“Oh dear. You’re putting me on the spot here. Just what am I supposed to say?”


    “Well, for starters…” she replied, her grip tightening as the cracks in the wall began to spread. “…You could try answering my damn question.”


    “Alright, alright. Just please, let me go.”


    She complied, releasing him. They were nearly the same height, so he wasn’t dangling or anything, though that would have been pretty funny.


    With a heavy sigh, Finral shot a glare at Tenshi before locking his gaze back onto Victor’s eyes, which Akuma -having been the only one who noticed- found rather peculiar.


    “I assume you’re aware that I used Jacob’s Ladder to eliminate those humans.”


    “We were just discussing that, actually. We couldn’t figure out the category you used.”


    “A disease.”


    “Huh?”


    “The people of Earth are afflicted by a disease that rapidly forms chains around the soul, containing and consuming the starlites they generate. It spreads quickly among humans. If I had left them any longer, who knows how far it could have gone.”


    “So, the category was anyone with that disease?”


    “Yes. Everyone infected was eliminated to stop its spread.”


    “Tuh. Couldn’t you have just cured it? I know you have the power. After all, Rin over there doesn’t seem to be affected.”


    “About that…”


    “Spit it out, Apollo.”


    “As I mentioned, it’s highly contagious to humans. The only ones who can overcome it are those with non-human blood.”


    “You don’t mean…”


    “Yes. I’m only half human, inheriting that from my father, while my mother was a Spirit. Since Rin is my distant descendant, she has some spirit blood in her. That’s why I was able to cure her. It’s also the reason I limited her interactions with other humans and trained her in the only place on Earth that’s uninhabited.”


    Rin''s face reflected a mix of shock and betrayal, directed at her grandfather for revealing such a significant secret at this moment and not before. They could almost hear her thoughts racing, questioning how he could keep this from her for so long.


    "H-How could you… grampa.” she stammered, still reeling from the revelation.


    “I’m sorry Rin, I didn’t mean to keep it from you. I just couldn’t find the right time.”


    "Okay, grandpa…” She went, still reeling in confusion. Just what did this mean for her? “…Can you at least tell us why Tenshi is still around? His seals were only recently broken by Sanzang, and how could they have been destroyed if, as you said, you need to be non-human?"


    Finral hesitated, unable to provide an answer, citing a promise made long ago. In his words: “I’m sorry, but I cannot answer that. I promised someone long ago that I wouldn’t.”


    Victor, unable to contain her frustration, bellowed, "Our lives are at stake, and you can''t share important information because of a damn promise?! Are you going senile, you old fart?!"


    “What about Alice.”


    “?”


    “I just ran into her earlier. She seemed pretty alive to me. You gonna tell me she’s not human either?”


    Once again, he paused, clearly wrestling with a thought he was reluctant to voice.


    "Her situation is unique... she is indeed human, but someone or something must have cured her illness upon her arrival here. I’m not sure what though."


    Victor scoffed, dismissing his uncertainty.


    "Oh, blow me. The all-knowing Apollo, and you’re not sure? I know your Infinite is knowledge. ‘Not sure’ my ass!"


    (Oh yeah. I forgot about that whole Olympian thing. So, his power is knowledge. Guess that must’ve been why he knew me when we met the first time.)You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    "Look, you''re confusing the rookies. They don''t realize you''re joking... For the Olympians to become divine beings, as well as to receive their Infinites, they have to drink the blood of Zues. I never drank the blood of Zues, so I never received an Infinite. My ability to know all things stems from my ‘Constellation Arts: Book of David’.”


    “Same damn difference!!” Victor sighed, before shifting her focus back to her holographic display. “Aw, whatever. I’ll let you off the hook this once.” “Just make sure to keep Jacob’s ladder out of the wrong hands. It could wipe us all off.”


    “Will do.”


    A strange ache settled in Akuma’s heart, a mix of anger and confusion directed at Finral. How could he have taken the lives of those humans? Surely, there had to be another way, right? There’s always another way. Yet, paradoxically, a part of him felt a twisted sense of satisfaction at the news of their demise… He despised this feeling. Just why was he so torn between the two sensations? This internal conflict has plagued him ever since his return from that cursed Library, where he relieved Hakari’s life in vivid detail. Or I guess his life?


    “Alright, everyone. We have a lot on our plate, and honestly, I’d love nothing more than to confront Lucifer right now. But we need to prioritize. Our immediate objectives are twofold. First, we must resurrect Nana, the Queen of Diamonds, as she will be crucial in our fight against the gods. To achieve this, we need the peach of immortality to nourish the child who currently houses her spirit…”


    (She must mean that little girl with purple hair.)


    “…Secondly, is Gaia. For some reason, the sun has been obliterated, leading to the deterioration of Gaia’s soul.” Rin, Tenshi, and Sanzang shot me accusatory glares as she spoke. Seriously, guys, it’s not like I blew the damn thing up or anything. “…Normally, I would have restored it in an instant, but with my powers sealed, we’ll need to find an alternative method to revive Gaia’s soul… And then there’s our most significant challenge… Zeus, Kibuka, T.S.B.J, Hades, Atlas, and Amaterasu. As long as I hold this string, the lesser gods will be sealed within a separate world. But as we know, anything could happen. This might sound a bit heavy, but if the time comes where I let this go, assume the end of the world.”


    “End of the world, huh?” Wukong finally stirred, his voice steady despite the weight of her words. “I can assure you this: If that day ever comes, I will put all of them in their place… I’ll never let this world fall apart.”


    The room fell silent, all eyes fixed on him as if he had uttered something forbidden. This wasn’t mere bravado, no, it felt deeper. Akuma didn’t know him well -their conversation in the Library had been brief- but he genuinely believed he had the strength to back up his claim.


