Apotheosis [Sternmord]

Kneel. The word itself was a hard thing to even justify in this situation. Whatever could be happening, it was happening far too quick. They were "killed", removed from life, without even so much as a second thought on their on behalf. They were given the choice, live as a new soul, a new being, or die as you lived, and never reincarnate into what you should have been. It was hardly a choice, and Isaac had agreed with the sort of ease that a man with a rope around his throat agreed to say his last words. There was nothing left to say or do, Isaac's mind pondered, the queer thought of this entire situation only furthering the sense of paranoia and far, You either die or you die and live again.

Isaac kneeled, however so. He no longer questioned the responses given, he no longer wondered if this was his last moment. He had not been promised salvation or a better life, he had been demanded to deal with the one he was about to go into. They gave you a choice, his mind reminded, the thought running down his body, numbing every sensation. You could have died Isaac and have been buried as Isaac.

There was no comfort in the man's sermons. He spoke of their resolve, and that their duty would be intertwined with the justified. He spoke further, that they had a purpose, that this entire charade was to be justified by some sort of fate. None of it felt warm to Isaac, however, the speech that might have the use to inspire the three who now kneeled infront of him only brought on skepticism. Yet he showed none, the thoughts were buried behind blind and stupid loyalty. There was no response, only cold eyes, as Isaac prepared for what was to come next.

Caskets was what to come. Their burial, their death, came next. They floated down, drawn to fate like a moth to the lantern of the Styx's ferryman. Within was a vial and another object, which did not draw Isaac's attention. The demand was simple: drink your death, so that you may be reborn. The response was tilled, drink it but do not die, and Isaac could see why. The vial, as he reached out to grasp, burned against his hand. The burn came from what was within, the hellish content was Hollow, and even within the vial made to contain it did it burn against the Quincy's body. It was repulsive, yet Isaac knew what was required, and even if the very thought of taking in what was within into his body made him sick, he could not question it, not now anyways. If he had, he might as well have walked into the casket and allowed himself to be carried down the ai.

So he drank. Even if it was difficult to properly turn the vial and drink while kneeling, he drank, and the moment the liquid left the vial and came into contact with his skin, it drove itself in and down his throat. It was too quick to vomit back up, too quick to possibly spit out, it was a Hollow, and was determined to take over the body of those stupid enough to consume it. The feeling was horrific when it slid fully into his body, as if molten slag had replaced every ounce of blood in his body, every muscle inside of his body burned. His soul screamed out in agony as it fought the battle with the Hollow, and Isaac could feel the wane of what he just did come over his body. His eyesight went blurry, twisting and turning as he felt the uncontrollable urge to loose his stomach into the waters below. His posture stumbled, but he kept his predominant foot solid on the ground, even if he had to use one of his hands to stable his body to stop himself from loosing consciousness and his own balance.

The pain did not subside even after the dizziness and shock did, it still burned in every part of his body and his soul, too, screamed along with it. He remained kneeling however, unable to utter a response unless he wanted to loose his stomach and be reduced to a petty failure infront of the other two. He kept his eyes trained to the floor, and his mouth shut, even if it was apparent he was doing all of this to remain even somewhat respectable infront of those around him.

"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" - Mathews 16:26

What would Christ say, if he were alive in this world, at this very moment? Witnessing this exchange in the dark, a life taken, and a weapon created? What would he say to Gareth, to Abhrams, to Niklaus and to Isaac, for not having the courage to die with their own skin, and instead be subject to this horrific change? Part of Gareth wished that he would be pardoned for not having a choice.

But what say he to the Richters, who have blasphemed and twisted his convictions towards the universal love of mankind into forcibly murdering and killing all those in front of them for the greater good? Gareth was not stupid. Christ's name had been used in many a war, many a conflict and many a manipulation in order for the masses to submit to a corrupt cause, but this memory was fresh in his mind: In one fell stroke, the Catholic church has destroyed everything he had cared about, everything he had believed in, and physically corrupted the last bastion of what Gareth felt was sacred to each individual, their soul-- in exchange for power.

"You're now Sternmord. Quincy infused with Hollow abilities. You are the bloody-handed sword that purges the Stars from the rebels and Hollows alike. Unlike a Hollow, you do not require to feed on Souls. You are still a Quincy; You are still an executioner of evil spirits and forces. You have simply harnessed their predatorial powers to bring a ruthless end to their existence."

He had suspected as much. While Richter Abhrams' answer did not directly respond to his question, the explanation was more than sufficient for the quincy to comprehend. "Your soul has been given the ability. But your strength comes from this tube. It contains the energy of a Hollow. Using it as catalysator, you will enter Blutengel. Your final form in battle." This little tube contained a power that would give him the power of an Angel. Or so the Richter said. He picked it from the box, then placed the container on the floor, and rolled the little flask in his hand. The trigger mechanism was similar to that of the Gintou tube, and Gareth instinctively understood its mechanism. The soul inside him already came pre-programmed with the knowledge.

"What is our assignment, Richter?"