Villain Retirement

Sometime 8000 years ago, Earth.

The Sumerian.

The oldest recorded civilization and people on the planet. It was a time that only knew strength, but it was also a time of peace. There were wars, true—but they were wars of necessity and not greed.

At the time, people with special abilities already existed on Earth— Supers, but not yet as widespread. Their existence was few and far in between, and because of this, most of them were treated as deities…

…Gods.

And one super, stood at the top. It was said that he held the power to control the sun, but some say he was the sun himself. He was special, not just because of the power he held, but the authority that came with it.

Even without his powers, he held in his hands the life of millions.

The God King of all of Sumerian, Akkamesh.

He ruled over hundreds of thousands of people. It might seem like a few, but for that time, that population could be compared to billions. Akkamesh gained the throne from his father, who was a tyrant that did not care for the lives of his vassals.

Akkamesh, however, held a different opinion about the people… and ultimately ended his father's reign himself, he burned him in front of the world; bathing him in light until nothing of him was left. He was loved by his people, but also feared.

"Akkamesh? I do not remember that name coming up with the papers I have read, Pirate Queen Xra."

"Can you not interrupt my story? How do you know a lot about my time anyway? Wait… perhaps the Sumerian civilization still exists on— what do you call our home planet again?"

"Earth. And yes, Pirate Queen Xra. Sumerian still exists even today."

"Wh—"

"In the museums and in ancient history class."

"..."

God King Akkamesh was fair. Both men and women were given equal opportunities to rise above their stations, as long as they knew where to stand. Akkamesh was fair, perhaps too fair to the point that any injustice he sees, he will deal with without mercy or forgiveness.

He was feared for this reason. But for those that know that their conscience was clear, then Akkamesh was the best ruler they could ever ask for.

With Akkamesh's rule, their kingdom became colorful, literally. Their buildings that were made with limestones and granite were painted over to give them a vibrant look—each house, different from the rest.

Everyone had a role in his time, and that included slaves. Yes, there were slaves; but even before his rule, slaves were not treated poorly. They were by no means equal to their masters, but they were being paid for the work they did; some even had their own homes.

Slaves inherit their status from their parents, and this could lead to generations until they manage to buy themselves out of their slavery.

One family, in particular, not only bought their way out of their life of bondage but even managed to become the largest and in time, the only manufacturer of beer in the entire kingdom.

And that family only had a single heir, a woman.

Xra.

"Shara? That is a man's name in Sumeria, Pirate Queen Xra."

"You interrupted me again. And how dare you claim more than the person that was actually there?"

"Shara is the name of a god of war if I remember correctly."

"Stop remembering because all of it would be incorrect. You were not there, I was. Now, can I continue my story?"

"Okay."

"If you interrupt me again, then I will no longer tell you anything and trap you forever in my blood moon, even if it means that I would also be trapped trying to contain you."

"Then I will be inside you forever?"

"T—"

Xra was adorned by all the other women, be they young or old. Her light-brown skin was almost golden; her hair, combed and washed every day. Even more, however, was jealous of her.

Xra was kind to their servants and slaves; after all, her parents were once the same. Her friendliness stops there, however. Perhaps because of being born never needing anything, Xra has become numb to the courtings of others… and there were a lot of them.

The men give their entire life just to be noticed by Xra, but why should she even notice them if she already has everything?

Her parents were starting to get worried. How could they not, when their only child refuses to make a family of her own? Xra was young, but she had already bled—she won't always hold the beauty she holds now. 

"I feel like you are not telling me the true story, Pirate Queen Xra."

"Can you stop looking at me like that? I am telling the truth."

"Your skin is not light-brown and almost golden. Hera has that skin tone and the two of you could not be any more dissimilar."

"Didn't I tell you that if you interrupt me again, I won't tell my story anymore?"

"That is obviously a lie, Pirate Queen Xra. You enjoy having someone to finally tell your story to."

"..."

"I know the feeling. When my sister finally discovered everything, I have never felt more free—she killed me, of course."

"...Can I tell my story now, or has this become about you?"

"It has always been about me."

"..."

Xra had all sorts of suitors; many already had their own wives, promising to leave them for her. And of course, she refused them… but that was not how the men's wives saw it.

They called her a temptress, a whore. It came to the point that she would be attacked by the women even as she just leisurely takes her walk. And, of course, under the rule of Akkamesh, these women were dealt with accordingly.

"I feel like this story is only gratifying you, Pirate Queen Xra. Perhaps you can skip the parts about how beautiful you are?"

"..."

But of course, like many things, there was a certain warmth that could melt down the beautiful Xra's coldness—and that was God King Akkamesh.

"I see. I think I know where the story is going now, Pirate Queen Xra. It is a story about a woman that has everything, but can't get what she truly wants."

"We got married! Why are you so annoying!?"

"...Oh. Please, continue."

Xra and Akkamesh, in a tangle of fate that would be skipped because of a certain albino, ultimately became each other's confidant.

The two were married at the time of the day when the sun meets the moon, almost an allegory of their role to one another.

Akkamesh became Xra's sun, and Xra became Akkamesh's moon.

But only for a brief moment—because as the moon and sun would always part, so did the two by the end of the day.

Xra was killed, poisoned by Akkamesh's own people. In a fit of rage, Akkamesh slaughtered almost everyone that attended his wedding—and with their blood, Xra was born anew.

And ever since then, the once just and peaceful kingdom became astray. Xra was no longer herself, but a beast that wanted to hurt and devour everything and anything that breathes.

And due to his love for her, Akkamesh also changed.

At first, those who committed crimes were sent to Xra to be killed, tortured, and ultimately devoured. But it came to the point that it wasn't enough—and soon, even those that have done no wrong in their life were captured by Akkamesh's men to be sacrificed.

This went on for years… until Xra devoured her own family.

Akkamesh did not know. After all, he had asked his men to cover the heads of the sacrifice each time they bring them in; perhaps in a way for him not to see the monster he has become from the reflection in their eyes.

And at that very moment, when Xra realized what she had done—she asked Akkamesh to kill him. 

And so, he did. But in the condition that they would be together, forever.

Akkamesh carried Xra, and they flew into the sun.

"...At least, that was what was supposed to happen. Akkamesh died a few seconds after leaving the Earth's atmosphere… only I remained."

"..."

"I floated in the dark expanse of space embracing his corpse. Until one day, I learned to harness my abilities—and here I am now, never once did I look back."

"Very interesting story, Pirate Queen Xra. I will tell this to the Pope if he is still alive by the time I return to Earth. But… what exactly does this have to do with the Overvoid?"

"Because I died…" Xra whispered. For the entire duration of her story, the two remained embracing each other as they whispered into each other's ears; and it seemed like the two didn't have any plans of separating just yet as Xra continued to place her lips on Riley's ear,

"...and I returned."

"..."

"I returned with the urge to end any and all life, and I did. The nature of my special abilities may have been visceral and brutal, but never in my life did I think of killing people before that… but now the people that have died by my hands numbered in trillions."

"Then we are not the same, Pirate Queen Xra—I have always been evil."

"...How much do you remember the very first time you died, Riley Ross?" Xra then finally let go of Riley; looking him straight in the eyes as strands of her hair still remained latching around Riley's face.

"I was a baby when I first died, Pirate Queen Xra."

"..." Xra closed her eyes as soon as she heard Riley's words, "The Overvoid as you call it… is hell itself."

"The underworld?"

"No, more like…

…another world entirely."