《Lost Genesis: Lied》 The Prologue – Radicibus I This is a story that goes back to the beginnings of mankind, a time when nothing existed. Nothing, except three young goldfinches who waited anxiously for the moment to spread their wings and discover themselves. This is the tale of how fate brought them together and incredibly changed each one of their lives. A soft breeze fluttered the red leaves of the ¡°Tree of Science¡±, one of two special trees created by God in the Garden of Eden ¨C a place located in the center of the world. Beneath the titanic tree, around one hundred fifteen meters, 12-year-old Adam took a nap leaning against its trunk, surrounded by a far-flung, outstanding landscape. A beautiful garden. At his side Eve picked some amaranths that grew in the area. ¡°Watch out, Adam!¡± The girl instantly perceived an evil intent in the bushes. The predator swooped the prey, trying to end the victim¡¯s life with just a poisonous bite of its teeth. ¡°I caught you, talking snake!¡± ¡°Ssss, always depending on others!¡± The snake escaped and slid down Adam¡¯s arm until landing on the ground. ¡°Eh, I¡¯m ready. Come at me!¡± Adam put his right foot on the soil. Eve watched, worried. The snake turned its back. ¡°What¡¯s up? Are you running away...? What a coward, huh!¡± The Talking Serpent stuck its tongue out. ¡°Hm, don¡¯t let your guard down, because when you least expect it, I¡¯ll be there to take your idiotic life¡­ you fool!¡± ¡°W-WHAT?! Ok, now you have done it!¡± Adam roared out as Eve took hold of his arms. ¡°COME BACK HERE! Time for our second round!¡± ¡°Calm down, she already left.¡± Eve sighed, lifted her head and looked into the distance. No further signs of the snake. ¡°We¡¯ve been like this for the past five days... I wonder what she¡¯s up to. It couldn¡¯t be¡­?¡± ¡­ Since then, the Talking Serpent never ceased to appear before them, daily aiming for Adam¡¯s life, and thus five more days passed. Neither prey or predator gave in, and the time to decide which one will be standing at the end would come. ¡­ The 10th day. ¡°Eh, you¡¯re so annoying.¡± Adam smiled. Blood gushed from his lower lips, the face full of scars, which showed how fierce the quarrels between were. ¡°¡­Ridiculous!¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Let''s sort things out. Tomorrow afternoon, our last quarrel.¡± The statement astonished both kids. Adam wasn¡¯t hoping this challenge so soon. ?No, perhaps this is the right time.? ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s end this.¡± Shortly after, Eva approached Adam, somehow bothered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Eve?¡± Adam''s expression was quite normal bearing in mind that the boy had just accepted a battle to the death. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°I know... the real reason why she¡¯s doing all this.¡± The kid smirked, not taking her seriously. ¡°What are you saying, Eve...? She¡¯s just a goddamn¡­¡± ¡°Think for a sec! What she really wants isn¡¯t to argue with you and spur fights. Probably does that because she doesn¡¯t know another way. Yes... all this time, she tried to get close to us; tried to get close to you!¡± This last revelation shocked Adam, who felt his body tremble hearing Eve¡¯s words. ¡°I can understand. I was lucky to meet you, Adam, but if I hadn¡¯t met you, I¡¯d probably feel that way too... lonely. I mean, at the end of the day¡­ we¡¯re completely alone... in this world!¡± Eve was unable to contain the emotions coming up. Adam was stunned. During this whole time, he never realized. Though it was so obvious¡­ Eve¡¯s feelings touched the boy¡¯s heart. No more mistakes from now on. ¡°Thanks, Eve. I¡¯ll definitely ¡®end this¡¯. It¡¯s a promise!¡± ¡­ The sun beat down, the mild weather of the afternoon. Adam and Eve were the first to arrive. Adam kept the strong-willed look of yesterday. A few minutes later, a third person popped up. However, to the children¡¯s surprise, it wasn¡¯t the Talking Serpent. A boy about their age, slightly taller than Adam. ¡°Hum... are you lost...?¡± Adam asked. Eva was certain it¡¯s not the first time they see each other. ?Yes... those eyes...!? ¡°Are you...?¡± ¡°This is my human form ¡ª my true form. Got any problem with that?¡± ¡°A BOY?!¡± Adam was gobsmacked. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re surprised?!¡± Eve yelled at her friend. ¡°C¡¯mon¡­ let¡¯s end this¡± the Talking Serpent said. ¡°Yeah¡± Adam nodded firmly. The Talking Serpent advanced to the ¡°Tree of Science¡±, stood his feet steadily on the ground and took a huge leap upwards. He rose at an unbelievable speed in a few seconds. ¡°Amazing... what a jump...!¡± Eve thought. Adam merely followed him. The two reached the top of the tree. ¡°Before anything else, I need to ask. Why me?¡± The lad bit his lips slightly. ¡°Cuz¡¯ of your annoying behavior. You¡¯re... too resigned. And I cannot stand that!¡± The Talking Serpent filled Adam with a wide variety of blows. Adam could at first withstand his attacks. Nevertheless, there¡¯s a certain difference in skill, therefore becoming an unequal fight. He¡¯s way stronger than before¡­ ¡°Even though you don¡¯t know who you really are¡­¡± A punch in Adam¡¯s face. ¡°Even though you don¡¯t know where you really are¡­¡± A second punch in the face. ¡°Even though you don¡¯t know why you exist in the first place¡­¡± A punch in the gut. ¡°Even though you know NOTHING¡­!¡± Another knee in the abdomen¡­ The desperate snake gave up on holding back its emotions¡­ A short break. The Talking Serpent panted, Adam had some blood. Adam was willing to physically receive all the anger, sadness, pain and envy. ?Envy?? Yes, the snake¡¯s envy of that naive child, always cheerful despite the circumstances. ¡°Even so... even so... HOW...? How can you live it so carelessly? This life without purpose or reason?!¡± The Talking Serpent attacked Adam once again. Either the snake¡¯s moves were getting worse or Adam was slowly getting better. Adam dodged. Something had started to change. However, in such an unreliable space where the only way to get around was to move from branch to branch, a misstep could mean their demise¡­ A slip-up. After successfully dodging the snake''s blow, Adam didn¡¯t notice a gap and eventually misled the Talking Serpent into an error of judgement. An one hundred fifteen meters fall awaited them now. The air masses compressed, leading to an increase in the atmospheric pressure. As they fell towards the ground, breathing got harder. 80 meters. The exchange of successive blows continued¡­ 60 meters. The Talking Serpent began to lose control of the duel¡­ 50 meters. In order to get back the tide of the fight, the snake caught Adam unaware with constriction ¡ª a method that some snakes use to kill their prey. Adam tried to get out at all costs. ¡°I might not know who I am... I might not know where I am... I might not know why I exist... That said, I believe that a purpose to live isn¡¯t something given... You must seek it with your own strength... while you live your life to the fullest!¡± The Talking Serpent¡¯s heart shuddered hearing his words¡­ 40 meters. ¡°That¡¯s just... FOOLISH TALK!¡± ¡°WRONG!¡± 30 meters. ¡°Look around you! This bright sun...¡± The sun setting in the distance, the red and orange hue reverberating in their eyes. ¡°This huge sea...¡± The clean waters suffered the light¡¯s refraction. ¡°All this world...¡± The sun, the sea and the vegetation formed the most beautiful view. ¡°I was blessed¡­ with this life! That¡¯s why I made an oath to myself. I swore to make the most of every day like it was the last and find my own purpose in the meantime¡­ so I won¡¯t regret later!¡± 20 meters. At that moment, the snake felt deeply pierced by the power of his words¡­ ¡°End this...¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll end... THIS LONELINESS INSIDE YOU!¡± The emptiness in his chest had been briefly filled by the positive energy¡­ The cross Adam carried around his neck responded to the feelings of its owner. A mystic aura surrounded him, the white eyes. That¡¯s when the Talking Serpent realized the power Adam had and which he lacked¡­ The power... to believe. Perhaps the work of fate or just a coincidence that played an important role, the lower branches of the tree delayed the fall and diminished its impact, saving their lives. Eve ran towards them. ¡°Everything okay?¡± she asked the green-eyed boy first. He denied the gaze, wrecked inside¡­ ¡°Hey... what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have one¡­¡± ¡°Then I may have the perfect name for you.¡± ¡°Eh...?¡± The lad rolled his eyes and finally stared at her. ¡°Nachash.¡± ¡°¡¯Nachash¡¯...?¡± ¡°¡¯The bright¡¯.¡± Nachash blushed. Meanwhile, Adam cleaned the trousers and held out his hand. ¡°I won. Just come with us, you idiot!¡± Nachash complied, letting himself be lifted. The Talking Serpent couldn¡¯t resist the happiness and displayed a dashing smile. ¡°¡¯Nachash¡¯...¡± he repeated to himself. Mysterious tears poured from his eyes, but the young quickly shook them off. The goldfinch flapped its wings, flying to where it belongs. And so Nachash set off... with his new friends. Their tale isn¡¯t over¡­ [End of the First Part] The Prologue – Radicibus II The quarrel between the boy and the snake that took both Adam and the Talking Serpent to the limit. Their conciliation along with Nachash joining the group. These events are pages of a book which tells a story still ongoing. It¡¯s up to us to turn the page, one by one... until its unchangeable end. This is the continuation of their tale... 10 days later The trio spent the time relaxing¡­ aside from the fact Adam and Nachash were always arguing. That¡¯s when Adam himself had an idea. ¡°Hey... why don¡¯t we give it another shot?¡± The lad was next to the Tree of Science. Eve went to gather flowers somewhere far away, Nachash sat above Adam in the tree. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah, you weren¡¯t with us yet.¡± ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± Eve arrived holding a dozen of gardenias, half in each hand. The girl put down the flowers beside the amaranths. ¡°Hey Eve, let¡¯s go there again, right now!¡± ¡°That place?¡± Nachash fell on the ground. ¡°What are you two talking about?¡± ¡°You will understand when you get there¡± Adam left Nachash up in the air¡­ ... ¡°So... what are we hiding from?¡± Nachash asked a bit loud. ¡°Shuu... get closer¡± Adam said. ¡°A second tree...? And... people...?!¡± The ¡°Tree of Life¡±. Indeed, he was only aware of one tree, the Tree of Science, and believed that there was no one else in this world besides them. ¡°Well... people¡­ I¡¯m not sure. When we first saw them, we thought they were statues¡± Adam remembered. Eve nodded, convinced those were works of nature, so much their ignorance about the world. ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s not what we came for. Look, in the tree.¡± A single red apple was hanging up in the Tree of Life. ¡°An... apple? What¡¯s so special about it?¡± Nachash said. ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t know either.¡± Adam replied. ¡°Huh?¡± Nachash was confused. ¡°The apple being watched is what makes Adam think it¡¯s special¡± Eve giggled. ¡°Yep.¡± Adam said. ¡°Just a gut feeling then¡­¡± Nachash sighed. ¡°So? What¡¯s the idea?¡± ¡°Simple. We¡¯re gonna steal it¡± Adam declared. ¡­ Everyone was ready. Each person in his own position. Operation ¡°Apple Theft¡±. ¡­ Five minutes ago ¡°My plan: while Nachash draws their attention, I nab the apple. As for you, Eve, it¡¯s safer to hide in the bushes¡± Adam suggested. Nachash, dumbfounded, didn¡¯t find the plan reasonable at all. The one truly dissatisfied with her task was Eve, however that feeling wouldn¡¯t be noticed. ¡°In other words, I¡¯m the bait just for you to get all the laurels. Unacceptable.¡± ¡°How selfish!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the selfish one!¡± ¡°Hum, I think Nachash in his snake form is better for low profile. Sorry, Adam, but you¡¯re the best bait¡± Eve concluded. ¡°Eeeeeh? No way¡­¡± ¡°Hehe, spot on.¡± Adam lost the leading role, but quickly recomposed himself... ¡°First of all, you guys tried to steal when you came here?¡± Nachash asked. ¡°Aye, I mean, can¡¯t really say we tried. To tell you the truth, we couldn¡¯t even get close to it. I just had the feeling... that it was too dangerous¡± Adam put his hand on the chest as he recalled. ¡°Adam... giving up on something?¡± Nachash thought. ¡°But this time it¡¯s different. This time we have you, Nachash!¡± Nachash smiled at him, naturally forgetting his thoughts. Eve let out a smile as well, the three in unison. ... Adam 20 meters away from the hooded; Nachash, in his reptilian form, in the bushes to the left of Adam; and Eve behind. ¡°Yo! It¡¯s been a while, huh?¡± Adam greeted the individuals. No response. Adam picked up a stone from the ground and threw at the sixth guy lined up. The boulder passed through his body¡­ ¡°Through him...?!¡± Nachash was the only one who hasn¡¯t witnessed the phenomenon yet. ¡°Ah! I had my doubts, but it looks like I was right. Ghosts, aren¡¯t you?! You¡¯re out of luck though, cuz¡¯ I¡¯m not afraid of ghosts! I¡¯m not afraid of snakes¡­ I¡¯m not afraid of ghosts... I¡¯m not afraid of anything!¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Eve had a bad feeling. A chill went down her spine. Danger. ¡°Stop, Adam¡± Eve thought, but she knew he couldn¡¯t hear her thoughts. ¡°On the contrary, you should be afraid of me!¡± Nachash. They already noticed him. Eve herself had to act, otherwise¡­ ¡°Open that goddamn mouth and howl before the great Adam!¡± Eve followed her instinct and rushed off, taking Adam and Nachash by surprise. ¡°Eve?! What are you doing?!¡± Adam asked. The second figure from the left suddenly moved at a ghostly speed and reached Eve. ¡°Eve!¡± Adam rushed to her aid without thinking twice. Nachash decided to carry on with his mission. This is the time when you should believe in each other. The third hooded from the left barred Adam¡¯s way. The kid stared at him fiercely, unable to see his eyes. Strangely, Adam couldn¡¯t feel evil intentions. What did that mean¡­? Anyway, it wasn¡¯t the time to get lost in thoughts! The cross around the neck glowed like in the fight against Nachash. The necklace resonated with the mystic energy that clad the body, the scarlet eyes turning white. ¡°Out of the way.¡± Adam knocked him down instantly with a punch in the stomach. However, the intangibility didn¡¯t trigger. A skill of that particular hooded? Or did something counter it? The leader didn¡¯t hesitate despite the fall of one of his comrades; remained cool and wary. The fourth and fifth hooded from the right landed on Adam. ¡°Eve! Run!¡± Adam shouted desperately ¡°Damn it! Let me go¡­ huh?¡± Adam''s protests ceased when the lad saw the one he hit before standing up¡­ ¡°How...? I-I hit you with all my strength. You... don¡¯t feel pain? Adam¡¯s eyes lost the vigour of the white light and slowly regressed to the standard red. His heart pounded. The powerful aura that enveloped Adam dimmed¡­ His fearless spirit feared. At last, his soul completely broke. The cross stopped waving. The sound of a tear echoed. ... Low-profile Nachash got past the remaining eight hooded. To be caught in the act would imply wasting the chance Eve granted in exchange for her safety. It¡¯s fine. Adam was there, Nachash knew he could count on him. The snake peeked out of curiosity and watched Eve frightened before the enemy, Adam down. ¡°Adam is... crying?¡± Bit by bit, time ran out for Adam, Eve... and Nachash. ... A monster. Something they shouldn¡¯t have messed with. ¡°They¡±? They who? Adam, Eve and Nachash? Or just him...? Or just Adam? In the first place, it was the red-haired boy¡¯s idea. Yes, from the beginning, Adam overlooked the danger and brought them to the abyss. His naivety, his inaptitude to consider the results of his own actions would cost dearly¡­ ¡°E-Eve... run... quickly...¡± Despair, a consequence of fear. Fear... of losing the most important people, right in front of him. ... The tree was seen a few meters ahead. One. Two. Three steps. The hooded got closer to Eve, subdued by the terror of death. Nachash must make a decision. The mission or the friend? ... In a second attempt to muster the lost strength, Adam strove to call upon that mysterious power. However, it didn¡¯t come up. It was already... too late. ¡°EVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!¡± Adam bawled. In the most important second, Nachash appeared! ¡°Don¡¯t touch.¡± A large, long spiritual snake emerged from Nachash''s back and strangled the hooded fiercely in midair. No one expected that. Nachash managed to glance behind the hood¡­ ¡°What the hell... are you...?¡± The two hooded blocking Adam retreated, joining their nine comrades arranged in line. The one assaulted by Nachash broke free from the constriction. Adam rushed to Eve. ¡°Eve! Are you okay?!¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± Adam turned to Nachash, who no longer had the snake attached. ¡°Nachash, you...!¡± ¡°We chat later! Now isn¡¯t a good time.¡± The three faced the uncanny people. The leader simply pointed the little finger at Nachash¡­ A strong wind threw dust over the children''s eyes. The hooded withdrew. ¡°They''re gone...¡± Eve remarked. Nachash couldn''t forget the sight under the hood. Adam, crestfallen and clenched fists, wanted to say something¡­ ¡°Eve, Nachash. I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault. If I hadn''t thought of such a stupid joke, you wouldn¡¯t have¡­ I really hurt you. I hurt... my precious friends. Adam couldn''t look them in the eyes. Nachash slapped him on the head. ¡°Ow!¡± ¡°Idiot. We chose to do it on our own. The guilt of everything that happened to us, belongs only to ourselves.