time since Levi arrived, “Then why talk to us and not just kill us right now if you’re so able to?” Levi looks at Wizard and answers, “Killing people myself is messy, and I hate getting blood on my suit. I like to let others do it for me. At least it was always like that until that cretin came into the picture. But besides that, I’m giving you a chance. All of you. To join the cause. You’re all weak right now, but under me, you’ll be more powerful than any threat that’ll come your way. Like a certain one that seems to be on the loose…?” Levi grins at Wizard and he looks away in shame. Archangel speaks up, “I appreciate your offer, Levi, but I will have to decline. The CACG doesn’t wish to control anything, only to protect our world and analyze anomalies. It would be against my morals.”

Levi frowns before bearing his teeth and snarling, “You’re just... like... **him.** I guess no matter what World you come from, you *frustrating little **brats*** share the same thing: ignorance and stubbornness. You’ll never understand what I’m doing for all of you.” He gets up and adjusts his suit again. “Then I believe this meeting is over. If you so wish to be foolish and continue to work with that idiot, then I guess we’re done here. In time, your World will fall eventually to my love. I would consider making your peace with anyone else that chooses to be a heathen.” Levi bows and walks through the wall in a puff of smoke. At the same time, the black chains unwrap and dissolve into smoke.

The Roundtable all catch their breath. “Who the fuck was that?!” Reptile exclaims. Wizard goes to check on Specter. “Director, are you okay?” Thunder asks. Archangel clears his throat and gives a thumbs up. He stares at the wall where Levi disappeared. He mumbles, “A Pillar of Reality in the flesh...” remembering what the Seraph, Dr. Kam, and Techno-Mechanic told him. It was that moment he realized that Levi was everything they told him. He knew that the CACG alone couldn’t stop him and that something dark was coming to the Grail eventually. He picks up his tablet and contacts the Elysian Sanctuary, under the High Priority Line. The line connects with the Seraph replying “What’s up, Arch?”

“Seraph, we... the Roundtable just came in contact with the Leviathan.”

Seraph stays silent for a few seconds and all he could mutter was,

“Fuck.”