Chapter 1058: Huh...?

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

"Miss... Miss Hera! I thought he was your friend!? Why... why is he doing this!? Is he really Darkday!?"

"Fuck! This is what I get for trusting that fucking genocidal maniac!"

If there was ever a time that Hera truly wanted to just be gone and far away, it was now. For some reason, however, her abilities were not teleporting her away from the danger she currently finds herself in.

And by danger, she meant Darkday - not Riley, but Darkday.

"What... what the fuck did I even do to deserve this!?" Hera could really only curse at herself as she continued to run as fast as she could - but for some reason, the fastest she could do so was not her fastest at all. Perhaps because in part that she was carrying Rose in her arms, or perhaps because of something different entirely.

Whatever the case was, she needed to run.

The sun was just brightly shining upon them just moments ago, but now it was completely gone; covered by the thick sea of clouds veiling above them.

"I'm... I'm so confused right now, Miss Hera!" Rose almost bit her tongue as Hera leaped into the air, "And honestly, a little bit scared."

"Fuck! That's it! He's trying to scare us!" Hera shook her head several times, "That's what he's trying to do! He-"

"Oh, Hera..."

And before Hera could even finish her words, Darkday's voice suddenly echoed throughout the entire sky. And not only her and Rose, but everyone was now wondering what was happening as they all stepped out of their homes.

And as soon as the people saw the dark skies, they instantly knew what it entailed and what it meant.

Darkday was back. And this time...

...there was no Megawoman to save them.

"Back into your homes, now! Go back into-"

"Hera!? Is that Hera!?"

The people in Rose's neighborhood all noticed Hera running while carrying someone, almost as if a confirmation that Darkday, was in fact, in the neighborhood.

After all, why else would a member of the Hope Guild even be here, and carrying a civilian at that?

And so, almost as if dominoes falling at the same time, the people in the neighborhood did what they were supposed to do whenever there's a disaster - panic.

"Darkday is here!"

"Run, everyone! Run!"

"Fuck... why do I even bother?" Hera just let out a groan as she looked at Rose, wondering why she was even trying to rescue her when this world would just reset once Riley was gone. And after a few seconds, she just shook her head and let Rose down...

...but not to abandon her.

"Go hide. I need to get these other guys to act right, or they're all going to die."

"I'm... confused. Is he really Darkday!?"

"It's a little more complicated than-"

"Hera, help us! Please, you-"

And before Hera and Rose could look at the people approaching them, they both watched as a rain of blood and guts showered toward them; all the people who were rushing toward them, exploding into pieces without even any hint or warning.

"I... guess that answers my question?" Rose uttered with her mouth fully opened, "We're... gonna die, aren't we?"

"I don't think that's-"

"You've grown too complacent, Hera."

And all of a sudden, it was almost as if Hera and Rose could hear drums echoing from the sky -no. They could even hear trumpets as a dark silhouette very slowly descended from the already dark sky.

"Perhaps you were starting to think that we are close, that we are friends - but I have no friends, and I never will...

... And perhaps I am the one who has grown too complacent. You are a tool for my purposes, Hera. And it is time to use you at full capacity."

"Rose, you should hide no-" Before Hera could finish her words, she felt herself falling down as her legs suddenly bent in a way they were not supposed to; her bones, now shredding her skin and flesh. But of course, her body healed itself quite fast, almost instantly, in fact. But as soon as they did so, Riley once again removed them... and this time, he prevented it from regenerating by encasing Hera in an air-tight telekinetic suit which wrapped across her entire body.

She couldn't breathe because of it, but not for long as her body adjusted her need for oxygen. "Stop! Please, stop!" Rose then rushed toward Hera to get her up, but she could not even budge her. The only thing she could really do was stretch her arms to the side and protect Hera, "Stop doing this, please!"

"I apologize, Master Rose."

"!!!"

Rose looked back, only to see another Darkday approaching them from behind.

"But whether or not this ends is not up to me," Riley let out a long and very deep sigh as he looked at Hera, "This will only end...

...once Hera does what she is supposed to do."

Hera wanted to shake her head several times, but she was completely trapped in an invisible hold. It wasn't like she was frozen, no- she knows she could move her body, and that fact was even scarier for her.

"Hera. I truly apologize for what I am about to do," Riley then crouched down as he very

slowly stretched his palm toward Hera's defenseless face,

"I will make sure this will hurt you as much as possible; mentally and physically. And for your

sake...

...I hope you don't adapt to this."

Hera's eyes widened as Riley placed his hand on her face. And all of a sudden, her body remembered who Darkday was the darkness and evil he was capable of. His violence, which

almost had no equal.

Even if she shuts down all of her pain, even if she shuts down all of her consciousness, her

body is sure that Riley will find a way to bypass that.

And so, her body did the only thing it could truly do.

Obey.

Hera closed her eyes as she did not want to see what was going to happen; the fear she was feeling, enough to cause her to literally pee.

"Where... where are we!?"

And as Hera heard Rose's voice, she quickly opened her eyes... only to find herself back in front

of the Black Tower.

Hera then quickly turned to look at Rose, and she was, indeed, there.

"We..." Hera smiled as she quickly stood up; her legs already regenerated, "We did it, Riley!"

Hera quickly rushed toward Riley to hug him, "We fucking did it! Your plan to scare me worked! Fuck... fuck! That was so nerve-wracking! I really thought I was gonna get tortured,

fuck me."

"Uh..."

Hera then noticed that Rose, Karina, Angela, and a whole lot of other people were staring at her; the expressions on their faces, completely horrified.

"Are you... okay?" Karina took in a small gulp as she looked at Hera from head to toe.

"Yes...?" Hera gently let go of Riley, "Why are all of you looking at me like that?"

"Miss Hera..." Rose then held her arm, "... You don't remember anything?" "Remember-" Hera's eyes widened as she looked at Riley and started shaking her head,

"No... you did not."

"I apologize, Hera," Riley let out a small sigh, "But I did torture you. But as expected of your

abilities...

...it made you forget the memory."