¡± ¡°Nachash...¡± ¡°C¡¯mon, an empty-headed like you forcing someone? Never in life.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°In other words, don''t blame yourself for the decisions of others, but for your own decisions. If there¡¯s a decision you regret, then be sure you don¡¯t make it again.¡± ¡°Keep being who you are. Ah, but not so carefree... sometimes you better worry a bit more about things!¡± Eve said. Nachash chuckled. ¡°Eh?! What do you mean, Eve? But...¡± Adam tilted his head, wiped the tears and grinned ¡°Yeah!¡± ... ¡°And now that all¡¯s settled¡­¡± Nachash pulled a red apple out of the clothes. ¡°That¡¯s...!¡± Adam startled. ¡°Nachash! When did you get it?!¡± Eve asked. ¡°Before I went to help you.¡± When Eve was about to be tackled by the hooded, Nachash grabbed the fruit and immediately returned to his human form in order to aid her. ¡°Good job, Nachash! Just this once, I''ll let you have the laurels!¡± ¡°Tss¡­¡± Eve recalled the hooded leader pointing a finger at Nachash¡­ ¡°¡¯He¡¯ meant the apple?¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just too weird. Those people were protecting the apple, right? If they truly realized Nachash took it, then... why didn¡¯t they try to get it back?¡± What were the true intentions of that group? It¡¯s like¡­ they were testing them. The silence was broken by Adam, who snatched the apple from Nachash. ¡°Give it back!¡± ¡°Alright! I¡¯ve made my mind! I won¡¯t eat it. I¡¯ll keep it!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°And I already got a name!¡± ¡°A name too? Seriously...?¡± Adam held the fruit as if it were a baby. ¡°The apple is mine, so I¡¯ll call it... ¡®Adam¡¯s Apple¡¯!¡± ¡°What¡¯s that? It¡¯s so like you, Adam!¡± Eve raved. Nachash sighed. That''s when the apple suddenly shone, scaring them. The Adam¡¯s Apple turned golden. The glow became brighter and, in the end, swallowed the entire place. ... The trio opened their eyes. The dazzling light no longer hit them. The apple was red again and stopped shining. What awaited now was a supernatural drawing¡­ Around, several types of living things: goats, sheep, pigs, cows and even people! A real gift from nature ¨C new life. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know what happened, but... it looks like we¡¯re not alone anymore¡± Eve didn¡¯t hold back the tears of joy. ¡°Hm¡± Nachash smiled calmly. ¡°Yeah¡± Adam nodded. ... They sat on a cliff. The photographic horizon with the quiet waves of the sea accompanied by the sunset¡­ ¡°Nachash¡± Adam called his friend. ¡°Hm?¡± Nachash didn¡¯t look away from the splendid view. ¡°When you showed up to help us, for a moment it looked like you saw a ghost. What... exactly did you see?¡± What hid the hood of the hooded. The question made Nachash sink into his dark memories as the snake shuddered¡­ ¡°Nachash?¡± ¡°Huh? Ah... that was just my imagination.¡± ¡°Hum... one more thing...¡± What the young now wanted to ask was about that power Nachash manifested¡­ ¡°Nothing... never mind...¡± Adam bent his head ¡°Hey... don¡¯t change.¡± Nobody imagined that dread was the harbinger of a great misfortune about to fall upon the three... and leave them all alone again. This is a story that goes back to the beginnings of mankind, a time when nothing existed. Nothing, except three young goldfinches that spread their wings and, little by little, as they grow up, continue discovering themselves. Their tale would go on and, eventually, end. ________________________________________________________ This is a story that goes back to a time that was yet to come, which wouldn¡¯t have come if other ages hadn¡¯t forerun it and past stories originated the plot of this new story. This is a tale that began long before its protagonist was born and shall only end when all the pieces are assembled correctly. A blonde-haired kid dreamed: two boys ¡ª one with red hair and another with green hair ¡ª and a girl amidst them. Who were they...? The 16-year-old boy, average height and dark green eyes, awoke from his slumber. Beside him stood a tall man in his thirties. The teen rose from bed. A black cross popped up around his neck as the dark room brightened with its vividness. That, too, was a prelude of what¡¯s to come¡­ ________________________________________________________ An 8-year-old boy unconscious on the grass field of a park. Light green eyes and inky hair, tattered clothes, scars on his forehead and arms. Judging by the wounds all over the body, anyone would think he was a war survivor or a victim of some sort of major catastrophe. Regardless of why and how he got there, questions to be naturally answered over the course of time, we must realize that nothing happens by chance. Destiny is reserved for those who are chosen. And the innocent little boy, just like those who came before him and those who currently spin the wheel that moves the world, will have his own role in this story. He¡¯s our main character and this is the beginning of a ¡°lie¡±, an adventure in search of the truth. His name is... [End of the Prologue] Lie 1 – Ignotum per Ignotius I Life. Spirit. Soul. These three elements have been put to the test throughout History. Lives were born. Spirits battled. Souls expired. The cycle goes on until the next age... and for all eternity. Within a wide and dark dimension, an eerie vibe could be felt, rattling the air with depression. A 16-year-old boy with jet black hair and light green eyes came into view. As he walked the invisible sidewalk, he heard outer voices that stifled him... ¡°He¡¯s arrogant with people, even rude to his own parents.¡± ¡°Did you know? That boy not only offended a classmate but also hurt him. The poor lad ended up in a hospital.¡± ¡°Eh¡­? That¡¯s awful.¡± ¡°Shut up¡± Lied ordered. ¡°He even hit back his own teacher! It¡¯s not just an undisciplined child, he¡¯s a snake disguised as a person! Heck, to think my boy passes the day with such a freak!¡± ¡°I told you¡­ to shut that mouth up.¡± The space quaked in response to Lied¡¯s trembling feelings. After walking for a while, the lost youth finally saw something in the middle of nowhere. It¡¯s exactly as they say, ¡°a light at the end of the tunnel¡±. He approached the light in time ¨C a red apple rested inside a basket. The moment he placed his hand, the apple glowed, as if trying to overcome the negativity with its white-hot glow. The fruit was golden¡­ ¡­ ¡°Again. That weird dream.¡± Lied woke up sweating, awakening from a dream he previously experienced. Once, someone said that ¡°dreaming about apples is quite unpleasant¡±¡­ He sat on the bed for a good while. He didn¡¯t know what was better between reality and the dream. Lied lived only for himself and no one else. That was his law. Ignorant humans. Unaware of the truth and trapped in an illusion they call ¡°life¡±. Naive humans. Thinking they could live in a vulnerable system forever. He knew that, one day, mankind shall meet a worthless fate. Lied edged off the bed and stood up, walking towards the bathroom. He took a long bath, dressed up and picked up his school bag. He was already late for school. He hurried down the stairs and met his parents. His father watched him as Lied prepared to leave. ¡°Not eating anything?¡± Lied ignored him, turning his back. The father lifted his son by the collar of the school uniform. ¡°I demand that you respect me, after all, I give you a roof over your head!¡± ¡°I owe you nothing¡± Lied replied, spitting to the floor. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Enough...!¡± the mother said to her husband. The father dropped him heavily and Lied rushed out of the house, naturally upset. Ganeden, a Japanese and German speaking island in Asia. Since he¡¯s already late for class, Lied decided to pay a visit to the park. As he walked, Lied was surrounded by tiny blue dots filling the atmosphere. Curiously, all those dots seemed to follow a certain route. The boy could see them from a young age. Lied never found a single person with the same ability as him¡­ or perhaps he didn¡¯t bother to find anyone similar. He went up the street and turned left, west of his house. His favorite spot consisted of grass, a couple of sconces and benches. Lied laid down on an incline in a rather soft patch of grass and took his headphones out his pocket. The songs he usually listens to are from a musical form called Kunstlied. For some reason, that was a nostalgic genre. However, he wasn¡¯t alone in the park. Lately, a girl with orange hair and light blue eyes wearing an uniform from his school has been in the area. Even though they¡¯re the only ones attending the place, the two students never talked to each other. Lied realized something was bothering her, though he wasn¡¯t interested. ¡­ Ten minutes passed by, the leaves swirled in the silent wind. Chilled, Lied headed straight to school as the girl glanced at him. He entered through the creaking metal gates. He climbed the stairs that led to a second floor, where his classroom is. Lied thought about leaving when his parents suddenly came to mind. He went inside without hesitation. ¡°You...! Late once again!¡± the teacher shouted. ... School was over and Lied decided to go home. The sunset was wonderful at this time. The cherry blossoms in front of the gate flew back and forth in a pink dance. Behind Lied walked a cheerful group of girls. The one from the park watched him closely. ... Lied left his bag in the bedroom. When he opened the house¡¯s door, his dad showed up followed by his mom. ¡°Son... I...!¡± the dad said. ¡°Lied... your father and I are very sorry. So, please, don¡¯t forget to come back home, okay?¡± the mom asked, wearing a beautiful smile. ¡­ Lied arrived back at the park. She was there again. He stared at the bluish dots and tried to touch them with his fingertips. He wondered if he should have said something to his mother... The lass looked at him every once in a while. ¡°Hum...¡± ¡°I¡¯m listening¡± Lied, who used his head as a pillow, said. ¡°If you were listening, then why didn¡¯t you answer right away...?¡±, she thought to herself. ¡°Today, yesterday, the day before yesterday... you¡¯ve been following me for the past two weeks¡± Lied caught her off guard ¡°So? What do you want?¡± ¡°He¡¯s actually a great observer for someone who doesn¡¯t care about others.¡± The lass sighed and stood up. Near the lad, she crouched down and poked the same blue orb Lied was touching. ¡°I can... see it too.¡± They watched the meeting of their fingers. That surprised Lied, who didn¡¯t expect anyone else besides him to be able to see it. Both got up from the floor. ¡°That¡¯s why you bothered me all day¡­ I see, I¡¯m not the only one¡­¡± ¡°¡­Sorry about that¡± the girl apologized hilariously. ¡°Since when?¡± ¡°Just before I started coming here.¡± ¡°Your name is Naomi.¡± ¡°Eh? How do you know?¡± Lied showed in his left hand a school ID card. ¡°Ah! That¡¯s mine!¡± ¡°You dropped it¡± Lied gave the card back. ¡°A-And your name is Lied, right?¡± ¡°Yeah. Good job stalking.¡± ¡°I-I don''t want to hear that from someone who takes things without permission!¡± ¡°Hm...¡± Lied held his chin thoughtfully ¡°The moment you began seeing or before, did you notice anything weird?¡± ¡°Dunno... nothing unusual comes to mind. Did something happen to you?¡± ¡°No... I can see them as long as I can remember¡± Lied put his hand on his forehead. ¡°Anyway, what are they really...?¡± Naomi asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know exactly. They pile up and walk away, as if programmed to go to the same place. Yes, that¡¯s the only thing I¡¯m sure of. These blue balls¡­ are alive¡± he dabbed the sphere. ¡°A-Alive...?¡± Naomi swallowed her saliva. ¡°It¡¯s not just that... there¡¯s one more thing.¡± ¡°One more thing...?¡± ¡°A glimpse, but I saw them¡­ take human forms.¡± That''s when a thick smoke painted the sky gray. A fire coming precisely from Lied''s house. ¡°...!¡± the teen dashed away. ¡°W-Wait!¡± Naomi hurried after him. Meanwhile, a white hooded man peeked at them. A prelude of what was about to happen. ... Lied shoved everyone that was in his way, his eyes focused on the smoke raging above his house. Sirens sounded all around him ¨C the firefighters were on their way. Naomi was left in the dust, the crowd increasingly bigger in front of the burning house. Lied fled from the firemen¡¯s arms, nobody could stop him. The lad slithered through the waves of fire and somehow managed to get inside. He encountered the remains of what was left of the entrance hall. A picture of 10-year-old Lied and his parents, which was taken during summer holidays, faded away in ashes. Lied entered the living room, the doorway destroyed. And saw him¡­ Ahead, a gold-plated black cloaked figure in the middle of the dancing orange fire. It was a man in his early 30s, his face hidden by the thick smog. Lied, panting, looked around the room, but he didn¡¯t find his parents. Either they made it out alive... or were ¡°completely wiped out¡±. He didn''t want to think about that possibility. Lied shook his head and eyed him warily. "Where? Where are they...? WHAT DID YOU DO TO THEM?!" Lie 1 – Ignotum per Ignotius II Deep down, Lied knew. His parents were¡­ already dead. ¡°Answer me! I told you... TO ANSWER ME!!¡± Lied rushed towards the man ten meters away from him. However, the boy found himself inexplicably paralyzed. Something invisible strangled him. If the pain had continued for a few more seconds, the boy would have probably died. Lied noticed, before passing out, the killer''s effrontery ¨C the smoke covered a self-satisfied smirk. It was all too fast¡­ ¡°Have they told you...? That you have the eyes of a snake?¡± ¡­ ¡°What?¡± Lied opened his eyes. He found himself lying on the floor of a dark and cold space ¨C the place of his dreams. Completely alone, as he always were in his life. Inside the basket was the apple. It didn¡¯t look shiny, kind of like him. Lied stared wearily at the black ceiling. ¡°¡­To think that the place I visited many times in my dreams would be the stage of my last breath. How ironic.¡± He had no strength to get up, it was as if something was telling him to stay there. ¡°I¡¯m really¡­ going to die?¡± ¡°No¡± a sudden voice denied, however too low. ¡°So this was my fate...?¡± ¡°No.¡± Lied plunged deeper and deeper into the darkness of his soul¡­ ¡°I... failed?¡± ¡°No¡± the voice spoke louder and woke up Lied. The dark dimension was suddenly filled with light, as the apple that lay in the basket began to radiate a golden glow. Lied tried to cover his eyes in hopes that the golden glow would not hurt him. However, he soon realized that the glow didn¡¯t hurt him; quite the opposite, it healed his wounded heart. A thin woman older than Lied, with long turquoise hair and eyes the same color, came out from the fruit. She held out her hand to him. ¡°Who... is it...?¡± Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Lied simply accepted the loving token of the lady and embraced the warm light. Happiness. Yes, he was saved. The lad who had been lost¡­ was found. ¡­ Lied regained consciousness. He was resting on a stretcher and surrounded by busy paramedics. A crowd of onlookers watched the house burn, the firemen desperately tried to put out the fire. Who was that woman, and why would she save him? He got off the stretcher and walked back towards the park. Naomi saw Lied and followed him. The flames gobbling down his home, the whispers of the people who witnessed the scene... a cluster of feelings deeply stirred Lied. Old memories came into mind. Ganeden, 8 years ago Regenbogen, the only orphanage in Ganeden. The building was well maintained, having recently undergone a makeover. Its exterior was vividly colored by the seven colors of the solar spectrum, a rainbow painting was seen crossing from one corner of the building to the other. Its interior was very plain, but newcomers might be shocked at the sheer size of the hall. Inside, on this hot summer afternoon, an 8-year-old orphan was adopted by a relatively young couple. ¡°Thank you so much for taking care of him¡± the caretaker thanked. ¡°No, we are the ones who need to thank you. I always wanted to have a child, but I¡¯m barren¡­¡± the woman smiled alongside her husband. ¡°I see¡­¡± the caretaker turned to the child ¡°Look, from now on they¡¯ll be your parents. Greet them.¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t speak much, huh?¡± the man said. ¡°Yes¡­ it turns out this boy has no memories of before coming to the orphanage. The whereabouts of his biological parents is also unknown. A complete mystery, one could say he ¡®fell from the sky¡¯.¡± ¡°Amnesia...?¡± the father said. ¡°The only thing he remembers is his name ¨C Lied.¡± ¡°Lied, is it...?¡± the mother bent down ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± Lied stared at her for a few seconds and then looked away blankly. ¡­ The park could already be seen. The memories kept coming up¡­ 6 months later Lied left his home without saying anything to his parents. When he wasn¡¯t at school, he used to spend time in the park closest to him. Lied was scolded once in a while by his dad, but his mom allowed him to do whatever he wanted. In the end, she always said the same thing: ¡°Don¡¯t forget to come back home, alright?¡± ¡­ Lied fell on the park lawn, sunken eyes, dizzy and mostly frustrated. It was as if meeting the mysterious woman had awakened the sleeping, or rather pent-up emotions, during all this time. The words Lied never managed to speak¡­ Tears flew down his cheeks. For the first time ever¡­ he cried. ¡­ Naomi hid behind a park bench. Two small blue dots swirled around Lied, as he began to tear up frantically. They took the shape of people. The spirits of Lied''s parents hugged their son. Naomi remembers Lied talking about that. When she realized, they were no longer there. Lied was still crying. The girl thought it was better to leave him alone and left. Coincidence or not, a new face showed up afterwards. It was a white hooded man in his twenties. Lied calmed down a bit. Dozens of blue dots suddenly filled the atmosphere. A breathtaking scenery. The hooded pointed his index finger at Lied. ¡°Are you going to let those tears blind you and run away again? Or... will you face it? Your own destiny?