"Human currency is useless in Sanctuary, and I've grown to not desire it. We only deal in trading resources and territory."

"His only desire is to absorb and evolve. Luckily he's been in hibernation for the past few months. But we've been having seismic activity recently near where he was last seen."

Omega sighed, "Manus is the third of my species, and by far the most dangerous. He can absorb energy and the very life force of whatever he touches. He's a mindless raging monster, and that's coming from us. So far we haven't found a way to permanently stop him."

The man in the gold podium, the one they met earlier, leaned in, 'Ruby... I thought I recognized that name. Queen Omega didn't you say Eresa had a vision...?' Omega shushed him, "Later Titan, I want to brief them about Manus first."

The woman then gave a cherry smile, 'Well our Queen certainly knows how to pick a bunch.' She gave a glance at Geo, 'Especially a good looking one at that.' "Phodite please be respectful. They're our guests."

The member from the crystal podium then leapt down to inspect the two, she was slightly taller than Ruby. Her dress was made of very thin, almost feather-like crystals, almost like a peacock

Then Omega gestured her hand towards Ruby and Geo, "But the cause for this meeting was not only to speak about the occurrences of recently, but because these two helped us push back Siris and her Ravagers." All eyes then turned towards the two, whispering to each other.

'Manus is the "doppleganger" me and Mom were talking about. You think the Grimm are bad, he's SATAN compared to them.' Omega continued speaking, "Manus is too dangerous to be let loose like a wild animal, especially with how close Siris is to the Well of Souls."

[1] Omega shot the council member a glare, "As I had said before in a previous meeting Ares, other Ravager packs are not entirely in contempt with what Siris is doing. NO ONE wants a Civil war, especially with Manus's activity starting to surge."

Omega took her place on her podium before the rest of the Council went quiet, "We all know why I pulled this meeting together. The recent uprising of Ravager raids." The council member from the magma covered podium slammed his fist down, 'You still spare them despite all they've done?'

Omega and Gamma led them both in, the room itself was massive, while the man they met earlier sat on the golden podium, and Omega took her place on the black obsidian podium. They noticed 7 more podiums, all whispering to each other.

She pushed the door open for the group to enter, "Keep close to Gamma."

"Ares is our General, he was on the frontlines alongside me in the War. He..." She paused, trying not to paint too graphic of a picture in her words, "Let's just say he doesn't like humans very much."

The man glanced at Geo, seemingly inspecting him before he looked at Omega, 'You know Ares will throw a fit.' "Ares will have to get over it. They have as much of a right to be here as he does." He shook his head, 'Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you.' He walked past the door.

[1] Omega smiled softly at Ruby, "Just in time to, seems the final member of the Council finally arrived." The air began to thicken as the hairs on their necks began to stand, before a lightning bolt suddenly struck the ground behind them as a man, taller than Omega herself stood straight.

She frowned, "I only sent 3. One for you, Shade, and Ruby." She was actively concerned now.

She glanced at him, "Yes dear?" She was fixing Gamma's dress.

Omega had noticed the blush before smiling, "I figured I'd come check on you before I go meet the rest." She glanced around, "Where's Ruby...?"

"Right here." She walked out from behind the trees, wearing a jaw dropping royal dress, adorned with several color matching gems, obsidian colored fabric, and a black gold crown. Fitting attire for a fitting Queen.

'I hate these meetings, Mom always makes me wear this damn dress!' Gamma huffed, glancing around for Ruby and Joke-Explainer

Geo had arrived at the base of Stormfront Peak. Gamma was already there waiting for him, wearing some sort of 'royal' attire, despite having a look on her face that she wanted to rip it right off herself.

@shade-and-others.bsky.social Omega had given a formal invitation to the gang about the latest meeting with the High Council. Do they accept?

She nodded, "I could attempt that, it always seems to target the strongest source of energy and make a beeline for it."

She shook her head, "I've tried entrapment. It feeds off energy, the very life force of anything it touches. It starts out at a 'larval' stage before it evolves as it consumes more. If there isn't enough to consume, it reverts back to its 'larval' stage.

"A certain member of my kingdom." She rolled out a scroll, it had a drawing of what looked like her, except a more hulkish, black and red, copy of her. "How can you kill something that REFUSES to stay dead."

"Answers." As much as she hated this option, she had a certain 'someone' to get rid of.

Hannah nodded, 'I've done all that I could to give Omega the life she needed.' Gamma seemed to relax a bit, watching Omega and Ruby, possibly bringing back memories of simpler times.

"If you can call it that. A certain member of Sanctuary has gone missing. I don't exactly know why nor do I care, but I'm more afraid of him coming here, or anywhere else."

"Giving me bad memories of a certain madman's experiments."

She smiled softly, that same motherly smile that she would always have, "It's my pleasure." Back at the shed, Gamma, Dr Hannah, and Geo could see the two bonding. Dr Hannah smiled softly.

She rubbed Ruby's back, "I know... I know.." This... Wasn't the first time she's had to do this. After the war, so many families were broken...

She hesitantly put a hand on her shoulder before pulling her into a hug, "It's alright Ruby."

Her instincts kicked in before she hobbled over, "Ruby..." She sat down next to her, "What's wrong."

She glanced at Geo before sighing as she walked after Ruby, wincing with every movement.

She hesitated before nodding, "If you need anything. I'm right here."

"You look upset.... Is something wrong?" Omega shakily got up, before walking over to her.

Gamma glanced at Geo before getting up, despite Dr Hannah's protests, 'I'm fine. I need to go tell Titan about what happened here, the Council is going to have questions.' Omega nodded, before she looked at Ruby.

The woman began to tend to Gamma's wounds as Omega nuzzled Geo softly, letting out a low purr.

She nodded before bolting off towards the docks. This wouldn't be the last time they meet, knowing her luck.

She hesitated before offering her hand in a gesture of thanks, "I appreciate it. I truly do."

She nodded, a more serious tone now across her face, "And I'm assuming you're not coming with?"

She nodded, "Everything comes with a cost. And trust me, overlords and sinners will sleep better with him out of Hell sooner than later."

She frowned, "I'm more concerned about locating him than I am killing him."

"You make it sound like it's easy... The only way we've found to actually stop him IS to starve him out, but it'd take hours of him constantly expending power."

She frowned, "That's the issue. He's not one to hide if he's in his final stage. It's a mindless, aggressive animal driven only on a simple goal: Kill and Feed... I've seen entire armies fall to him within hours."

"It's another clade of my species. Much like me, the only one of his kind. She can absorb energy and incorporate it into himself. What's worse, there isn't a clear way to KILL him. We've tried everything from beheading to concealing. His regeneration makes demons like you jealous."

She nodded, "Although I'm more or less looking for someone. Although my suspicion is now not needed, seeing how most of Hell is unscathed."