    “Those are some bold statements…” Victor responded, her spirits visibly lifted by his confidence. Akuma could see the spark of hope igniting within her. “…To wrap up my presentation, I’ve organized three distinct teams to tackle our objectives. The first team, consisting of the four Saints and Wukong, will focus on restoring Gaia’s soul and ensuring her protection. The second team will include Sanzang, myself, and an old acquaintance of mine who is currently shitting his guts out. Damn coward. We’ll be making a trip to the underworld for some urgent business… Lastly, we have the amateurs. Rin, Tenshi, Akuma, Arthur, Kyoko, and Shibo will be joined by Apollo as they set off on a journey to the west.”


    “You mean…” Sanzang interjected, seeking clarification.


    “Yep. They’ll be heading to the spirit realm, where they can find the peach of immortality and revive Kyoko. I’m sure you two know all about that one.”


    “It’s going to be a challenging quest…” Wukong remarked. “…But I believe you all will manage.” For some reason, he shot Akuma a pointed look as he said that. Was it perhaps a nod to his abilities or just a hint of sarcasm…


    “Alright team. Let’s kick ass!”


    As they all prepared for their upcoming adventure, they decided to indulge in some lighthearted fun before setting off, joining in on the card game that the trio had been engrossed in earlier. For those who might not know the rules of “bullshit!”, each player takes turns placing cards face down while declaring their rank. The catch is that the card must follow the one laid down before it. Of course, if you don’t have the right card, you’ll need to bluff your way through, but beware -if someone calls your bluff, you’ll have to pick up the entire pile.


    They must have played over fifty rounds, and the only one who didn’t manage to win even once was Tenshi. What a loser. I mean even Simo won. And that guy might just be blind.


    Finally, the day of their departure arrived.


    Victor had installed a teleporter that linked H.Q to every continent except Kukizer, likely due to Troy taking up a significant portion of the continent.


    “The Amateurs” as Victor would say, found themselves transported to the Kingdom of Bushin by that very teleporter, right at the dock where a large ship awaited them. It was a vessel that could easily accommodate an entire crew, though I couldn’t tell you its name since I’m no maritime expert.


    Regardless, this was the exhilarating feeling Akuma had longed for since his arrival to this world. It felt like the beginning of a grand adventure, and while I usually shy away from being overly corny quotes, I must say, my friend, this truly feels like… the Odyssey of God.


    Oh, and if you’re wondering about their destination, there’s a small island to the west, near Troy, rumored to be home to a dragon. If you ask it nicely, it’s said to take you to the spirit realm.


    “Hey, before you all head out.” Victor called out to Akuma as Tenshi and Arthur hurriedly boarded the ship.


    “Hm? What’s up.”


    “Listen. There’ll be a time in your journey when Apollo will have to leave to take care of some business. It may not be much from me, but I promise you can trust him. And while he’s away, I’m trusting you to be in charge of everyone’s life. Apart from Apollo and Wukong, you’re the strongest fighter we have… Look, what I’m trying to say is… just come back alive. Okay?”


    “Yes ma’am!” Akuma replied, giving a playful salute, trying to embrace the pirate spirit. Though, he quickly felt more like a marine than a scallywag.


    (Crap, I messed that up.)


    “Also, I’ve been thinking about what you mentioned regarding breaking Alice’s Yang barrier. While I don’t have the ability to influence her soul right now, if her enlightenment will do the trick, then I believe she should accompany you on this journey.”


    “?”


    “Come on out, Alice.”


    Walking out from behind her was Alice, stepping forward, shyly and adorably, as if she were introduced as a new pet to a neighbor. Her attempt to avoid eye contact and the way she fidgeted with her thumbs only added to her charm. And just when Akuma was in the middle of gawking, that blasted panda of hers started barking again. Wait, do pandas even bark? The hell kind of panda is this? Must be Gaia exclusive.


    “Uh-um… Hi, Akuma.” she said, her voice trembling slightly as she finally met his gaze. I hate to admit it, but even my heart fluttered when I think about it. Aw, who am I kidding. I won’t stand here and lie to you. I love to admit it.


    It was as if the world around him faded into a blur, leaving just the two of them suspended in this moment. He could feel the weight of her gaze, a mixture of curiosity and something deeper, something that hinted at the unspoken connection that was beginning to forge.


    “You called me Akuma… Did Victor tell you my name?”


    “N-No… she didn’t. It just came to me when I first saw you.”


    There was something about that answer that filled Akuma with an exhilarating joy, reminiscent of a young boy finally finding the courage to speak to his crush. It was a simple name, yet it felt like a secret shared between them, a little piece of intimacy that made Akuma’s heart race.


    In that moment, Ihe felt a wave of emotion wash over him, as if he’d finally stepped into the pages of a shojo manga, where every glance and every word held the weight of a thousand unspoken feelings. This was a moment in his life where he had to be bold.


    And so, he reached out his hand, feeling the warmth radiating from her presence. After a brief pause, she took it, her fingers trembling slightly against his skin. Then, he gently pulled her closer, surprising her with the sudden intimacy of the gesture. Time seemed to freeze as they locked eyes, the world around them fading into a distant hum. In that moment, Akuma felt an overwhelming desire to share so much more. He wanted to share his dreams, his fears, the stories they created thus far, anything really. Hell, he’d have been fine just telling her about the first time the two met. But he held back, understanding that for now, this was all he could give… just for now.


    With that, the eight of them -Tenshi, Rin, Arthur, Shibo, Kyoko, Alice, Finral, and Akuma- set off on their journey to the west.