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Lied felt drowsy. Was it that man¡¯s doing? Curiously, the sunset was coming. He gave in and let himself rest on the lawn. His conscience said¡­ that it was bedtime. Long time ago, someone used to tell him something before sleeping. He couldn¡¯t remember who, just the complex and smooth phrase: ¡°Carpe Noctem¡± Lied muttered, falling asleep. Enjoy the night¡­ [END OF CHAPTER] [ARC ¡°GANEDEN¡± STARTS] Lie 2 – The Adams Apple I A large and blank place. At the center, a majestic and giant tree that ascended to the unbounded ceiling. A curious girl beheld the tree in the distance. Naomi walked toward the mast of nature. Leaning against it was a lonely eight-year-old crimson-haired child. ¡°Hey... why are you alone?¡± Naomi asked. The boy didn¡¯t answer back as if she wasn¡¯t there, in body and spirit. ¡°Ah, sorry. It¡¯s obvious. You... have no one but yourself... just like me...¡± A gentle breeze stirred the lad¡¯s hair. He lifted his head and ran wild to the horizon of nothingness. ¡°Where... are you going...?¡± A meaningless question. Not even he knew where he was going... or to where he should go. He was... running away. Running away from the loneliness, just like her... The wind blew stronger, the leaves of the tree fluttered with a single gust as Naomi closed her eyes. She reopened them, her eyebrows raised. The child kept running against loneliness and sadness, against everything and everyone. Without hesitation. Always moving forward. A female ran alongside the chap. A male joined them soon after. Slowly, throughout his growth, more and more people gathered around him. He... wasn¡¯t alone anymore. Naomi smiled, happy for the man¡¯s deed, once a goldfinch that wouldn¡¯t fly. However, he came to a halt, such as a broken machine. The folk that followed him went out of sight. The last person to leave, the woman, even tried to tell him something, but she gave up¡­ Naomi was next to the lad, now in his twenties, hoping to see the very same smile that allowed him to overcome all the past hardships. Nevertheless, despair won over hope. ... ¡°This time was a different dream¡± Naomi woke up. Lately these weird dreams have been happening more often. Wonder why? In case I haven¡¯t introduced myself yet, my name is Naomi Setsuko, I¡¯m 16 years old and I study at a local school in this huge asian island called Ganeden. I¡¯m not a brilliant student, although my mom always said I could do more and better. About my parents, today makes 3 years since my mother passed away from a chronic disease. As for my father, I never got to meet him because he died when I was little. That said, I always had the support of my closest relatives and my friends never made me feel alone. Well, this last part is a lie. Though I might look super cheerful, the truth is that each day for me goes by so slowly. I don¡¯t have suicidal thoughts, notwithstanding I wish for a change in my life. At least I¡¯d like to meet someone who could end this displeasure¡­ This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Naomi sighed and rolled over in bed. Right, how¡¯s Lied doing...? ... At the local police station, two detectives talked freely. They were part-timer Susumu Shinichi and Tatsuo Shinichi, son and father. ¡°Susumu, how¡¯s school?¡± Tatsuo, seated, asked. ¡°Good¡± Susumu, standing, replied without looking away from the docs. ¡°If you¡¯re having a hard time balancing both jobs, you can take some time off...¡± ¡°Thanks, but you don¡¯t have to worry, Dad.¡± Susumu picked a recent report from his father¡¯s desk¡­ ¡°This is...?¡± ¡°Ah, the accident of four days ago. Two people thought to be dead, although their bodies weren''t found. The sole survivor, their son, is still missing.¡± ¡°Accident, huh...?¡± ¡°Interested?¡± ¡°Well... maybe a bit¡± Susumu gazed at Lied¡¯s picture. ... Late afternoon. Classes were over for today. Naomi left together with classmates as she wore her half-ass smile. Susumu waited at the entrance gate. ¡°So this is his school¡­ what a coincidence.¡± The girls swooned over the handsome detective, some even recognized him. Susumu questioned the students whether they knew the boy in the picture. ¡°He¡¯s not very popular, huh... better ask the teachers.¡± ¡°Hum... I¡¯m Naomi and I know that boy¡± Naomi approached Susumu. ¡°Susumu Shinichi, a detective who also happens to be a student at this school. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve heard, but he¡¯s been missing since last week. His parents are dead and no living relatives are known. That¡¯s why I wanted to talk with any friends or classmates who might have a clue to his whereabouts.¡± Naomi listened, cagey. After everything Lied went through, she wasn¡¯t at ease to tell him¡­ ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t know anything.¡± ¡°I see. Call me if you find something out in the meantime, please¡± Susumu cursed his bad luck and handed her a card with his phone number. The detective moved off without trying to question more people. ... Naomi only thought about getting home and resting her mind. The lass glimpsed a familiar face as she walked. ¡°You¡¯re...!¡± A 12-year-old red-headed kid stared for a moment at Naomi and then fled. ¡°Wait!¡± ... Lied has no idea how many days he slept. He felt kind of dizzy, perhaps exactly due to sleeping too much. Lied sat on the bed of an unknown small room. Was that white hooded the one who brought him there? Lied saw an apple on the nightstand, probably left by him. The irony! Lied remembered the golden apple from the dreams and other chronologically linked memories: the face-off with the killer; the meeting with the ¡°mysterious woman¡±; the white hooded and his question¡­ ¡°I¡­¡± The answer on the tip of the tongue, he set out to face his destiny. ... Susumu didn¡¯t overlook Naomi¡¯s irresolute expression. She most certainly hid information from him. Susumu had to ask her later. After paying a visit to school, there was just one place remaining¡­ ¡°DO NOT CROSS¡± all over Lied¡¯s house. The site was already reviewed by the police. ¡°I''ll have to do it this way¡±Susumu closed his eyes and touched the outer wall. The burning house. Lied lifted up in the air before a long black-haired male. Lied fainted and the man smiled. ¡°This¡­ is¡­?¡± he said while watching the flashback. ¡°A second person wasn¡¯t expected¡± a voice spoke from the detective¡¯s back. When Susumu turned around, he was no longer there. The teenager rushed inside and drew the gun his father gave him for emergencies. The 20-year-old suspect, light lilac eyes and curly black hair, wore an overcoat in the same color pattern as the killer¡­ ¡°Who are you?!¡± Susumu asked. ¡°You¡¯re finally here¡± the male said while he sat on the house steps. ¡°What?!¡± Susumu blurted out. The shadow of a third person in the area lurked at the doorway¡­ ¡°Looks like Zechariah was right. ¡®He will definitely return... to the place where it all began¡¯¡± the man quoted. Susumu lowered his pistol and eyed surprised to his right side. ¡°That ¡®Zechariah¡¯... is the other guy?¡± Lied related. ¡°Who knows¡± the man replied. Lie 2 – The Adams Apple II Susumu stared at the missing boy. This person was definitely Lied. ¡°I see you have several questions to ask me¡± Lied startled the detective ¡°I¡¯ll answer you, but for now¡­ wait till I¡¯m done here.¡± Susumu took a step forward and smiled. He wouldn¡¯t leave everything to him. ¡°I don¡¯t want to wait too long.¡± ¡°Do as you wish.¡± Meanwhile, the suspect listened to their chat. ¡°You must have already realized, right? It¡¯s not our intention that you die¡± the man addressed Lied ¡°If that were the case, you wouldn¡¯t be alive at this moment, isn¡¯t that true?¡± Irrefutable argument, given that Lied was plainly spared by the Zechariah fellow. ¡°Then...¡± Susumu said as Lied chipped in. ¡°Then... what do you want? For what reason did you leave me alive? Me... and just me?¡± ¡°Reason, huh¡­¡± he stood up from the steps ¡°Destiny is reserved... for those who are chosen. And you are...¡± The man reached Lied at superhuman speed. Their eyes met. ¡°¡­one of the chosen.¡± Susumu felt beforehand the enemy''s hostile intentions and fired. The suspect dodged the bullet indescribably and soon after vanished off the face of the earth. ¡°Where did he go?!¡± the detective thought. Lied was uninjured, yet as motionless as a statue. ¡°Hey! What¡¯s up?! Say something!¡± Susumu shook Lied but to no avail. Like his father taught him to do at critical times, the detective took a deep breath and called for reinforcements. ... The cold and dark dimension, the apple¡¯s basket in the center of everything. ¡°This place is... from my dreams...!¡± Lied looked around ¡°But why? I¡¯m not dreaming...¡± The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°That¡¯s because it isn¡¯t something made by your daydreams. It does exist.¡± ¡°You...! How?!¡± The one speaking was that guy, within the space only Lied was supposed to be able to enter. ¡°This place is... your ¡®soul¡¯. The physical part of the spirit.¡± ¡°Soul? Spirit?¡± ¡°In other words, your conscience. Your own mind. ¡°My... mind...?¡± What do you intend to do?!¡± The apple shone before he placed his hand. Small pointy roots immediately grew around the basket. The man came to know... that he wasn¡¯t allowed to touch it. ¡°As I expected, it looks like... I¡¯m not welcome here.¡± ... 5 minutes passed. Susumu had been informed that his father was busy with other matters, so he couldn¡¯t come right away. The suspect re-emerged without prior notice together with Lied, who awoke. ¡°T-They¡¯re back!¡± Susumu thought. The detective didn¡¯t understand the situation. Not only Lied started moving again, but the man also came back. From where exactly, though? ¡°Hey! Are you alright?!¡± Susumu asked Lied. Police cars sirens sounded loudly in the street. Lied glared at the man one last time. ¡°Who¡­ and what¡­ are you?¡± ¡°The name is... Varius. About what I am¡­ yes¡­ one of the chosen.¡± Varius disappeared without a trace¡­ Lied would be taken into custody. Before leaving the house, Susumu noticed the bullet he shot pierced in the wall¡­ ... Late afternoon. The dogs barked, the cats meowed, the birds sang. Inside the skyline building next to the park, in a room barely used by the employees who worked there, a group of chosen ones gathered. ¡°You sure there wasn¡¯t a better spot for our meetings? This room is full of dust!¡± a childish voice spoke. ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, go look for a new place yourself. Ah, he¡¯s going to get in our way¡± a female voice spoke. ¡°I¡¯m going to what?!¡± ¡°Now, now, you two, calm down¡± a male and thick voice spoke. ¡°Aaaaaaah, so much noise! SHUT UP YOU ALL!¡± a male and rude voice spoke. As the rambunctious group was bickering among themselves, someone walked in the room¡­ ¡°Oh, Varius. How did it go?¡± the thick voice, Zechariah, smiled and asked him. ¡°Hey! What took you so long?!¡± the grumpy voice, Martyr, whined. ¡°I confirmed the existence of the Adam¡¯s Apple, however, as we imagined, it¡¯s untouchable.¡± ¡°I see¡± Zechariah wasn¡¯t surprised. Varius joined them in the long wooden table and sat down. ¡°Tch. Untouchable? You can¡¯t say that without really trying!¡± Martyr got angry to the point of getting on top of the table ¡°The apple is right in front of us. It¡¯s perfectly touchable!¡± he said as his blonde hair waved furiously. The female, Core, watched her comrade step on her book. Core didn¡¯t fret as she¡¯s a very even-minded girl. ¡°Bahahaha! That¡¯s good, stomp on it more!¡± the childish voice, Nemo, said. ¡°SILENCE! Hey, Zechariah¡­!¡± Martyr said. Core snatched the book out of Martyr''s sole. The girl cleaned it up and resumed her reading. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do for now, Martyr. It¡¯s not just about the matter of the obstruction within Lied, the Leader told us to wait for the development of his spirit too. Our job is to fuel that growth. That¡¯s all we should focus on¡± Zechariah said. Varius agreed. Martyr must comply with the Leader¡¯s order¡­ The blond hopped off the table and, instead of returning to his seat, left the room. Nobody said a word. Varius eyeballed Martyr. Martyr closed the door, leaned against it and raised his head up slightly ¨C he couldn¡¯t hold back his bloodlust. The pupil in his eyes turned fiendish for a second, matching his facial expression. Exactly like¡­ a snake. Fate had already picked its chosen ones. And now, each one of them walks his own path. What each path leads to, that¡¯s something only time will tell. One thing is certain: this time¡­ has begun to pass. [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 3 – Iduma I Susumu and Lied, at last face to face¡­! Lied and Susumu were taken to the police station. None of them spoke a word during the trip. Out of the two, Lied stressed about his situation the most. It wasn¡¯t a bustling place as most officers were out on duty. They were inside an interrogation room, with a table and two chairs. ¡°Before you ask, I don¡¯t know much. About ¡®them¡¯... and about me...¡± Lied said. The detective could tell that Lied had no intention of hiding anything. One of the qualities that earned Susumu the title of ¡°prodigy¡± was the skill to read between the lines and see beyond the obvious. In this respect, Lied showed a frightening sincerity. Usually, a young person who went through everything he went, couldn¡¯t bear the pain of remembering pitchy memories. ¡°Both odd and suspicious¡± Susumu thought. ¡°Understood. In that case, I have but one question.¡± ... The nightfall brought desired re-encounters, predestined by something greater. Naomi chased the red-haired kid. It was only a glance, but he was surely the boy in her dreams, since he also wore a cross around his neck. ¡°Please, wait!¡± The few people on the street stared at Naomi. Apparently, she was the only one able to see him. Naomi came to a dead end. She lost sight of him. ¡°Huh¡­? He¡¯s gone...¡± Frustrated, she turned back home. ... ¡°Can you guess... why you are at the center of everything?¡± In other words, what they really wanted from Lied. Why did this case revolve around him? His question piqued Lied¡¯s curiosity ¨C the ¡°golden apple¡± would be the most logical reason. Lied preferred to leave his guesswork to himself. He trusted no one in the world. After this short interrogation, Susumu left the police station to carry on with his investigation. He made sure of asking an officer not to allow Lied to leave. Nevertheless, Lied wasn¡¯t the type to stay quiet and heed orders¡­ The policeman wasn¡¯t very skilled and, taking advantage of that, the teenager escaped his watchful eyes. Outside, he looked for the white hooded man... Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ... Rumors circulated in school about a missing student. Naomi kept her mouth shut, as it concerned her as well but didn¡¯t want to involve herself in it either. She had her mind overrun with thoughts of the crimson-eyed lad at the same time. Would she ever see him again...? ... In the classroom next to hers, the wildest rumors were starting to spread. A student from this class, Core, tried not to pay too much attention despite knowing a lot. The teacher closed the book and everyone immediately stood up. Another boring day for Core. Just having to wear the uniform bugged her¡­ Bag over her shoulder, she headed straight to the gang¡¯s base in Ganeden. As she walked to the park, Core sensed a somehow nostalgic energy nearby. She found the source of this energy: a child in white and blue jacket, scarlet eyes and hair. Their gazes met briefly, the boy smirked and fled right away. ¡°Wait a second!¡± Core shouted. ... Friday. Naomi didn¡¯t look forward to the weekend too much. On her way home, she noticed a girl rushing away from her school. The observation helped her distract herself, but not for long... ... Core was compelled to run as fast as she could, the boy was that fast. And judging by his attitude, he could go even faster. Core felt like she was being mocked by him. Their race dragged on until they reached an alleyway far from the park. ¡°Eeeeeeh...? Ain¡¯t ya pretty tough?¡± The antsy Core carefully examined his spiritual flow. She had a feeling that it wasn¡¯t the first time meeting him. ¡°Who are you?!¡± The lad shook his head in disapproval. ¡°So straightforward... but ya know, that¡¯s not how it works with me ¨C the great Iduma!! AH! I just said who I am!! But that name doesn¡¯t ring a bell¡­ right?¡± Core didn¡¯t talk back. Iduma got up on the edge of the ledge. ¡°HMMM¡­ how about this: ever played tag? Eh? No? Never?! Not once?! Aw, you¡¯re no fun!¡± ¡°What¡¯s his deal?¡± Core thought. He¡¯s as annoying as Nemo¡­ ¡°If ya take life too seriously, you¡¯re gonna have early wrinkles!¡± Iduma stopped with the monkey business. Iduma grinned as he spiritually scanned Core, meaning they truly were acquaintances¡­ ¡°Explaining in an easy way¡­¡± Iduma was saying. ¡°¡­If I catch you, you¡¯ll tell me your identity. Let¡¯s go¡± Core said. ¡°To give ya a chance, I won¡¯t run with my full speed. Huuum, let¡¯s see... how about 50%? 20% faster than before!¡± Iduma started a light and quick warm-up. A white aura clothed his body, his crimson eyes became snow colored. A swinging white cross appeared around his neck. This change of appearance took Core by surprise¡­ ¡°That cross...!