The atmosphere outside Zeth''s house turned both nostalgic and electric as the realization dawned upon everyone that they were witnessing a reunion of two ancient Arcana. The others exchanged curious glances, sensing the weight of the moment. The lighthearted warmth from a moment ago had now been replaced by a deeper, more profound energy that seemed to hang in the air.


    Leigh stepped closer to Arden, her expression a mix of awe and curiosity. “You know each other?” she asked softly, her voice cutting through the silence.


    Arden chuckled, releasing Zeth’s hand. “Let’s just say Justice and I go way back—farther than I even care to remember.” He turned to Zeth, raising an eyebrow. “You’ve aged well, Zeth. Better than I expected.”


    Zeth smirked. “Immortality doesn’t come with beauty perks, Fool. It’s discipline.” His eyes sparkled with humor, though his tone carried a faint edge of seriousness. “But you… you are about the same age as my son Dominic, the Magician. How did you reincarnate on Earth?”


    Before Arden could reply, Bliss broke free from Dewata’s embrace, running up to Zeth and tugging at his sleeve. “Papa, are we eating yet? I’m hungry.”


    Zeth’s hardened expression melted instantly as he knelt to ruffle her hair. “Soon, Bliss. Go ask your Mama to set the table.”


    Thesa stood beside Zeth at the entrance, her bright smile lighting her face as she welcomed their guests. Bliss ran back to her and was promptly scooped up into her arms. “You’ve all come just in time for breakfast!” Thesa announced, gesturing toward the outdoor dining table. “Come, come, the food is ready!”


    The three Goddesses and Leigh followed Thesa and Dominic’s lead, heading directly to the outdoor dining area just next to the veranda of the house entrance.


    “Sir, this way please,” Zeth gestured respectfully to the General. Akiko and Marcos escorted the General toward the house. “Well, it’s been a long time since I had this nostalgic yet refreshing ambiance,” the General said, laughing heartily.


    Zeth’s face turned serious as he glanced at Arden. “Bliss is The Sun,” he said, his voice low and steady. Arden raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further.


    “I know you have many questions, Fool,” Zeth continued, “and I have plenty to ask you as well. Let’s talk after breakfast.” The two of them followed the General and the group.


    The Felicio residence, nestled in the serene hills of Consolacion, exuded simplicity and warmth. Unlike the grandeur of the Valverde estate, Zeth’s modest home reflected a humble yet inviting charm. The house featured three bedrooms, a single toilet, and a cozy kitchen slightly elevated above the living room. A veranda adorned the entrance, leading to an outdoor dining area shaded by a sturdy fruit-bearing Atis tree. Beside it, a small garage nestled under a bang house, a spot cherished for family gatherings during Dominic’s childhood. Behind the bang house stood a tall Papaya tree, its ripe fruits filling the air with their sweet fragrance.


    The long wooden dining table was laden with a hearty Cebuano breakfast. Steaming bowls of arroz caldo, crispy danggit glistening with golden perfection, fluffy scrambled eggs, garlic fried rice, and fresh slices of mangoes and bananas adorned the table. The scent of freshly brewed sikwate coffee mingled with the aroma of warm, freshly baked pandesal. Grilled Cebu longganisa added a smoky sweetness to the spread, served with tangy vinegar infused with chili for dipping. A platter of ripe Atis and sweet Papaya fruits completed the meal, their vibrant colors matching the inviting atmosphere.


    Dominic’s eyes widened as he inhaled the tantalizing aroma. “This… this is what I missed,” he declared, practically rushing to the table.


    Thesa chuckled, her voice playful. “Dominic, slow down! The food’s not going anywhere. You act like you haven’t eaten in weeks.”


    “Technically, it’s been weeks since I had real food,” Dominic quipped, grabbing a pandesal. “No offense to Japan, but nothing beats home.”


    Buwan raised an eyebrow, leaning against the table as she helped herself to some mango slices. “You do realize you’ve been eating nonstop since we left, right?”


    “True,” Dewata added with a smirk, adjusting Bliss on her lap as the little girl nibbled on a piece of longganisa. “He even asked for extra sushi when we were at the ramen shop.”


    Bliss, in her tiny voice, chimed in. “Kuya Dominic eats too much.”


    The group burst into laughter, and Dominic held up his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright, I get it. But can I at least eat in peace without the commentary?”


    “Not a chance,” Akiko said softly, her lips curling into a faint smile as she sipped her sikwate.


    Leigh, seated across from Dominic, tilted her head with a playful grin. “You do make it easy, Dominic. You’ve practically become our walking punchline.”


