A Worthy Protege (A-006) (5/30/2022)

## Hazor, Earth-218, CRDNCE-218 [05/30/2022]

“Now, pull,” the man in the green beret says to the Director, to which he listens by pulling out a weapon from his chest. He retrieves a broadsword, with its hilt decorated in gems and metals. The Director looks at it in awe. “Cool right?” the man asks while pulling one out himself. “Its name is Reinigen, and it’s the first ever weapon from the necklace.” The Director looks at the man and smiles, “It’s such a beautiful weapon. Tell me, Seraph, how many more are there?”

“You should know. Think, it’s in the back of your head. Like a memory.”

The Director looks at Seraph in confusion then looks down at his necklace. He starts to think, and not long after reaches for the necklace again. He remembers every weapon inside the necklace, even though he’s never seen them before. He remembers a glaive, a war hammer, a shield, a long bow, the staff Priestess has, and a shotgun along with many other weapons. He knows what they are, and yet he doesn’t. His face visibly shows shock, and Seraph sees this. “Crazy, I know. That’s how I felt when I first got the necklace. I also felt it when you made that halberd when I taught you how to pull out a weapon the first time. I know exactly what it looks like and how to use it, despite only you making it and using it.”

“Teach me more, sir,” Director says with eager eyes. “Okay, even if I am your teacher, please don’t call me sir,” Seraph says while walking forward towards the targets. “It took me weeks to get Bria and the other Cherubs to just call me by my name. Seraph works too, but no sir.”

“Yes, Seraph.”

Despite them being the same person from different universes, the Director is younger than the Seraph. He also found out that he is slightly older than Hellscream, his other counterpart, as well. Because of this age difference, and him being leader of one of the most powerful organizations in the Multiverse, the Director feels the Seraph is superior to him in position, as well as an older brother. Seraph pats Director’s head and says, “Okay next, you’ll make another new weapon.” the Director nods and looks out into the horizon. Seraph continues, “It can be anything. Something that fits you, something that has a goal, something to protect, to attack, anything. The necklace will make it for you.”

The Director closes his eyes and puts his left hand on the necklace, to which it responds to his touch by glowing a soft light. The Director stands still for a while then gives a pulling motion. The weapon emerges in a flush of bright light and slowly dims to a small assault rifle. It has a collapsible stock and a drum magazine with the words “Pendragon” on it. The iron sights are made of a strange metal with a gyroscope adjacent to the left side of the first sight. Seraph whistles and says, “A draco, what does it do?” Director responds by aiming at a tree and pulling the trigger once. The bullet fires at almost the speed of light and pierces the tree, and the one behind it, and another, into what seems like 12 trees pierced by the singular bullet. The bullet disappears and a click is heard in the magazine. The holes in the trees reach a diameter of about 9 inches and start to glow. The glowing then turns into what seems like a saw made out of light and cuts the trees down in place. Seraph smiles, “Fucking nice. I knew you had more than that halberd. Also thank you for naming it something that wasn’t a set of numbers. It’s kind of a mouthful to say ‘A-006-1’.” The Director blushes and lets the draco dissipate into the air.

He looks at Seraph and requests, “Please teach me more things, I want to be effective in the field. Sitting at a desk all the time is tiring.” Seraph laughs and accepts. “Okay, let’s teach you some move-” Seraph starts before he stops. The Director looks at Seraph then his eyes widen as well. They both felt it, and they both knew: Another weapon was just added into the necklace. Like an instinct, they both reached for their necklace and pulled out a long single edged blade, it was engraved in ancient metals and was Asian in design. It was a miaodao. The two examined the blade more and then looked at each other. Seraph shrugged and tossed the miaodao into the air, letting it disappear. Director looks at the blade and keeps holding it pondering, “So there is another. But…not here.” Seraph agrees, “Yeah, someone not on our timeline. From the future it seems. Well, I guess we better not worry about it now. Let’s teach you a few things. Like being acrobatic. Gotta keep moving to keep your enemies confused and on their toes.” Creed smiles and pats the Director’s back and explains more. The Director listens with an excited expression, with the new sword still in his hands.