¡± ¡°LET¡¯S HAVE SOME FUN!¡± ... Naomi strolled, crestfallen. That¡¯s when she glimpsed a lad flashing by at supersonic speed down the town. Naomi could feel gleams of that familiar energy in the atmosphere. Would she blow off this opportunity, waiting for time to take away lost memories and unanswered questions? But if she does this... what¡¯s left then? Didn¡¯t she wish, from the bottom of her heart, for an extreme change in her boring life? ¡°Hum, did you happen to see a boy with red hair and eyes?!¡± Naomi asked a middle-aged lady who watered flowers. ¡°Red hair and eyes...? No, I didn¡¯t see anyone like that.¡± ¡°I see... thank you.¡± Wearing a long face, Naomi said goodbye. How was she going to find him if no one could see him? No, it was possible! Naomi concentrated¡­ Idealize. She idealized the person she was looking for. Feel. A click triggered an unseen pathway. Trusting her magical guidance, the lass ran. Naomi always had bendy legs; a fortunate gift given by the Heaven. The road opened with each step taken. One last narrow street followed, where her destiny awaited¡­ her legs almost giving out. Next to Naomi stood that other girl. In front of them, the enigmatic child. ¡°Finally... gasp... gasp... found you...!¡± ¡°Finally, yeah?¡± Iduma giggled. ... At the base of the mysterious group... ¡°Damn it, what is Core doing?! Extra work maybe?¡± Nemo scoffed. ¡°Indeed, she¡¯s taking longer than usual¡± Zechariah said. Varius remained silent. ¡°Whatever¡­¡± Martyr, laid-back, stepped out of the room. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know what you intend to do, but we have only one job¡± Zechariah reminded. ¡°Aye, aye. Now¡¯s... my turn¡± Martyr smiled eagerly. His target, Lied, didn¡¯t imagine what was to come. Lie 3 – Iduma II Core examined Naomi, a student at the school she infiltrated. Since she doesn¡¯t care much about her classmates, Core didn¡¯t recognize her face and perhaps they were from the same class, which isn¡¯t the case. ¡°Can you¡­ see him?¡± Core asked her. ¡°If... I can see...?¡± Naomi said. Naomi remembered that she was the only one who seemed to see him. ¡°Aaaaaaah... just when we finally met...¡± Iduma said. The kid sighed and jumped onto a wall. The cross swayed continuously. ¡°Sorry, but if I don¡¯t hurry Xanthus will be mad at me! And then, if Xanthus gets upset, he tells Didagus¡­!¡± Fake tears nearly gushed out from his eyes. Core was taken by surprise as she heard familiar names, namely¡­ ¡°Didagus... could you be one of them?!¡± ¡°Never fear. We¡¯ll meet again¡­ surely¡± Iduma said. ¡°Wait!¡± Core shouted but didn''t feel ready for another chase. ¡°He¡¯s gone... once more...¡± Naomi muttered. Naomi was disappointed that she couldn''t really talk to Iduma, but that was all. In some way, she had matured throughout this experience. ¡°So the people here are also capable...¡±, Core thought as she looked at Naomi. Core turned her back. She couldn¡¯t stay there any longer for her peers were waiting. ¡°Ah...! Where are you going?¡± Naomi asked. ¡°None of your concern¡± Core kept walking. That moment, Core realized she couldn¡¯t simply walk away as her skills were witnessed. For the first time in her life, she actually needed Nemo¡­ Core pulled back and touched Naomi¡¯s chest with her thumb, however¡­ the reaction wasn¡¯t as expected. Both Naomi and Core suffered from the same symptoms ¨C a chest throb and flashes of a turquoise-haired girl played in their head. At the end, a mental breakdown temporarily collapsed them before Core ran away. ¡°H-Hang on...!¡± Naomi called her. What¡­ just happened...? ... In another far away alley, two charismatic males exchanged words. Xanthus, the oldest in white hood, scolded the youngest, Iduma. ¡°Do you really understand what we came here to do? You want to botch it with your silly games?¡± ¡°Eeeeeh?! You¡¯re being unfair, Xanthus! I mean, this time I came back early! And a little bit of ¡°scouting¡± doesn¡¯t hurt either¡­¡± The white hooded man turned his back on Iduma. ¡°Our target was already scouted. Iduma, don¡¯t act recklessly anymore. Otherwise... yes, I¡¯ll tell Didagus.¡± ¡°No, please! Anything but that!¡± ¡°And I still think you should wear a hood like me.¡± ¡°Bahahaha! Sorry, not quite my style! Triggering my spiritual form is enough to keep a low profile. That way no one sees me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bad habit of yours¡± Xanthus sighed. ¡°Xanthus... you too have been having some fun on the sly, haven¡¯t ya? Is that also part of our mission¡­?¡± ¡°That was me keeping a promise from long ago. But I¡¯m yet to fulfill it... one last thing remains to be done.¡± Iduma saw him meeting Lied. Xanthus prepared to take his leave. ¡°And that¡¯s what you¡¯re gonna do now, right? Finish fulfilling this promise.¡± ¡°Remember: ¡®they¡¯ are also on the move. Don¡¯t let your guard down¡± Xanthus looked at Iduma sideways. ¡°Worry about yourself, cuz ya don¡¯t need to worry about the great Iduma.¡± ... This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Susumu wandered the streets of Ganeden. The detective tried to put the puzzle pieces together: Zechariah, the murderer of Lied¡¯s parents; Varius, Zechariah¡¯s comrade; the bullet that inexplicably went through Varius¡¯s body. Finally, the last piece of this investigation, the center of everything: Lied. Susumu helped solving various complex cases, but for the first time he wasn¡¯t able to draw any conclusions. Nevertheless, someone had to serve justice. ¡°I think you should seriously get some rest... from all¡± a thick voice rang out within Susumu. Susumu, or his mental body, was taken to a place without light. In front of him, a silhouette rose from the darkness. Chains unfolded from the unseen feet as they scattered before the young detective. ¡°I can handle the case for you though.¡± ¡°You never give up, do you?¡± Susumu sneered while staring at the shadow, or the ¡°Chains Man¡±, as he used to call him. ¡°Give up? You¡¯re the one who must step down. Look at you: completely hopeless, clueless.¡± ¡°I appreciate your concern, even so it¡¯s as I have said a thousand times. I won¡¯t rest until I carry out my duty¡± Susumu sighed ¡°It¡¯s tough. Exhausting. Painful. I cannot deny that I¡¯m at my limit sometimes. But you know...? Nobody said it wasn¡¯t going to be tough, exhausting and painful. And they didn¡¯t have to... that¡¯s the price to pay for a greater cause. Fighting the injustice and protecting justice ¨C in order to safeguard these values, I¡¯m willing to cast aside even my own life.¡± ¡°¡¯Justice¡¯, huh...? It¡¯s ironic, you¡¯re obsessed with something that doesn¡¯t exist. Neither in this nor in the other world... Anyway, no matter what I say, your vision won¡¯t change. It didn¡¯t change before, and won¡¯t change now.¡± ... 7 years ago Little 10-year-old Susumu eagerly studied in his room. ¡°Why do you try harder than you ought to when you already got the best grades in school?¡± ¡°Being the best here isn¡¯t enough. I need to work much more... if I want to protect.¡± ¡°Protect? What?¡± ¡°Justice. It¡¯s... VERY big and hard to defend!¡± ¡°Boy, this ¡®justice¡¯ you speak of doesn¡¯t exist. I know from personal experience¡­¡± ¡°So what if it doesn¡¯t exist? I just need to make it with all my strength!¡± The Chains Man didn¡¯t know whether he should laugh or cry. He merely decided to smile and admit... his admiration for his plain and sheer conviction. ... Back to the present¡­ ¡°Susumu, I hope you haven¡¯t forgotten¡­ our ¡®agreement¡¯.¡± ¡°Of course not¡­ When I, after doing all I can, come across a case that I absolutely cannot solve, I¡¯ll let you take over from that moment onwards¡± Susumu said. ¡°Hm...¡± The figure crept back into the whopping darkness. This was another tragedy, equally inevitable¡­ ¡­ Susumu returned to reality. He wouldn¡¯t fail... failure wasn¡¯t an option. ¡°Well, I should get back to work.¡± ¡­ Lied went past the school, a building that once caused him much boredom. Will he ever come back? Hopefully not. Lied wondered if Susumu had already realized that he escaped the police station. He better hurry. ¡°You¡¯re in a real rush. Who do you want to find so much?¡± a sassy voice echoed through the cherry trees. The male voice seemed to sound from the trees. Was he finally going nuts...? ¡°I''m not a figment of your imagination. Basically, I¡¯m communicating with you through your mind, albeit not too far away...¡± Made sense. The fact that he thought the voice was coming from the trees meant that the sender was close to him, the receiver. The question was: where exactly? ¡°Who are you?! Show yourself!¡± ¡°Chill. It¡¯s not like someone¡¯s waiting for you, so let¡¯s talk a bit¡± he tittered. A rather tasteless joke, yet Lied managed to control his emotions, all thanks to his meeting with the ¡°mysterious woman¡±¡­ But if the man knew about his parents, that could only mean one thing. ¡°You... are one of ¡®them¡¯?!¡± ¡°Haha, bingo! You¡¯re a quick thinker. Too bad it wasn¡¯t enough... to prevent their deaths!¡± Lied started running on the spot around the site with the purpose of tracking down the source. ¡°Hahaha, rudimentary methods won''t help you. Don¡¯t listen, instead, feel.¡± Don¡¯t listen, but feel? How the hell was he supposed to do that? Instinctively, Lied was able to sense the voice¡¯s energy and pinpoint the location of the person behind the mental communication. ¡°Oh, see? I knew you could do it! Now¡­ come get me!¡± Lied didn¡¯t think twice ¨C the hooded man could wait. ... Naomi staggered after she bumped into Core. She didn¡¯t understand what really happened. As a matter of fact, the other girl looked in worse shape. And that woman with turquoise hair... who was she? Naomi herself acknowledged positive changes such as her crispness and well-being. Naomi¡¯s cheerful smile faded as she saw Lied running down the street. She hadn¡¯t seen him since that day. What about Lied...? Perhaps his wounds healed at least a little? Lied, too, was already¡­ an important coincidence of her life. ¡°Hold on, Lied!¡± ... No useful info at hand, it all came down to Susumu¡¯s biggest weapon, which is his gut feeling. ¡°Hm? That¡¯s... no way...?!¡± Lied ran in the distance like there was no tomorrow. ... ¡°That¡¯s it! Great use of Sensitivity!¡± Lied bypassed an alley, the man was right around the corner¡­! ¡°Found you!¡± ... The fates of three young people intertwined: Naomi, from one side, and Susumu, from another. The detective glared upon Lied. ¡°What are you... You¡¯re¡­!¡± Susumu noticed Naomi¡¯s presence. Lied didn¡¯t hide his amazement. ¡°Oh, the detective-san! If I¡¯m not mistaken, your name is... Suzume?¡± Naomi said. ¡°Susumu! But that doesn¡¯t matter, why are you both... The trio paid heed to a blond-haired male in front of them, next to the wall. Martyr couldn''t help but laugh out loud, such was the grace of kismet. [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 4 – The Guardian I Lied reached at last the voice¡¯s source ¨C a man in his 20s. He was joined by Naomi and Susumu, both chasing after the boy with light green eyes. Their futures connected, linked by the same thread of fate, the trio faced Martyr, therewith entering the climax of the first Arc! ¡°Hah. Haha. Hahaha!¡± The half-frenzied man was unable to hold back his laughter. To Martyr, the whole situation was truly hilarious. ¡°Who... is this person...?¡± Naomi felt uneasy. ¡°That color pattern... it can¡¯t be?!¡± Susumu focused on Martyr¡¯s clothes. ¡°Hehe, the name¡¯s Martyr. You¡¯re... aaaaah, the detective who uses Visibility that Varius mentioned. So, figured something out yet?¡± Martyr addressed Susumu sardonically. ¡°¡¯Visibility¡¯...?¡± the detective muttered. Martyr left him wondering as he stared at Naomi for a few seconds, not saying a word. ¡°The clock is ticking and I have no business with you two¡­¡± Martyr vanished and reappeared in front of Lied, startling the three of them. ... Lied found himself once again in his only sacred space, or so he thought until recently. Now that he remembered, Varius called this place¡­ ¡°¡¯Soul¡¯. My... mind.¡± ¡°Eh, it¡¯s actually pretty standard. Well, appearances can be deceiving.¡± ¡°Enough. I¡¯m sick of these little games of yours. What do you really want from me?!¡± ¡°Right... let me clarify what I said earlier. What we desire, no, what I long for, isn¡¯t yourself, but what¡¯s inside you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s...?¡± Lied turned his head to look at the apple. Martyr walked quietly towards Lied who stood by the basket. ¡°Yes. The heavenly apple... the Adam¡¯s Apple!¡± ¡°The... ¡®Adam¡¯s Apple¡¯...?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to understand though. ¡®Untouchable¡¯? How, if I¡¯m this close? ¡®Wait for the development of his spirit¡¯? Why put off what can be done now?¡± Martyr glared at the youth ¡°Development... de facto, you seem to have a certain spiritual aptitude. For a human, of course.¡± Lied began to recall some memories to this day: the death of his parents; the face-off with Zechariah, the assassin; the mysterious woman that saved him; Varius, Zechariah''s accomplice... Within these events, the encounter with the white hooded man and his words that strongly resonated in his heart: ¡°(...) will you face it? Your own destiny?¡± Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Lied took a deep breath in and let it out. His wrists snapped. ¡°I don¡¯t understand anything. I don¡¯t know what I want, and I have no idea what my life will be like from now on. Deep down I¡¯m still a bit lost... about myself¡± the teenager looked up ¡°At least I¡¯m sure of something: I have a destiny. I may not know what, but there¡¯s something waiting for me in the future. I¡¯ve made up my mind. This life... I¡¯m going to live it. My own destiny... I¡¯ll seek it. Where it will take me, beats me. But as long as I keep moving forward, I will definitely find... a place where I belong.¡± ¡°Then what?¡± Martyr smiled scornfully. Lied beheld the Adam¡¯s Apple one last time. ¡°I don¡¯t know what it means to you guys, but this apple, somehow, has been at the center of the changes in my life. I feel I need it if I really want to understand who I am. And that¡¯s why... I won¡¯t let you take it!¡± Martyr¡¯s smile faded away, giving way to anger. ¡°You¡¯ll protect it... with your life at stake?¡± ¡°I will not die.¡± ¡°Those eyes...¡± the blonde thought as Lied strove with unwavering determination. Lied had a familiar aura that daunted Martyr. Yes, it reminded him¡­ of the Leader. Martyr went on the rampage, his killer instinct came up. ¡°THEN LET¡¯S SEE YOU TRY!¡± The man raised his left hand covered by a bandage. That¡¯s when roots grew out of the floor and halted his hand to their surprise. Someone else popped up in the soul. Dressed in a red hood, slightly older than Lied, he stayed in a squatting position. ¡°WHO¡¯S THERE?!¡± Martyr asked. ... Lied hung motionless, pale-faced, while Martyr was simply gone. ¡°W-What happened?¡± Naomi said. ¡°This is... like the other time...¡± Susumu said. ¡°Hey, Lied! Say something!¡± Naomi shook Lied hundreds of times. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s useless.¡± ¡°Eh...?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, the only thing we can do now is wait. Wait... for their return...¡± the detective comforted her. ¡°Lied...¡± Naomi merely looked at Lied. ... Lied and Martyr remained gobsmacked. The silent red cloaked figure acted according to his drive as a thick mass of tough roots grabbed Lied out of Martyr¡¯s reach. ¡°Damn it... somebody had to spoil the party before it even started¡± Martyr said. ¡°Too hard... what the hell is this...?¡± Martyr couldn¡¯t tear the roots out of his hand. New roots bursted into Lied¡¯s soul space rushing towards the target. In order to prevent worse evils, Martyr was forced to put all his strength into breaking the origin of the branching roots, thus be able to dodge the attack. The rough use of force hurt his bandaged hand and blood spurt out. Lied could barely see faint sparks in the air. He looked over the red hooded figure, the hood draped over his face. He was like a robot. Martyr did his best to get close to his opponent. However, the high intensity in addition to the attacks speed didn¡¯t allow an opportunity to arise. Things would get more complicated as the strike radius increased all the way from one end to the other of the soul. The blonde was stuck against the wall, a wave of roots captured him. He couldn¡¯t win. ¡°Untouchable, huh? Damn true¡­¡± Martyr smiled a smile of acknowledgment. ¡°Amazing... he completely cornered him!¡± Lied thought. The red hooded figure stood up, what seemed to be a necklace under the hood shuddered. Meanwhile, the wall on which Martyr was subdued warped. He struggled but to no avail. ¡°So this is my limit.¡± Martyr flashed him a glorious smile before being gobbled up by the bowels of his mind. Persevering, he managed to come back temporarily from the abyss thanks to his tremendous willpower. Even the red hooded was taken aback. A physiological change stood out particularly ¨C his eyes showed resentment and a great feeling of revenge. Eyes... of a snake. ¡°HAHA, WE¡¯RE JUST TAKING A BREAK... THE BATTLE ISN¡¯T OVER. THE TRUE FIGHT... IS YET TO START!¡± Martyr¡¯s time ran out. Lastly, he pointed his finger at the Adam¡¯s Apple¡­ ¡°I WILL DEFINITELY WIN! THE ADAM¡¯S APPLE... WILL BE MINE!¡± Lie 4 – The Guardian II The incredulous Lied turned to the placid red hooded figure. ¡°Who... are you?¡± He ignored his question and walked towards him. There were a few inches difference in height between them. Lied wavered whilst their eyes met for a brief second, a cross could be seen stirring under his hood. He gave Lied a fond smile. The latter noticed a sharp sadness behind his smiling expression. The red hooded man faded away as everything turned white... ... ¡°Lied!