    The General let out a hearty chuckle, watching the banter unfold as he poured himself a cup of sikwate coffee. “It’s good to see you all relaxed for once. Feels like we’ve been running on fumes for weeks.”


    Arden, seated quietly near the end of the table, looked around at his companions. “It’s moments like this that remind me why we keep going,” he said, his voice thoughtful.


    Zeth, who had been observing with a bemused expression, finally spoke up. “Arden’s right,” he said, his tone steady but warm. “Strength isn’t just about what you can do. It’s about the people you stand with. If you can laugh like this after everything you’ve faced, then you’re already stronger than you know.”


    A thoughtful silence fell over the group as they absorbed Zeth’s words. Even Dominic, for once, appeared reflective.


    “Well said, Zeth,” the General replied, raising his cup in acknowledgment. “Now let’s make sure we’re strong enough for what’s coming.”


    Thesa clapped her hands together, breaking the moment with her cheerful tone. “Alright, enough serious talk! There’s still plenty of food, and I won’t have anyone leaving this house hungry.”


    The conversation lightened again as the group returned to their plates. Buwan teased Dewata about spoiling Bliss, who was now perched on her lap, happily munching on a mango slice. Akiko listened quietly, occasionally interjecting with dry humor that earned chuckles from the others. Leigh and Dominic, meanwhile, debated whether garlic rice or plain rice paired better with danggit.


    As the plates were cleared and the morning air settled into a comfortable warmth, Arden wandered toward the bang house. The scent of ripe papaya and the lingering aroma of sikwate still hung in the air. He sat on the lantay—an old, polished wooden bed made of bamboo—his fingers absentmindedly tracing its surface. This was where the kids used to take their afternoon naps.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    His mind replayed everything that had happened—from the terrifying Ongo in Bohol, the lingering spirits of the Kakuluwang Bukid in Panglao, the whispered echoes of the Tarot World War six centuries ago, to the relentless battle against the Tyanak in Japan.


    And most concerning of all—The Hanged Man.


    The Dark Arcana had revealed himself. The threats were growing stronger.


    And the team wasn’t ready.


    Arden exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair. They needed more power. More discipline. More preparation.


    "Lost in thought, Fool?"


    Arden didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. Zeth stood behind him, carrying two cups of tea. His sharp gaze seemed to pierce through Arden’s turmoil, as if seeing right through his thoughts.


    "I’m worried," Arden admitted, lying back on the lantay and placing his hands behind his head as a makeshift pillow. "The enemies are getting stronger. If The Hanged Man is already moving, then the other Dark Arcana won’t be far behind."


    He turned his gaze to Zeth. "My team isn’t ready."


    Zeth handed him a cup of tea, tilting his head slightly. "So, you’ve come to me."


    Arden smirked. "I figured you’d have a solution. You always do."


    Zeth let out a low chuckle. "Oh, I do." His expression turned slightly mischievous. "But I should warn you—it’s not going to be easy."


    "I wasn’t expecting it to be," Arden replied, sitting up to face him fully.


    Zeth exhaled through his nose, his eyes narrowing slightly in contemplation. "The Peak of the Lupanay Realm," he began. "That’s the best I can push most of your team—Leigh, Dominic, the bodyguards, even that old war dog." he gestured toward the General, who was now seated under the Atis tree, sipping his tea. "They’ll all have to push past their current limits if they want to reach that Realm."


    Breaking through to the Immortal Realm after that would depend on their luck and determination.


    Arden nodded. "But pushing past that takes time. Time we don’t have."


    A knowing grin spread across Zeth’s lips. "Who said anything about time?"


    He took a step forward, his voice lowering slightly as if sharing a secret. "That crazy woman… it took me a lot of effort to get her to tell me the way. Someone who knew exactly how to break past limitations when time wasn’t on her side."


    Arden’s curiosity piqued. "You mean Selvia?"


    Zeth’s grin widened. "Who else? Strength. She’s always been obsessed with surpassing you, you know."


    Arden blinked. His mind immediately recalled the stories of Strength—one of the Major Arcana. She was legendary for her raw power, her sheer ability to break through any obstacle—both physically and spiritually.


    Yet, she was always second to him.


    "She figured out a way to break past the Immortal Realm in a very short time," Zeth continued, his voice carrying an almost nostalgic tone. "It’s brutal. Merciless, even. But effective."


    Arden crossed his arms. "And you think this will work for us?"


    Zeth scoffed. "No. I know it will."


    He clapped a hand on Arden’s shoulder. "And lucky for you, I was one of the few who actually learned her method to open that Secret Domain. I used it myself when I got out of the Void. I almost lost all my power—I dropped realms all the way back to Agos."