¡± Naomi and Susumu called his name. They returned. Martyr hardly stood as his whole body ached. Lied felt incomprehensibly tired, as if his sojourn in the soul had worn him out. Susumu realized that these after-effects didn¡¯t happen before. ¡°Don¡¯t get up yet!¡± Naomi said. ¡°I¡¯m fine. More importantly...¡± Lied said. The three stared at Martyr. The wound in his hand caught Naomi¡¯s attention. ¡°He¡¯s bleeding¡­!¡± ¡°Haha, don¡¯t look at me like that... I don¡¯t want anyone¡¯s pity...¡± His eyes full of hate didn¡¯t fool Lied. He had seen them somewhere. Yes... Lied and Martyr shared the same eyes. ¡°Next time, I¡¯LL BE THE ONE TO DEVOUR YOU.¡± Eyes guided by the same fate. Martyr was gone without a trace. ¡°What... was that...?¡± Naomi asked. Susumu came face to face with Lied and lifted him by the collar. ¡°I told you to stay at the police station. Why did you disobey me? Do you want to die?¡± Lied remembered himself being in a similar situation not long ago. Ah, that day, with his father. The last time they exchanged words. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be safe even if I had stayed. They managed to easily deceive the police.¡± ¡°Shut up... what do you...¡± ¡°To be honest, I find it pathetic. The way they played you like a fiddle and how you tried to resume the case already too late... a pretty foolish attempt to redeem yourselves.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know anything, so don¡¯t talk as if you do!¡± ¡°You two, please, stop...¡± Naomi asked. Susumu complied with the girl¡¯s wish and dropped Lied. ¡°Who do you think takes care of the people of this island in the shadows? You have no idea... how hard it is to uphold justice. You don¡¯t understand our pain¡± Susumu said. ¡°This society is rotten to the core. There¡¯s no salvation¡± Susumu thought. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Lied and Naomi found themselves without a response ready to shoot back at him. Crestfallen Susumu walked away shortly afterwards. ... The unsuccessful detective trod through the dark streets at night, the crescent moon hanging over his head. It was getting late and as such he called time on today¡¯s work. ¡°Better days will come¡± ¨C his heart spoke. Unlike the heart, his mind took into account past outcomes in order to predict the future. Susumu stopped walking and leaned against a wall on which he placed his cold gripped fist. By coincidence, light rain began to fall in very fine drops. A feeling of failure overcame him. Susumu arrived home. Tatsuo dozed off on the couch while waiting for his son. Susumu recalled bittersweet memories: his dad unfairly criticized in public for the ending of a case; the other way around, the detective wasn¡¯t properly credited. Susumu always watched from afar, bearing witness to injustice. Yes, this was for his father¡¯s sake too. He took a shower and lay down on the bed. His limbs were blowing up, his mind interweaving thoughts. The vigilante went out like a light toward tomorrow... ... Inside Susumu, the Chains Man thought deeply about Martyr. ¡°Those eyes... there¡¯s no doubt...¡± ... Naomi hoped Lied and Susumu would make up one day. Without saying a word to her, Lied headed out the alley. ¡°Wait!¡± Naomi wouldn¡¯t let him leave just like that, not after everything¡­ ¡°It¡¯s weird... it doesn¡¯t feel we last met only a week ago. A lot happened¡­ in so little time. You know, these last couple of days I made sense of several things. And in the end, I think I came to a decision: live forthrightly and push on through the path ahead of me. You also found one, right? A goal...¡± The boy was reminded of his oath to Martyr, pledging to protect the Adam¡¯s Apple. ¡°Yeah.¡± For a moment, Naomi swore she saw a familiar person with hair red as tomato. There was nothing to worry about. Like her, Lied found a reason to keep living. Lied and Naomi went in opposite directions. That said, no matter the means, they always met each other. That is the fate both shared. ... Martyr was in an angry mood whilst he entered the building. Zechariah and Varius awaited him outside the room, Core and Nemo were already inside. Zechariah was free from worry whereas Varius kept a straight face. ¡°Welcome back¡± Zechariah said. ¡°Tss...¡± Martyr clenched his bandaged fist, the squeeze caused some blood to gush out of his hand. Hopeless, he looked at Varius. ¡°It¡¯s as you said, Varius. He¡­ that flipping red hooded was watching over the apple.¡± Recollections of the unbalanced battle came up¡­ ¡°Ridiculously fast... my eyes couldn¡¯t keep up. Too strong... those roots he controlled were of unbelievable stiffness.¡± Overly upset to continue talking, Martyr left them. ... While in Lied¡¯s soul, Varius sensed another hostile presence. Upon approaching the Adam¡¯s Apple, he even triggered a self-defense mechanism. ¡°A guardian¡± Varius muttered. ¡°Red hood¡­ and roots¡­¡± Zechariah said. ¡°Could it be... Adam?¡± ¡°Now it¡¯s getting interesting¡± Zechariah smirked. ... Nemo left the room without anyone noticing to follow Martyr. The man entered the bathroom, Nemo decided to stay at the door. ¡°I know you¡¯re there¡± Martyr said. ¡°Hard to believe you were easily beaten. The guy was that tough...¡± Nemo popped up. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Maybe you¡¯re a bit weak, no?¡± Martyr lowered his head and wriggled his entire body forward suddenly. Fiendish eyes awakened. A snake, incarnation of fear itself, slid around the child¡¯s skull. An illusion so real it almost seemed true. ¡°Do you¡­ wish to be devoured?¡± His body went numb and Nemo wasn¡¯t able to move for a few seconds. The psychological trauma would take a long time to heal¡­ ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡± Nemo thought before running away. ¡°Haha. Hahaha. Hahahaha!¡± Such as a snake, Martyr licked all the blood off his hand. Lied, the red hooded figure and the Adam¡¯s Apple came to his mind¡­ ¡°HOODIE...!¡± Lie 4 – The Guardian III Naomi, beaming marvelous after meeting Lied again, went straight home and slumped into a couch. She remembered the mirror image of the red-haired boy. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, I do feel as if it wasn¡¯t a coincidence¡­¡± ... Lied no longer had a place to call home since his house was engulfed in flames. The boy walked up the stairs, despite this. The structure could barely hold itself up. He crouched down and leaned against the wall between his bedroom and the bathroom, where it was possible to see the moon in its splendor through a breach on the roof. The teenager started feeling sleepy. When just a pitchy background remained, Lied was awakened by a groan of the wind. ¡°Hm...?¡± Reality mingled with his soul as from the sky poured down¡­ ¡°Snow?¡± Actually, those were the blue orbs that Lied and Naomi witnessed. Lied noticed the Adam¡¯s Apple on his right while on his left a young man, resembling the red hooded figure, smiled at the moon. It was indeed the same person. ¡°Who¡­ are you really¡­?¡± The man whispered something that didn¡¯t quite reach his ears. Lied only heard his own name. Night came and the predestined hero fell asleep. ... The day dawned bleak and chill. Martyr, Zechariah, Varius, Core and Nemo gathered at the table, discussing the last details regarding their next step. Martyr had an unfriendly face, Nemo seemed back to normal. Yesterday Core found his behavior strangely odd, thus asking now: Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Are you... ok?¡± ¡°¡­What about you? Looking at your dead face, I¡¯d say you didn¡¯t sleep well.¡± Core didn¡¯t move to the next page of her book. De facto, the girl''s recent encounters have revived old dreams. ¡°Any questions?¡± Zechariah stood up. ¡°What¡¯s your role?¡± Nemo raised his hand. ¡°I... ought to carry out formalities¡± Zechariah cracked a smile. ¡°That means...?¡± Core said. ¡°¡¯Them¡¯¡± Varius said. Martyr sighed as the snake had to wait for his turn to have fun. ... Many years later, a certain promise was finally on the brink of being fulfilled. Covered with a hood, Xanthus geared up to keep his life¡¯s vow. ... Two minutes after Martyr, Varius, Core e Nemo were dismissed. ¡°Well, I should get going too.¡± Upon opening the door, Zechariah is greeted by a wind gust coming from the open windows, his black coat danced daintily. ¡°At long last, the day has come, Zaccharias. This spectrum of yours... is taking action.¡± ... Saturday, it was a windy day like the weather forecasters predicted. The police station was very buzzy that morning, officers were blooming with joy. ¡°The future looks bright.¡± ¡°Our station will surely be considered the best in Ganeden, no, in the whole world!¡± ¡°I¡¯m so proud of us¡­¡± Apparently, only Susumu himself didn¡¯t know what was going on. He ran into two fellow detectives on his way to his father''s office. ¡°Oh, Susumu! Congratulations!¡± ¡°You¡¯re a senpai henceforward. Get along!¡± ¡°Senpai? What...?¡± Tatsuo was talking to someone when Susumu entered without knocking. ¡°Dad, what is¡­¡± ¡°Susumu! I was about to call you. This is Nemo, he¡¯s five years younger than you and from today on shall be your partner.¡± Susumu inspected him: he wore a white shirt and black tie, green eyes and spiky hair. Nemo brought his chin up and invited Susumu to shake hands. ¡°Nice to meet you... Susumu-senpai.¡± ... Lied was awoken by a burning sunlight. The street in front of the house wasn¡¯t bustling since the folk refused to approach it during this time. In that sense, Lied was accursed as the lone survivor. Lied shook his head and headed to the park. It was time... to face the one who knows most. The white hooded man awaited him at the fated place, hence the stage was set for both Lied and Xanthus to draw the curtains. Destiny is reserved for those who are chosen. And the big guilty boy, like those who came before him, spins the wheel that moves the world. This is a ¡°lie¡±, an adventure in search of the truth. [END OF CHAPTER] [ARC ¡°GANEDEN¡± ENDS] [END OF VOLUME 1] Lie 5 – Homo faber suae ipsae fortunae est I Thatched huts fell apart, a searing fire burned the vegetation away as shouts of desperate voices filled a village. Core, in someone else¡¯s body ¨C a relatively older young woman with long turquoise hair, who wore a moon-shaped necklace ¨C, ran hopelessly towards the center of the commotion: the battlefield. ... In another, more contemporary reality, 8-year-old Core also rushed alone with might and main. The people around her knelt down begging for mercy, soldiers tried to hush them. A dizzy spell hit Core and then she passed out. ... Back to the first reality, a red hooded boy held his hand out to Core. A thick red liquid dripped from the palm of his hand as he gave a half-hearted smile.That same smile exposed several wounds, physical and psychological. What looked like tears were drops of blood. ¡°Are you ok?¡± he asked. ... A blonde lad the same age as Core with dark green eyes and a black cross around his neck took the red hooded figure¡¯s place, the two realities became one. That¡¯s when the fair-haired kid¡¯s orbs flashed fiendishly¡­He was the Leader. Her savior. ¡°Are you ok?¡± ... This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. 10:35 AM. Core finished rewinding the dream from eight years ago¡­ She hasn¡¯t had these elaborate and terrifying dreams in a while. Nemo must have infiltrated the police force by now as planned. A few days have gone by since she met Naomi and Iduma, the latter resembled the red hooded boy very much. What about Eve, why did she saw her now¡­? Core kept walking. ... ¡°Who is he?¡± Susumu thought. So as not to leave Tatsuo waiting, Susumu shook Nemo¡¯s hand. ¡°Tomorrow you work. Today is a day to celebrate!¡± the cheerful Tatsuo said before stepping out of the office. ¡°Well, I¡¯d better get going too. See you tomorrow... Senpai¡± Nemo said goodbye to Susumu. ¡­ Susumu had his head in the clouds on his way home. He couldn¡¯t push aside a feeling of uneasiness. The detective was called upon by the Chains Man to his soul. ¡°He¡¯s one of them¡± the Chains Man said. ¡°How do you know?!¡± Susumu asked. ¡°Use your intuition.¡± ¡°Does that mean he has been infiltrated in the police since his training days? If that¡¯s true, then how come I never came across him? Why doesn¡¯t his name ring a bell, despite being so well known among the officers?¡± The Chains Man slithered over the surface as a series of linked metal rings that followed him made a rattling sound. The silhouette thereafter handled the endless chains in a skillful manner to write a single word: Memoriam, latin for ¡°memory¡±. ¡°The answer is memory manipulation.¡± ¡°Memory manipulation, you say?!¡± ¡°Correct. This child, Nemo, manipulated the memory of every police officer, including your father, making them think he¡¯s someone who doesn¡¯t even exist.¡± ¡°Impossible...¡± ¡°One by one he implanted false memories into their minds. A flawless disguise.¡± ¡°How... can such a thing be possible?¡± Susumu felt partially defeated. The shadow smirked. ¡°Just as you can see reminiscences of the past by touching an object. The possibilities of the spirit are... infinite.¡± ¡°The spirit¡­¡± Susumu remembered something Martyr mentioned ¡°¡¯Visibility¡¯. It¡¯s the same trick?¡± ¡°No, not exactly, it¡¯s more complex in this case... Susumu, he will most definitely try to put you under his control. After all, you¡¯re the only one left with his memory untouched.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m outnumbered and almost without intel.¡± ¡°Are you giving up?¡± ¡°No, but I find it odd that you¡¯re cooperating with me when my defeat benefits you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to explain, but in this situation we would both lose.¡± ¡°Hm...¡± ¡°Given the circumstances, why not flout the agreement for the time being?¡± The teenager weighed up his options before replying. ¡°Fine. How should I fight back?¡± The shadow smiled with total confidence. Lie 5 – Homo faber suae ipsae fortunae est II Lied and Xanthus stared at each other for several long seconds¡­ Lied remembered everything he went through, from his parents¡¯ death to him meeting the red hooded figure. ¡°After that day, I thought about your words¡± Lied said. ¡°So?¡± Xanthus said. ¡°Here¡¯s my answer: I won¡¯t run away.¡± Xanthus smiled a fragmented smile as he liked his straightforward answer. ¡°Facing hardships head on and embracing what fate has in store for us¡­ that''s the only way to go on living. To those who imprison themselves in the misfortune of time, merely a sharp pain shall be left. They will never get out from the abyss of grief.¡± ¡°I need to ask something. I know you, don¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°And all these people who suddenly popped into my life, even this Martyr guy...¡± ¡°Martyr?¡± ¡°Answer me!¡± ¡°Yes¡± Xanthus looked up at the sky. ¡°I see. The truth is, I don¡¯t know my real parents. Not just them... I don¡¯t remember anything from my first eight years of life. Who am I? Who was that woman? What is the ¡®Adam¡¯s Apple¡¯? Also...¡± the red hooded figure came to his mind, Lied took a single step forward ¡°¡­who is ¡®he¡¯? I must get my memories back in order to understand who I really am!¡± ¡°Are you sure? Retrieving those memories and uncovering the past might lead you to great suffering, to endless agony. We could say that, at the end of your venture, just an inevitable tragedy awaits you. Do you still wish to open the door of times that were best forgotten?¡± ¡°Even so, that is still my destiny¡± Lied clenched his right fist. ¡°¡­Heh.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing¡­¡± This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The boy¡¯s statement made a sleeping nostalgia awaken in the hooded figure¡­ The teenager then felt an abrupt urge to sleep, as he was under hypnosis again. ¡°My name is Xanthus. Have a nice trip.¡± Lied dozed off like a bolt from the blue... Xanthus lifted the lad up and laid him on his left shoulder. He took off his hood, revealing a pretty face with cyan blue eyes and blonde hair. ¡°It has taken eight years, but I finally kept our promise. I leave the rest to you... Zaccharias.¡± A silhouette lurked in the darkness, his golden eyes so familiar¡­ Xanthus turned to Zechariah, an event to be told later on... ¡­ Lied woke up finding himself floating across some sort of pathway which connected worlds apart. That¡¯s when the showy tiny blue dots surrounded him. Lied chuckled. ¡°You will show me the way, won¡¯t you? To wherever I should go.¡± ¡­ Lied landed steady. The bluish marbles scattered over the place and turned into human beings who joined dozens of people in a straight line, all of them pale-faced, as if they weren¡¯t alive. A couple of guards stood by along a third person writing behind a counter. ¡°Where... am I?¡± Lied looked at himself, his body almost transparent resembling those weird people. ¡°What the...?¡± ¡°Hey, you! What are you doing? Get in line!¡± one of the guards noticed Lied. ¡°Are you deaf?! Come here now!¡± the other guard said. Lied wavered and ran away, the guards went immediately after him. ¡°Dammit...! This can¡¯t be a dream! What is this place? What are those people? And more importantly, what happened to my body?¡± He watched worriedly his own body. His movements were fairly different from before too. Urban buildings lied ahead, they mustn''t have been used in a long while judging by its decaying condition, perhaps hundreds of years... Lied gazed at the men as they narrowed the distance in the twinkling of an eye, though he never slowed down. He stared once more at the buildings, candles shed light upon the site. ¡°Over here!¡± an unknown voice shouted. The shout came from an alley nearby. Lied raced to the shelter wherein he rested. ¡°That was a close call, huh?¡± His savior¡¯s identity, with golden eyes and wearing a hat, was... ¡°A... talking crow?¡± Once again, saved by fate. Life. Spirit. Soul. These three elements have been put to the test throughout History. Lives were born. Spirits battled. Souls expired. In this dead world, where lives, spirits and its souls reposed, a new battle would start. ¡­ An 18-year-old male sat at a desk piled high with papers, a candle in one corner and a mug in the other. There was so much paperwork that he would rather throw it away. He had forest green tousled hair and eyes, and wore formal attire. ¡°This feeling. Something¡­ something¡¯s about to happen¡­!¡± Regarding his personality¡­ let¡¯s say he used to be a bit insecure. ¡°AND I¡¯M SURELY NOT READY!¡± [END OF CHAPTER] [SAGA "MICTLAN" STARTS] Lie 6 – The Underworld I Spirit and body become one. A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person¡¯s inner strength. Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode. Ganeden, Saturday, 12:35 Naomi in a casual dress strolled along the empty streets of Ganeden while mentally recapping the events of the past few days. Naomi felt she wouldn¡¯t be seeing Lied again anytime soon, but oddly enough, no matter how far apart they were from each other, she believed that they were connected by something greater than themselves. ¡°Your resolve... I wonder if it will suffice before the upcoming storm.¡± A black-haired, lilac-eyed man in overcoat popped up behind her. ¡°Huh? Who are you?¡± Naomi asked. ¡°Varius¡­ Martyr¡¯s partner¡± Varius replied. ¡°Martyr...? Ah! What¡¯s your relationship with Lied?!¡± ¡°Well, we could say we¡¯re responsible for the fate of his adoptive parents, although it was another one of our group that handled the job.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡°Lied¡¯s parents...! Why would you do such a horrible thing?!¡± ¡°It was a necessary step to his awakening.¡± ¡°¡¯Awakening¡¯? What do you mean?¡± The male closed his eyes and shortly after opened them. ¡°Ask your spirit.¡± ¡°What...?¡± ... The two were suddenly teleported to a wide, colorless dimension. Naomi recognized right away that this was the place of her dreams. ¡°It¡¯s your soul. Lied visited his recently¡± Varius told her. Naomi looked around, slightly confused. The teenager tilted her head downwards. ¡°Lied too? So, it wasn¡¯t just a dream...?¡± The man strode towards the gigantic tree standing in the middle. Varius watched the tree warily as it deeply intrigued him. ¡°This¡­ couldn¡¯t be¡­? Why is it here? Does Zechariah know?¡± he turned slowly to Naomi ¡°Who are you really?¡± ¡°Who am I? My name is...¡± ¡°Lilith! Eh¡­? What did I¡­¡± she thought to herself. Varius found her silence awkward as he was left waiting for an answer. Naomi shook her head back and forth before replying: ¡°Naomi! That¡¯s my name!¡± Varius sighed and went to her afterwards. ¡°¡­If it wasn¡¯t for ignorance, destiny could be easily deciphered. In the absence of determinism, the worlds and their people¡­ would fall.¡± The male walked through Naomi, followed by a transition to reality. ¡­ ¡°We¡¯re back!¡± Naomi said. They had returned to Ganeden. Varius jumped swiftly into a house window and sat there while an unsettling breeze swirled around them¡­ ¡°You¡¯re going to listen to a story now¡± Varius said. ¡°A story?¡± ¡°The story of a man who shed blood in order to go against his fate and those who opposed him. Nachash, also known as ¡®the Talking Serpent¡¯.¡± ¡°Nachash...¡± Knowing he wouldn¡¯t go away, Naomi gathered some patience to listen to him as the name mentioned sounded familiar to her. ¡­ Lie 6 – The Underworld II Lied was astonished, sitting with his knees bent in a tight shelter. ¡°A¡­ talking crow?¡± ¡°That ¡®talking crow¡¯ has a name, and it¡¯s Zaccharias!¡± The crow with the hat didn''t seem surprised to see Lied in the ruins, much less asked why he was being chased. ¡°¡­The name¡¯s Lied. So, how can a crow speak? Unless I¡¯m really dreaming.¡± Zaccharias slapped Lied with his left paw as the latter felt his cheek hurting. ¡°What the hell was that for?!¡± ¡°See? It¡¯s not a dream. About why I¡¯m able to speak, that¡¯s because I¡¯m a human being despite my current form. Anyway, young Lied, are you sixteen now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°WHAT A SLUGGISH REPLY! Hey, I¡¯m the one dead here!¡± ¡°I did answer, didn¡¯t I?!¡± ¡°Way better.¡± ¡°Huh? He guessed my age? Also¡­¡± Lied thought. ¡°¡¯Dead¡¯?¡± Zaccharias sighed. It was time to explain everything to him. ¡°Lied, I assume you haven¡¯t got a clue where you are.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ I woke up in some sort of channel and then the blue dots led me here.¡± ¡°Those ¡®blue dots¡¯ are the spirits of the dead.¡± ¡°Spirits of the dead?¡± ¡°You may have noticed that they move along the same direction.¡± The young man nodded. Indeed, they were always heading for the park. ¡°It¡¯s the road to Mictlan, the Underworld, where those who have perished await reincarnation.¡± ¡°The Underworld... Who would have thought that such a place existed.¡± Lied remembered the blue spheres turning into humans. So they used to be normal people. ¡°Could they still be here¡­?¡± Lied was reminded of his deceased parents. ¡°Then, you¡¯re a spirit of Mictlan?¡± Lied said. ¡°Yep. A runaway yet to be reincarnated¡± Zaccharias said. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Ever since I died and came to Mictlan eight years ago. Well, how come you ended up here?¡± Lied recalled his long chat with Xanthus, the white hooded man. ¡°I¡­ lost my parents not long ago. They weren¡¯t my real parents, still the only ones I have ever met. They were killed by a crew that¡¯s been going after me, though their real target is something else. One of their guys, Martyr, called it ¡®Adam¡¯s Apple¡¯¡± Lied brought his chin slightly down ¡°I want to understand. Not just the others, myself too. My heart tells me this apple is the key, hence why I cannot allow anyone to take it.¡± If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Someone who doesn¡¯t know, can¡¯t understand. Someone who doesn¡¯t understand, can¡¯t know. In the Adam¡¯s Apple¡¯s case, it¡¯s material knowledge.¡± ¡°You know what the Adam¡¯s Apple is?¡± Lied raised his eyebrows. The crow put his precious hat down, which he rarely does. ¡°Mictlan and Tellus, your world. However, there is actually another world besides these two ¨C Aqua, my homeland, whence that group, Illuminatus, comes from.¡± ¡°Illuminatus...¡± ¡°They¡¯re aztecs, citizens of Aqua.¡± ¡°Hold on a sec. If you¡¯re aztecs, we, of Tellus, are what?¡± ¡°Well, ¡®humans¡¯. That''s how we refer to your race.¡± Lied went back to silence enlightened as Zaccharias carried on. ¡°Both Tellus and Aqua were once a single world: the Original World. This is a story that goes back to the beginnings of mankind itself, a tale traditionally passed down from aztecs to aztecs. The tale of Adam, Eve and Nachash.¡± ¡°Adam, Eve and Nachash...¡± ¡°Those three were the first human beings, while everything suggests that more people were born through the magic of the Adam¡¯s Apple.¡± Lied couldn''t believe it. The power of creation¡­ ¡°A town was built near the mythical Garden of Eden and everybody lived in peace¡­ before the arrival of the Guardians of God, mysterious individuals represented in the holy scriptures with gray hooded cloaks.¡± The boy could feel the tension in the air while the story got darker and darker over time. ¡°Little or nothing is known about these ¡®guardians¡¯, save for the war waged by them with the purpose of destroying civilization. That was the ¡°First Spiritual War¡±, a fierce battle fought between the Guardians of God and Adam¡¯s gang, which consequently split the Original World apart.¡± Lied swallowed his saliva prior to being bombarded with more revelations. ¡°Adam, ¡®The Hero¡¯, and his companions won of course. Yet, within their flock, a certain man turned against Adam. The two considered themselves best friends up to that point. His name was Nachash, ¡®the Talking Serpent¡¯!¡± ¡°Why would he betray them?¡± ¡°The reason¡¯s inside you.¡± ¡°The apple? Wait, if I have it now¡­¡± ¡°Yes. To everyone¡¯s happiness, Nachash failed to get his hands on it.¡± ¡°He betrayed his friend and his people, all for personal gain. In the end, Nachash was a victim of his own greed¡­¡± ¡°¡­Nachash was defeated, but his ambitions not. Knowing that the snake would definitely return, Adam postponed the inevitable using the Adam''s Apple to create a world where he could imprison him for eternity, that is, Mictlan.¡± ¡°Does that mean¡­ Nachash is still here?!¡± ¡°Nope, he broke out of prison eighteen years ago. These days nobody knows his whereabouts, after the event of eight years ago.¡± ¡°There is more?¡± ¡°Shortly after escaping, Nachash settled in Aqua. Ten years later, to the despair of all who fear the Talking Serpent, he made his official return as he started the Second Spiritual War.¡± To think that such a fight took place whilst Lied and the population of Ganeden lived peacefully¡­ ¡°It¡¯s true Nachash vanished, he¡¯s believed to be dead. From my perspective, this Second Spiritual War didn¡¯t have a winner. Nachash is more alive than ever, wishing to obtain the one thing that greatly enthralls him.¡± ¡°The Adam¡¯s Apple¡­¡± ¡°Lied, you said you wouldn''t let them take the apple away, nevertheless, I ought to ask you: Illuminatus itself was responsible for the death of your parents. Surely revenge stirs you?¡± ¡°Revenge¡­? I may have thought about it. Your thoughts on that matter, Zaccharias?¡± ¡°Grudge is a source of power. Many, including Nachash himself, lived off their hate. Well¡­ ¡®When in doubt, ask your spirit. It shall steer your way towards the answer¡¯. A principle that I stand by.¡± ¡°When in doubt, ask your spirit. It shall steer your way towards the answer.¡± Lied closed his eyes and got his head down in order to enter his soul of his own free will, for the first time. He stared at the apple inside the basket, his clear green eyes showed a quiet determination. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Walking my own path and finding the answer¡­ I think that¡¯s one of the reasons why ¡®he¡¯ sent me here. But¡­¡± Lied looked closely at his hands. ¡°But?¡± ¡°¡­As I am now, I don¡¯t stand a chance. Neither the Adam¡¯s Apple nor I¡­ I won''t be able to protect anything. I need to get stronger.¡± Zaccharias grabbed his hat and put it back on. ¡°There¡¯s just one method: learning to fight with the spirit.¡± ¡°¡¯Fight with the spirit¡¯?¡± ¡°The Spirit Mode!¡± Zaccharias smiled. ¡­ Lie 6 – The Underworld III Naomi was dumbfounded, as if she had been struck by lightning. Two worlds, Tellus and Aqua, besides a first world that came long before; two species, humans and aztecs; wars and the Adam¡¯s Apple, the reason the Illuminatus is after Lied, the apple¡¯s owner. In the end there was the bad guy, Nachash, who killed countless people. ¡°That¡¯s awful¡­¡± Naomi spoke in a whisper. ¡°Yes¡± Varius agreed with her. ¡°You¡¯re just as awful as him! Doing anything to get what you want¡­¡± ¡°Fair enough¡± Varius jumped down from the window and walked around wide-eyed Naomi ¡°Don¡¯t go thinking you¡¯re innocent, though.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°There are no coincidences. We are all bound together, either by different or the same links. The sin¡­ is shared.¡± ¡°Once again, what are you trying to say?!¡± ¡°You and Nachash are connected.¡± ¡°You mean we know each other?¡± ¡°The mind might forget, but the spirit won¡¯t. The same goes for Lied¡­¡± ¡°Enough! Lied may be a bit cold fish and sometimes rude, but deep down he¡¯s a kind person. Just¡­ unlucky¡­¡± ¡°Really? Darkness or light, one shall bathe him before the other as the Lied you know, or that you believe to know, will change in a way that cannot be avoided.¡± ¡°Even if he does change, I¡¯ll be at his side!¡± ¡°Naomi Setsuko¡­¡± Varius thought. Varius usually doesn¡¯t show his smile and yet he smiled softly. He turned his back to her as he prepared to leave. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go find him?¡± Varius said. ¡°You know where Lied is?!¡± Naomi said. ¡°Go home and lie down, let your spirit guide you on the journey. You will most certainly get there.¡± ¡°Why are you telling me that? Is it part of your plans?¡± ¡°¡­No. Me being here with you has nothing to do with the organization.¡± ¡°Then¡­ why?¡± ¡°I myself have a destiny to follow.¡± And so Varius, as clear as mud, vanished into the blue. ¡­ Naomi arrived home. She remembered the red-headed child while lying on the bed. Could she also find him in this mysterious place where everyone seems to be gathering? She closed her eyes without wrapping herself up in the blanket. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡­ A dimension where daylight doesn¡¯t reach, the surface dark such as the endless walls that seem to stretch out into various hideous paths. Lied couldn¡¯t be seen anywhere. A shiver went down her spine as it smelled like¡­ death. ¡°Anybody here¡­?¡± The walls threw back the echoes of her voice until four tall, thin figures came forth from the darkness at the same time. These scary critters had warped faces and sallow flesh. ¡°M-Monsters¡­ I have to¡­¡± Naomi thought. One of the creatures uttered a full, deep, prolonged cry while Naomi ran away as fast as she could. The girl turned her head slightly and noticed that they had caught up with her. Naomi tripped on the ground, thus becoming an easy prey¡­ That¡¯s when snakes strangled the monsters to death. She stood up and watched their corpses agape. Meanwhile, a worn-out, gray cloaked figure strode up to Naomi. The hooded figure took its hood off, revealing a dark-skinned young man with dark green hair, whose eyes shone fiendishly as he asked: ¡°You are¡­ alive, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Eh?¡± ¡­ In Ganeden, during the conversation between Lied and Zaccharias¡­ After teaming up with the Chains Man, Susumu changed his mind and headed back to the police station. Apparently, someone else had the same idea. ¡°Oh! Senpai! Pumped up for work as well?¡± Nemo waited by the entrance. Nemo, too, intended to settle everything today. The Chains Man promised to watch from his lair until the right moment. ¡°Well, the case is¡­ right, they still haven¡¯t given us one yet!¡± Nemo laughed. ¡°Actually, I have a pending investigation that I¡¯d like to resume. I''m referring to the recent incident which resulted in the death of two people and the disappearance of their son.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t that case closed?¡± ¡°The police did write in the reports that the deaths were due to natural causes.¡± ¡°¡­To be honest, I wasn¡¯t convinced either.¡± Both detectives set out in search of clues as they were taken to the alley wherein Susumu along with Lied and Naomi met Martyr. While Susumu stared at the wall looking for hidden clues, Nemo started to lift his head full of confidence¡­ ¡°It¡¯s over for you, SENPAI!¡± ¡­ Nemo didn''t understand what happened. A second ago he was about to wipe out Susumu''s memories and now he found himself standing on a confined, gloomy space. ¡°His soul?¡± Nemo said very quietly. ¡°¡¯Soul¡¯¡­ so that¡¯s what you call this place¡± Susumu said. ¡°Susumu! Were you the one who brought me here?!¡± Nemo felt a third presence as chains popped up next to the detective. ¡°No, I was.¡± ¡°W-What?!¡± The Chains Man attacked him immediately with his chains. Nemo realized he was put at a disadvantage and forced open the soul¡¯s exit. ¡­ Nemo managed to return to reality, however the Chains Man promptly enveloped him in chains and lifted him high up in the air. The linked metal rings clinked as they tightened around Nemo¡¯s body, he couldn¡¯t break out no matter how hard he tried. ¡°It is futile. These chains are unbreakable.¡± ¡°T-This is¡­ Spirit Mode¡­! But Susumu shouldn¡¯t be able to use it!¡± Nemo looked at Susumu, the latter¡¯s blue eyes flared up. ¡°Who are you?!¡± ¡°My name is Zosimus, an aztec like you.¡± ¡°What is an aztec doing inside a human?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story. Now, it looks like your Spirit Mode isn¡¯t suited for fighting. If they were aware of who the opponent was, they¡¯d have probably sent somebody else. Yeah, perhaps¡­ that Martyr guy. Anyway, time to sleep, lil boy.¡± The blood stopped flowing as Nemo passed out with no further resistance. Zosimus allowed the detective to take back control over his own body. ¡­ Susumu recalled from his soul his strategy meeting in the course of their fight. ¡°He is a Spirit Mode user, the power a person awakens when both body and spirit become one. By the way, ¡®Visibility¡¯ is one of several properties of the spirit¡± the Chains Man said. ¡°I see¡­¡± Susumu said. Although pretty confused, the detective knew that there was no time for lengthy explanations. ¡°Spirit Mode users can only be defeated by other users. Luckily for us, I¡¯m able to use it. Susumu, I need you to lend me your body temporarily.¡± Susumu would refuse under normal circumstances, notwithstanding, he couldn¡¯t win this duel on his own. ¡­ ¡°You never told me your name¡± Susumu said. ¡°I didn¡¯t consider it necessary¡± Zosimus smiled. ¡°¡¯Zosimus¡¯, huh? Unusual.¡± ¡°Thank you¡± the Chains Man thanked ironically. ¡­ Lie 6 – The Underworld IV Nemo¡¯s recent trauma resurfaced after he was beaten unconscious¡­ For no more than two hours, he was harassed by a snake¡¯s onomatopoeia. A dark-skinned, grown-up hand touched his shoulder out of the blue as a shiver went down his spine¡­ ¡­ Nemo regained consciousness and found himself on his knees, stuck to a wall in chains. The child gnashed his teeth in rage when he saw Susumu in front of him. ¡°S-Susumu¡­!