    Arden raised an eyebrow. "And?"


    Zeth exhaled sharply. "After I regained some of my strength and got used to Earth’s energy again, I tried opening the Secret Realm using the technique Selvia taught me."


    Arden’s mind was already racing through possibilities. This could be exactly what the team needed—the fastest way to get stronger.


    "So what exactly is in the Secret Realm?"


    Zeth chuckled, shaking his head. "You don’t ask what’s inside Laoyon, Arden. You survive it."


    Straightening his posture, Zeth continued, "We’ll need a proper training ground. Somewhere isolated. Somewhere… relentless."


    Arden smirked. "That just makes me want to go even more."


    "I was waiting for you to say that," Zeth laughed.


    As the laughter faded, Arden suddenly tilted his head. "By the way, how did The Magician and The Sun become your kids?"


    Zeth’s grin faltered slightly before he exhaled. "Before I got sucked into the Void, I saw how The Magician risked his life to correct his mistake—accidentally opening the Void. He fell into a trap laid by the Dark Arcana. It was their plan all along."


    Arden’s expression hardened. "And The Sun?"


    Zeth’s gaze darkened slightly. "I was with The Sun at the time, fighting The Tower when the Void opened. I got distracted seeing The Magician falling from the sky—I didn’t see The Tower’s attack coming. The Sun took the hit for me… and died."


    There was a long silence.


    "Out of rage, I struck back, sending The Tower flying with my strongest attack. That’s when I took my chance to save The Sun’s spirit… and ran to save The Magician’s spirit before I was sucked in as well."


    Zeth sighed. "When I woke up, I found myself in the middle of the war in Mindanao. I helped fight the rebels, and that’s when I met the General. He helped me join the army, gave me a new identity in the Philippines."


    Arden listened intently as Zeth continued.


    "I met my wife, Thesa, in the training camp. We… grew close. I told her everything—the Tarot World War, how I ended up here. We got married, and eventually, she got pregnant with Dominic."


    Zeth smiled faintly. "The Magician’s spirit chose to reincarnate as my eldest son. And The Sun… she chose to reincarnate as my second child, Bliss."


    His eyes met Arden’s. "That’s why I wanted to ask you—how did you reincarnate? Everyone saw your sacrifice. You strengthened the Seal of Chaos with your very existence."


    Arden’s expression turned unreadable.


    "I don’t know." His voice was quiet. "I have no memory of it. When I regained consciousness in this world, all I had was Lolo Lando. He trained me like hell until I reached the peak of the Lupanay Realm. Then, he sent me on a mission—to find the other Arcana and restore balance to the Tarot World."


    Zeth’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Hmmm… so the Hermit has been with you all along."


    Arden frowned. "The Hermit? I rarely saw him in the Tarot World. He doesn’t even have a mountain peak in the Kingdom."


    Zeth chuckled. "That’s because he’s always traveling. He searches for the mysteries of the universe. They say his lantern can pierce even the shadows cast by Chaos."


    Arden’s fingers curled slightly. "Lolo Lando… who are you, really?"


    The late morning sun cast golden streaks through the trees as Arden and Zeth made their way toward the General, who sat comfortably under the Atis tree, sipping his tea with the composure of a man who had seen far too many battles to be easily impressed.


    Arden took a deep breath. “General, we need to train—somewhere isolated. A place where we won’t be disturbed.”


    The General raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond immediately. He took another slow sip of his tea, letting the words settle. Then, finally, he spoke.


    “I think I know just the place,” he said, his voice carrying the authority of a seasoned commander. “Durano Eco Farm, deep in the mountains of Danao. We used it for special forces survival training back in my army days. Thick jungle, tough terrain, and just enough danger to keep people on edge.”


    Zeth nodded approvingly. “That’ll do.”


    The General smirked, shifting his gaze between the two of them. “You’re excited, aren’t you?”


    Zeth chuckled, his expression turning downright mischievous. “Oh, you have no idea.”


    Arden turned back toward the house, where the others were still chatting and enjoying the last bits of breakfast. His gaze settled on Leigh, Dominic, Marcos, Bliss, and the rest of their companions.


    They were strong. No doubt about that.


    But they needed to be stronger.


    Arden clenched his fists. The decision was made.


    “Tomorrow,” he declared, turning back to Zeth and the General. “We leave for Danao.”


    The wind shifted, carrying the weight of their decision through the trees. The road ahead would be grueling, but it had to be done.


    Because the real fight was just beginning.