¡± ¡°I want you to answer some questions.¡± ¡°Questions? You won¡¯t get any answers from me, jackass!¡± ¡°Zosimus, it looks like I¡¯ll lend you my body one more time¡­¡± ¡°N-No, please!¡± ¡°Firstly, who¡¯re you guys? Secondly, what¡¯s your goal?¡± ¡°¡­Our organization is called Illuminatus. We came from Aqua to capture the Adam¡¯s Apple which is inside that Lied dude.¡± ¡°The ¡®Adam¡¯s Apple¡¯? And you came from Aqua?¡± ¡°Pfff, you don¡¯t know? Aqua is the world where we, aztecs, live. About the Adam¡¯s Apple, they say it¡¯s a divine object hundreds of years old.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°My job was to keep the police in check so they wouldn¡¯t get in the way, but the others had different tasks. By now they must have have entered Mictlan.¡± ¡°And Mictlan is¡­?¡± ¡°The Underworld! When people die, aztecs and humans, that''s where their spirits go.¡± Susumu took a break from the interrogation to ask Zosimus for explanations. ¡°You said you were an aztec¡­ then you knew all along¡± Susumu said. ¡°Of course¡± Zosimus said. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?!¡± ¡°What could you have done? Knowledge by itself is worthless if you do not have the skill to make full use of it.¡± ¡°But...!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not waste time. Susumu, there¡¯s still something you want to ask him.¡± ¡°Nemo, what¡¯s going to happen to the police officers that had their memories tampered with?¡± Susumu inquired. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they¡¯ll come back to their usual selves if I¡¯m gone for too long¡± Nemo replied. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°I see. In that case, you¡¯re going with me to Mictlan.¡± ¡°Say what?!¡± Susumu straightened his tie while ignoring Nemo¡¯s screaming. ¡°Are you listening?!¡± Nemo said. ¡°I¡¯m not letting you do what you want anymore. Justice shall prevail!¡± Susumu said. ¡°Aaaaaah, do as you wish.¡± ¡°Mictlan, huh¡­?¡± Zosimus thought. ¡­ Ganeden, 13:10 Tatsuo returned home shortly after drinking with his co-workers. He thought it was odd that his son wasn¡¯t back yet. ¡°Perhaps he went somewhere¡­?¡± ¡­ ¡°¡¯Spirit Mode¡¯?¡± Lied said. ¡°A power that your enemies possess. A person awakens the Spirit mode when the intermediate element, the perispirit, ties the spirit and the physical body together to become one. The soul is actually a space within the perispirit. Be very careful, as both spirit and body can be disjoined if your perispirit is cut off¡± Zaccharias said. Lied swallowed his saliva. If that happened, it would mean instant death¡­ ¡°Anyone is able to learn and eventually master the Spirit Mode. Between all the great potentialities of the Spirit Mode, it¡¯s on the battlefield where it truly goes beyond potential¡± Zaccharias stopped to take a look outside ¡°I¡¯m afraid that the guards will resume investigations and that¡¯s why I¡¯ll jump straight to the fundamentals. I imagine that¡¯s your wish.¡± Lied nodded. Indeed, he really wanted to start practicing. ¡°The Spirit has eight properties: the ¡®Visibility¡¯ that allows a spirit to be visible to people with latent spiritual potential; the ¡®Plasticity¡¯ with which morphological changes can be made in the perispirit; the ¡®Penetrability¡¯ that enables you to cross vibrating barriers, physical or not, like the soul; the ¡®Intangibility¡¯ that turns a spirit intangible to a physical body; the ¡®Sensitivity¡¯ that brings about sensations, feelings and emotions; the ¡®Density¡¯ that determines the molecular constitution of the perispirit; the ¡®Expandability¡¯ that¡¯s used for medical purposes by conveying spiritual particles; and lastly the ¡®Oneness¡¯, the reflection of a soul in its essence¡­ you may understand this one later on.¡± The boy learned each piece of information by heart, although a notepad would have been more than welcome. Among all the properties, he remembered the Sensitivity that Martyr mentioned. ¡°It is essential that you master two of these properties: Visibility and Sensitivity. In battle Visibility is what allows us to track the opponent''s movements and Sensitivity is used to feel their presence. By the way, I¡¯m currently using Plasticity to look like this.¡± Having finished their quick lesson, they quietly left the shelter. ¡­ Core and Martyr were waiting for Varius next to the park building at the same time Tatsuo arrived home. ¡°I¡¯m here¡± Varius said. ¡°Finally! Hey, Varius¡­ you''re not hiding anything from us, right?¡± Martyr asked. Martyr awakened the snake eyes momentarily as it didn¡¯t go unnoticed either by the lilac-eyed young man. ¡°Come on¡± Core hastened them. The park was one of several spiritual entrances to the Underworld in Ganeden. ¡­ While Core, Martyr and Varius got themselves ready, Iduma was seen near Naomi¡¯s house as it was also a spiritual entrance to the Underworld. As planned, Iduma would, too, leave for Mictlan¡­ ¡°I can feel it. Adam, Eve, Nachash, Meshulam¡­ and Lilith¡­ are gathering together once again.¡± ¡­ 9th Underworld Level, Upper Block, Administrative Floors Mictlan was ruled by a ¡°God of Death¡±. As the supreme ruler, it was the most important existence of its own world. For hundreds of years, multifarious generations of death gods took care of the Underworld, ensuring stability of the flow of the dead and the living. The youth with his head sagging over the papers was none other than the current Shinigami, Mictlantecuhtli X. An Underworld officer walked into his office. ¡°Excuse me, sir¡± the guard said. ¡°Y-Yes?¡± the Shinigami said. Somehow Mictlantecuhtli, or just Mictlan, foretold what was coming, his eyes almost bled as he felt himself driven to despair¡­ ¡°Hum, sir?¡± ¡°Spit it out!¡± ¡°A-Aye! It seems that a spirit has escaped. The guards lost track of him, though we have an idea about his whereabouts. Your orders?¡± The report confirmed the God of Death¡¯s superstition, the officer fell backwards as the man shouted loudly: ¡°KNEEEEEW IT! I-IT¡¯S GOTTA BE KAAARMAAAAAAAAA!¡± [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 7 – Lost Snake I Spirit and body become one. A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person¡¯s inner strength. Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode. Underworld Level -8, Restricted Block Naomi and the mysterious green-eyed young man crossed paths on no man¡¯s land¡­ ¡°If I¡¯m alive? Hum, obviously¡­?¡± Naomi said. He took two steps at once, his footwear seemed to cushion while stepping on the floor as if the sound was sucked back into the darkness. ¡°I see¡­ you don¡¯t belong here¡± he said. ¡°First of all, who are you? Where am I really? Also, what the hell were those things?¡± ¡°Who am I? That¡¯s a good question¡­¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Huh?¡± she tilted her head to one side. ¡°The truth is, I don''t remember anything besides my name, Yamir.¡± ¡°You lost your memories¡­?¡± ¡°Where you are right now, I call it ¡°the depths of the Underworld¡±. As for them¡­¡± Yamir pointed to the scrawny dead bodies lying on the floor ¡°¡¯Dwellers of death¡¯.¡± Naomi didn''t understand anything, but Lied had to be in this quirky place¡­ ¡°Hold on. Yamir, could it be that you were sent here like me?¡± The male looked thoughtfully at the ceiling devoid of light. ¡°I do not know. I was standing in this secluded place before I knew it. Hundreds of years must have passed since then¡­¡± ¡°H-Hundreds?! You look like you¡¯re the same age as me¡­¡± ¡°¡­You haven''t told me your name yet.¡± ¡°Ah, my bad. I¡¯m Naomi. Thank you for saving me!¡± They both felt that they could trust each other for some reason. ¡°No worries. You¡¯re the first living person I met after all¡­¡± Naomi thought deeply about the loneliness that Yamir endured all this time¡­ The two of them stood side by side and walked past the corpses. ¡°Yamir, those snakes¡­ they were yours, weren¡¯t they? What was that?¡± Yamir held out his right hand as a tiny spiritual snake popped out of it. ¡°My ability. When I woke up, I only had two things: my name¡­ and this power.¡± Naomi took a closer look at the little animal that danced in Yamir''s hand. The snake vanished in a puff of smoke and they kept walking. ¡°Perhaps meeting Yamir¡­ isn¡¯t a coincidence either?¡± Naomi thought. ¡°My¡­ destiny¡­¡± she remembered Varius¡¯ words. ¡°Hm? Did you say something?¡± ¡°Nope, it¡¯s nothing!¡± Naomi shook her head. The chosen ones would sail through the depths of death¡­ ¡­ Lie 7 – Lost Snake II Lied and Zaccharias hurriedly left the alley where they were hiding, the boy ran with the crow perched on his right shoulder. ¡°Hey, Zaccharias, there¡¯s something I haven¡¯t told you yet. I have no memories of my childhood. The desire to uncover my forgotten past is one of the reasons that led me to give up the trivial life I had¡­¡± Lied was saying. ¡°¡­You want to know if awakening the Spirit Mode will help you get your memories back¡± Zaccharias said. Lied nodded. ¡°The mind might forget, but the spirit won¡¯t. It''s just a hypothesis, but it may truly reawaken the sleeping memories buried deep inside you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± ¡°Lied, I noticed that some properties are familiar to you.¡± ¡°Yeah, I used Sensitivity in one of my meetings with the Illuminatus.¡± ¡°Feel your surroundings.¡± Lied closed his eyes and sensed three guards looking for him. A few seconds later, he made use of Sensitivity once more and saw them splitting across the perimeter as they blocked the duo¡¯s ways. Zaccharias pointed to a back alley and they both hid themselves. ¡°How can they be so fast?¡± Lied wondered. ¡°It seems that enough time has passed¡± Zaccharias said. ¡°Time?¡± ¡°¡­That is, you¡¯re already fully adapted to your movements. You may not have noticed it, but you¡¯re faster than when you first arrived in Mictlan.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°Lied, this is your first challenge: go out there and defeat the guards.¡± ¡°H-Huh? I didn''t even learn the Spirit Mode!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need the Spirit Mode to beat those walk-ons¡± Zaccharias giggled. ¡°How can you be so sure? If you¡¯re wrong and I end up arrested¡­¡± ¡°Lied. Believe¡­ in your spirit¡¯s potential.¡± ¡°Now that I think about it, I took his word even though I didn¡¯t know him at all¡­¡± Lied thought. Bearing in mind his distinctive character, the boy normally interacting with a stranger was a phenomenon. He gazed at the bird, those golden eyes¡­ he believed he had seen them somewhere else. Lied sighed. The lad didn¡¯t allow himself to smile. ¡°¡­Alright. Don¡¯t take your eyes off me.¡± Lied came out of the alley and walked to the center of the corridor. He stared at his hands, raised his head up and then looked at the buildings around him. Lied moved his body back and forth before leaping over the building. ¡°It¡¯s true¡­ incredible¡± the teenager glanced at the horizon ¡°I can¡¯t see from here. All that¡¯s left¡­ is to feel them.¡± Lied tried hard to cover hundreds of meters, going beyond his natural limit with Sensitivity. He spotted the guards who were getting close to him. ¡°Usually, the best strategy would be to split them up and fight them one at a time.¡± Never had Lied felt so fired up, he was itching to start fighting. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°But then it wouldn¡¯t be a challenge!¡± Lied jumped nimbly from roof to roof as he tried to get their attention. His plan? Simple, defeat all three at once. Only in such terms could it be considered a real challenge. ¡°THERE HE IS!¡± one of the guards shouted. Lied arrived forthwith at the place where he planned to fight. The trio at last caught up to him. ¡°We shall arrest you and turn you in to Mictlan-sama!¡± the middle guard said. ¡°I still don''t quite savvy what I got myself into. Nachash¡­ I felt a shiver run down my spine when I heard the name. It¡¯s like I know him. Not just him. Eve¡­ and Adam¡­¡± He recalled the conversation he had with Xanthus while each of the guards invoked their own spiritual spear. ¡°I see¡­ they, too, are people I forgot. Characters from my past¡­¡± ¡°And this fight¡­ is a fight to remember! Them¡­ and myself!¡± Meanwhile, Zaccharias flew to a rooftop near the battlefield. The teacher was also looking forward to seeing his student in action. The eager guards took the initiative and hurled themselves at Lied wielding their spears, however he successively dodged. Lied stepped back and remembered Zaccharias¡¯ teachings¡­ ¡°Visibility is what allows us to track the opponent¡¯s movements (¡­)¡± He wondered how big the difference would be¡­ between merely dodging with the body and using the property. Surrounded by spears, the kid avoided the sharp poles beforehand. Zaccharias detected signs of improvement on Visibility, which was Lied¡¯s least developed property in comparison to Sensitivity. The battle was dragging on for too long. Lied threw a knockout punch at a guard who flew away. Whilst attending school, Lied often taught those bothering him a lesson¡­ ¡°I know how to punch¡± Lied said. ¡°W-What¡¯s going on?!¡± Judging by their reaction, the guards were unaware of the spirit¡¯s properties. The second guard acted in haste as Lied didn¡¯t even require the properties to sidestep him and deliver another powerful blow with the fist. Lied didn¡¯t take it easy and belly kicked the last man. A perfect victory. Lied found himself tired despite not having suffered any injuries, a side-effect of fighting with the spirit. ¡°N-No soul can leave the Underworld from the moment it enters. It¡¯s useless. Y-Your resistance¡­ will be in vain¡­¡± the defeated male said prior to losing consciousness. ¡°Liar. There was one that left. Nachash¡­¡± Lied said. Zaccharias flapped his wings rapidly and landed on a fallen body. ¡°¡¯Mictlan-sama¡¯¡­ who is it?¡± Lied asked. ¡°The lord of the Underworld, known as ¡®the God of Death¡¯¡± Zaccharias replied. God of Death or ¡°Shinigami¡±, as they used to say in Japanese. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°Before explaining how we¡¯re training, I need to check your SSL.¡± ¡°SSL?¡± ¡°¡¯Spiritual Synchronization Level¡¯, the percentage of synchronization between the physical body and the spirit ¨C the more synchronized the two are, the more spiritually advanced is the person. As you might assume, the spirit evolves with the occurrence of several events, such as the death of a close friend or the necessity to become stronger in order to overcome an obstacle.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°It¡¯s divided into stages: Stage 0 or ¡®initiation point¡¯, which is when the spirit awakens; followed by the 1st Stage as the spirit goes through a recognition of itself, the very first period of its development. It¡¯s numbered from 0% to 20%; the 2nd Stage, the first stage of Spirit Mode, marking the beginning of a new cycle. Between 20% and 40%. There are four more stages, but it¡¯s of no importance for now. For the purpose of viewing the SSL, the property Density is necessary.¡± Pretty curious, Lied couldn¡¯t hardly wait to find out his stage. Without further ado, Zaccharias hovered next to Lied¡¯s chest¡­ ¡°10%. 1st Stage¡± Zaccharias said. Although disappointed, the chap knew there was still a long way to go. ¡°Isn¡¯t it too high anyway¡­?¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t taking into account everything that drove your spirit to grow.¡± ¡°Chasing using Sensitivity¡­¡± ¡°Not just that. In your forgotten past you must have improved your SSL.¡± Whatever his past was, Lied¡¯s spirit did grow and that fact by itself craved him to recover his memories¡­ ¡°What about you, Zaccharias? What¡¯s your SSL?¡± ¡°See for yourself.¡± Zaccharias asked Lied to come closer, the kid then connected himself to the talking crow. ¡°¡­Wasn¡¯t it supposed to show a number?¡± ¡°When nothing is shown, it means that the spirit has already reached its peak.¡± ¡°Hold on, then¡­?¡± ¡°Yes. 100% spiritual synchronization.¡± A thought poured into his mind: if Zaccharias was so strong, how did he die? Disease? Or¡­ was he killed? By someone more powerful than him? The crow sat on Lied¡¯s shoulder and they went back to the first corridors. ¡°It¡¯s a policy in Mictlan that every spirit must go through trials, challenges that touch upon regrets left by the dead while alive. Merely a spirit reconciled to oneself can reincarnate. As I said earlier, the spirit tends to evolve under pressure, which is why I think these trials are perfect for awakening the Spirit Mode. Listen carefully: any damage you suffer will be inflicted on your physical body, disjoined from the spiritual body. Knowing that your life will be at stake, are you sure you want to carry on with this?¡± Zaccharias explained. ¡°No matter. These trials¡­ I¡¯ll surpass them!¡± Lied said. ¡°Well said! Come on, we have to return to the reception area.¡± Lied clenched his fists and prepared himself mentally. ¡­ Lie 7 – Lost Snake III The panic-stricken Shinigami remained with his head down on the desk full of paperwork. The door opened so as to reveal a short framework of bones, no longer than 70 cm, that jumped onto the table. This unique skeleton named Golgotha is his assistant, a creation of the first Shinigami, Meshulam, that couldn¡¯t imagine the Underworld without a counsellor to guide the future gods of death. ¡°G-Golgotha...¡± Mictlan said. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Golgotha asked. ¡°A-A spirit is on the run. It¡¯s happening all over again¡­ OH MY GOD!¡± Wasn¡¯t he ¡°God¡± himself? The young stared depressingly at the picture of a man who looked exactly like Mictlan. He was the former Shinigami, Mictlantecuhtli IX, who died at the hands of Nachash eighteen years ago. ¡°What should I do, Dad?!¡± Technically, they weren¡¯t father and son. Each Shinigami was a reincarnation of Meshulam, therefore the different generations considered themselves family. ¡°It¡¯s just some spirit, not the ¡®Talking Serpent¡¯!¡± Golgotha said. ¡°B-But¡­ karma¡­¡± Mictlan said. ¡°It¡¯s not karma! Listen, this is the time to honor the legacy of your ancestors. Stay calm and act in accordance with normal procedures.¡± ¡°Ok¡­ I already told the guards to continue to search for him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, for now.¡± ¡­ In order to enter Mictlan, the prisoner Nemo led Susumu to one of Ganeden¡¯s spiritual entrances. It was the school, closed on weekends. ¡°Hey, how much longer will you make me walk like this?¡± Nemo complained about his body bound in Zosimus¡¯ chains. Susumu refused to release him, running the risk of Nemo escaping. ¡°It¡¯s all right, Susumu. He may be a child, but he perfectly understands the ineluctable situation he¡¯s in. And to tell you the truth, we¡¯re going to need him free¡± Zosimus said. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Fine¡± Susumu nodded. The Chains Man collected his chains without having to possess the boy. ¡°Uff, finally¡± Nemo breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Come on, open that passage for us¡± Susumu commanded him. ¡°Well, the entrance is always open.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get going then!¡± ¡°C-Chill! Since you aren¡¯t a Spirit Mode user, your spirit will detach itself out of the body the second you cross over to the other dimension, so we must depart from somewhere where no one sees you.¡± ¡°Fair enough. I recommend the school infirmary.¡± ¡­ The detective laid down on a bed. Even Susumu couldn¡¯t help feeling nervous. ¡°Relax. We¡¯re going in¡± Nemo said. ¡­ 8th Underworld Level, Upper Block, Administrative Floors, Reincarnation Room Susumu and Nemo reached their desired destination in the blink of an eye ¨C the world of the dead, the Underworld. Susumu paid special attention to his nearly transparent body. ¡°This is¡­ my spiritual body? Ah¡­!¡± The teenager was blown away by the five-walled broad room with an intriguing capsule in the center. A pale-faced lady popped up out of nowhere and walked towards the casing as she missed them, appearing inside the container before fading away devoid of regrets. ¡°What was that¡­?¡± Susumu asked. ¡°The reincarnation of a spirit¡± Nemo answered. ¡°¡­Where are your peers?¡± ¡°Hm, they¡¯re most likely passing through the lower levels.¡± ¡°In other words, we got to go downstairs. Don¡¯t even think about running away¡± Susumu eyed him fiercely. ¡°I won¡¯t!¡± ¡­ 7th Underworld Level, Upper Block, Administrative Floors, Spiritual Supervisory Control Room The Susumu and Nemo pairing went down the long stairs that gave access to the lower floor. As they peered into the room, they saw many LCDs displaying several spiritual flows, in the form of a chart, and uniformed individuals examining them seated on chairs. They were the ones in charge of overseeing the Underworld behind the scenes. Walking past them without being seen was a no-go. That¡¯s when Zosimus¡¯ chained shadow emerged on the ground under Susumu''s feet. ¡°Did you¡­ turn into my own shadow?!¡± Susumu said. ¡°We¡¯re forcing the way¡± Zosimus said. ¡°Hold on! What if they sound the alarm and call for backup? We¡¯ll be chased throughout the whole Underworld!!¡± Nemo remarked. ¡°We only have to keep them from doing so. Let¡¯s go!¡± Zosimus signaled. Followed by Nemo, Susumu quickly left their nook after the signal. The operating officers all turned their backs upon hearing shoes squeaking. ¡°W-Who are you people?! Where did you come from?!¡± an officer uttered a loud cry. Zosimus seized the man and held the chains out in the direction of the others. However, when just one remained, the Chains Man felt somewhat suppressed. That jiffy was enough time for the male to grab some headphones and call for help. ¡°Stop him! Fast!¡± the Chains Man shouted. Susumu was unable to take action and therefore Nemo had no choice but to activate his Spirit Mode, being surrounded by an aura whose color wasn¡¯t distinct, and run towards the target before it was too late. The kid then put his hand on the officer¡¯s head. ¡°Forget¡­ everything you saw.¡± The memory manipulation made him lose consciousness, Zosimus asked Nemo to rewrite the memories of the remaining officers. Meanwhile, Susumu¡¯s breathing was ragged and the shadow noticed that. ... Lie 7 – Lost Snake IV Ganeden Tatsuo was surprised by his son¡¯s absence when he came home. The veteran detective called Susumu, but he didn¡¯t answer the phone. The father was starting to worry. ¡­ Underworld Level -8, Restricted Block Naomi and Yamir went down one level as they had walked a lot in a short amount of time. Indeed, there weren¡¯t any means to directly transport people from one place to another on that specific block, adjacent to the floors where Lied and Susumu were. It was a bitterly morbid area even for the Underworld, so much that not a single guard could be found. As for the dwellers of death, they didn¡¯t pop up anymore. ¡°Is there something wrong with my face?¡± Yamir asked upon seeing Naomi staring at him insistently. ¡°Somehow you remind me of him¡­¡± Naomi said. Before she noticed, Naomi¡¯s lips were nearly touching Yamir¡¯s lips¡­ ¡°D-Don¡¯t you get embarrassed?!¡± Naomi blushed. ¡°I¡­¡± Yamir was saying. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s something you two have in common!¡± ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± ¡°Lied, a boy from the ¡®surface¡¯.¡± ¡°I see, you and that boy have a particularly close relationship¡­¡± ¡°N-No, we don¡¯t! We first started talking just a little while ago!!¡± Naomi¡¯s cheeks turned red again. ¡°But what do we have in common?¡± Yamir¡¯s question made Naomi focus once more on the snake¡¯s pretty face. ¡°The eyes. They¡­ how should I say¡­¡± The girl felt devoured by his fiendish eyes whilst Yamir showed an equally devilish facial expression. Naomi laid curled up on the floor as she was flooded with recent memories¡­ ¡°(¡­) a man who shed blood in order to go against his fate (¡­)¡± ¡°Your name is Naomi.¡± ¡°A-And your name is Lied, right?¡± ¡°(¡­) and those who opposed him.¡± ¡°Who¡­ is this person¡­?¡± ¡°(¡­) the name¡¯s Martyr.¡± ¡°Nachash (¡­)¡± ¡°First of all, who are you?¡± ¡°The truth is, I don''t remember anything besides my name, Yamir.¡± ¡°¡­also known as ¡®the Talking Serpent¡¯.¡± Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°Don¡¯t go thinking you¡¯re innocent, though. We are all bound together, either by different or the same links. The sin¡­ is shared.¡± ¡°Who am I? My name is¡­¡± ¡°Lilith!¡± ¡°Naomi! Naomi!¡± Yamir called her over and over. The teenager stood up somewhat dizzy and leaned on Yamir¡¯s shoulder. It wasn¡¯t unprecedented inasmuch that time when she did clash with her schoolmate¡­ ¡°E-Everything¡¯s fine¡­¡± Naomi said painfully. ¡°I couldn¡¯t understand at the time, or didn¡¯t want to, the reason Lied, Yamir and Martyr appeared in my vision. Without even realizing it, it was at this moment¡­ that my tragedy truly began.¡± Yamir was worried about Naomi¡¯s health for the next few minutes. The latter took the initiative of easing the tension in the air. ¡°Hey, Yamir, you should come to my school!¡± ¡°¡®School¡¯? Is it a dangerous place?¡± ¡°Hum, it can be, I guess¡­¡± ¡°Dangerous¡± in many ways¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll go one day. Does Lied often attend it?¡± ¡°Yep, he¡¯s supposed to be here somewhere!¡± her smile faded away ¡°I just haven¡¯t found him yet¡­¡± ¡°He may be up there, there¡¯s another block above us. However, the likelihood of confronting more dwellers of the death increases as we move.¡± ¡°That¡¯s where you come in, like a knight protecting his princess!¡± ¡°A sort of guardian?¡± Yamir crossed his arms thoughtfully ¡°Alright, I will protect you. You have my word.¡± Yamir lifted his chin and looked beyond the horizon, Naomi grinned happily. ¡­ Yamir and Naomi continued their trek towards the Lower Block when they suddenly engaged in combat with five dwellers of the death. ¡°Y-Yamir!¡± ¡°Stand back!¡± The lass obeyed and stood back. The beasts assaulted their long-standing prey that activated the Spirit Mode on the spot, a dark green aura enveloped him. Meanwhile, a dweller of the death bared its fangs and growled at the easiest target, taking advantage of the fact that Yamir¡¯s attention was placed on the other monsters. ¡°NAOMI!!¡± Yamir shouted. That¡¯s when a brisk light covered the entire shadowy area, the dwellers of the death were in a daze, in the meantime Yamir hid his face so that the deep blue glow didn¡¯t hit him. The dazzling light dissipated seconds later, Yamir finally slew the enemies. Yamir rolled his eyes seeing a dweller of the death unconscious while Naomi simply remained standing. The teenager wore a moon-shaped bracelet on her right wrist, her body was surrounded by a mystical turquoise aura. Watching her, Yamir saw someone else ¨C a relatively older blue-haired young woman wearing a necklace practically identical. ¡°Yamir!¡± the beautiful, smiling lady said. Naomi¡¯s sudden awakening didn¡¯t go unnoticed. At the end of the day, all the ties that bound them together formed a single, large tie called ¡°destiny¡±. ¡­ ¡°Adam!¡± Lied ran with Zaccharias to the reception area. The kid abruptly turned his head to look behind him, he swore he heard a voice. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± the talking crow said. ¡°¡­Never mind¡± Lied said. ¡­ ¡°Mesh!¡± In his office, the God of Death took part in this tide of connections¡­ ¡°Hm? Did you say something, Golgotha?¡± the Shinigami asked. ¡°No¡± his assistant replied. Was work driving Mictlan crazy at last? ¡­ Martyr and Core split from Varius at the reception area since they had different goals. They proceeded to the lower floors of Mictlan along corridors on the opposite side of Lied and Zaccharias. ¡°W-What the¡­?¡± Martyr sensed a funny vibration. The male noted a glowing moon bracelet on Core¡¯s wrist. The bracelet, as well as her whole body, shone brightly with bluish flashes of light. ¡°My Spirit Mode¡­ activated itself?¡± Core was the most confused. ¡­ Underworld Level -8, Restricted Block After arriving in Mictlan, Iduma smirked as he relished the wave of nostalgia. He wasn¡¯t far from Naomi and Yamir. ¡°So, you¡¯re right there¡­¡± ¡­ Aqua ¡°Nachash!¡± A dimly lit room with a blonde-haired, dark green-eyed lad that sat on a bed. Zechariah was seen beside him, quiet. ¡°Somebody¡­ is calling me¡­¡± the blonde whispered. ¡°Lied?¡± Zechariah asked him. ¡°No¡­ this is¡­¡± ¡­ Yamir had the name of that turquoise-haired woman on the tip of his tongue. It was a memory stranded on the bowels of his mind. ¡°What happened? My body¡­ and this bracelet¡­¡± Naomi inspected herself closely and thoroughly. ¡°It¡¯s the same kind of power that I have¡± Yamir asserted. ¡°Really?!¡± ¡°Yes. Differing characteristics, but I¡¯m sure of it.¡± In danger, the spirit evolved. Or¡­ woke up from its deep sleep. Naomi loosened up a bit, which apparently turned off the spiritual form. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going. Standing here won¡¯t do us any good¡± Yamir stated. More dwellers of the death could crop up, drawn by their fellows¡¯ defeat. Naomi nodded and both got back on the road. ¡­ Lie 7 – Lost Snake V Zosimus called for help, however Susumu failed to act under huge pressure. Well, the Chains Man didn¡¯t see another choice¡­ ¡°Susumu, you shall learn the Spirit Mode. The reason is very simple. Despite being a user, Nemo isn¡¯t a fighter. As for me, unfortunately I can only use my full power while possessing you¡± Zosimus stated. Nemo shrugged his shoulders indifferent. So, Susumu was their sole hope for survival. He needed to get stronger. ¡°Let¡¯s do this¡± Susumu nodded. ¡°Great. Now we need a place where we can train without being seen.¡± Fate or mere coincidence, Nemo unintentionally unlocked a secret room that bided within the central wall. The three watched as the room slowly opened before them. ¡°Perfect¡± Zosimus said. ¡­ The charismatic pair Lied and Zaccharias went back to the 1st Underworld Level. Zaccharias hid inside the long coat of an elderly man who had just arrived in Mictlan as they rode an elevator to the second level. On this floor the spirits were received by a psychopomp, the guide of souls, and later divided into groups. Every single spirit held a certain amount of regret. The greater the repentance, the more trials it had to overcome. Some spirits were required to pass all tests, as was the case with Lied¡¯s group. The psychopomp was actually a dog wearing a black and white costume with adornments, accompanied by two guards who stood alongside him. ¡°Is that Plasticity?¡± Lied thought to himself. ¡°No, it¡¯s really his true form¡± Zaccharias¡¯ voice popped up inside his mind. ¡°Huh? How¡­?¡± ¡°In addition to allowing you to enter people¡¯s souls, the property Penetrability can also be used like this.¡± Telepathy, the communication of thoughts or ideas by means other than the known senses. With Penetrability it was possible for sound to go through mental barriers. Lied remembered that Martyr did communicate mentally with him once¡­ ¡°I am Xolotl, the Underworld¡¯s psychopomp. My duty is to lead you to reincarnation.¡± One of the guards grasped a sheet of paper for Xolotl whilst the dog read it. ¡°Each group will have five spirits and only one group shall enter at a time. The success condition of these trials lies in your will to live. Those of weak volition will remain trapped on those floors and eventually cease to exist, since the spirit needs a vessel to survive. In other words, you must reincarnate afore time runs out. That¡¯s all.¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. A good number of spirits lost their motivation before the trials even started. Because he was alive, that rule didn¡¯t apply to Lied, nevertheless the boy was aware that the damage he suffered would be inflicted on his physical body. Lied was picked for the first group. ¡­ 3rd Underworld Level, First trial floor As if by magic, a gargantuan gate erected on the spot, swirling air flowed out of the chamber. ¡°Wind?¡± Lied felt it. ¡°Lied, don¡¯t tell anyone you¡¯re alive¡± Zaccharias sat on the human¡¯s shoulder and whispered in his ear. ¡°Alright.¡± The guard who brought them here took the elevator back down and they entered the room, the dark gate closed behind them by itself. The environment inside the chamber was of life or death, and that wasn¡¯t an overstatement. Lied physically observed each of the spirits he spent the next few hours with: a short-haired, brown-eyed, bearded man in his 50s wearing casual clothes; a gray-haired, bright blue-eyed woman in her 40s wearing a modest dress and a gray scarf around her neck; a dark blue-haired, black-eyed man in his 30s wearing a shirt underneath his jacket; lastly, a long purple-haired, violet-eyed insipid girl of the same age as Lied, wearing a striped sweater that was slowly slipping off her shoulders. ¡°We are all in the same boat, eh? I¡¯m Eduardus. I used to be a police officer¡± the dark blue-haired spirit introduced himself. ¡°The name¡¯s Hector. I worked day and night away from home before I kicked the bucket. Not going to lie, I¡¯m glad I died¡± the bearded man said. ¡°My name is Liana¡­ W-When I was alive, I had a single desire: to start a family. Unfortunately, the doctor diagnosed me with infertility¡­¡± the introverted woman said. ¡°Luna. What I was and did is none of your business¡± the listless girl said. ¡°Watch your tongue! Your parents didn¡¯t teach you anything?!¡± Hector scolded her. Luna clicked her tongue as it was a tic of hers. From an initial impression, Eduardus reminded Lied of Susumu because of his occupation, his father and Hector were very much alike personality-wise, his mother and Liana shared the same inability, and Luna¡­ well, reminded him of himself. The curious thing is that they were all aztecs. Luna glanced coldly at Lied, her gaze then flickered to the glossy black bird perched on the young man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m baffled as to how the guards let a pet in¡± Luna said. ¡°He¡¯s not my ¡®pet¡¯. His name is Zaccharias¡± Lied replied. ¡°I¡¯m just a crow. A crow that likes to wear a hat¡± Zaccharias spoke. Luna, Eduardus, Hector and Liana were taken aback by its ability to speak, yet they didn¡¯t attach much importance to it since they were accustomed to the supernatural. ¡°And you?¡± Eduardus stared at Lied. ¡°Lied, don¡¯t tell anyone you¡¯re alive.¡± ¡°My name is Lied. I¡­ have a goal: overcome these trials and surpass myself!¡± ¡°¡­Nonsense. Look, I get it that reincarnation is our second chance. Personally, I¡¯m not interested. It¡¯s just that I overheard a conversation between some spirits and this first trial¡­ is ten thousand knives¡± Luna let on. Luna¡¯s huge revelation unsettled them as a heavy hush fell over the chamber. ¡°Ten thousand¡­?¡± Hector muttered. ¡°I¡¯ll stop each one of them¡± Lied avowed. ¡°Are you totally nuts?¡± Luna asked rhetorically. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s bet on his potential¡± Eduardus said confidently. Zaccharias edged away from Lied and joined Eduardus. ¡°So you noticed it, officer¡± the crow said. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I get the feeling that we¡¯re about to witness a miracle¡± the aztec policeman smiled a contemplative smile. Luna didn¡¯t understand where his optimism came from. Liana was touched by Eduardus¡¯ words and she, too, was filled with hope. Hector shared the same realistic view as Luna, although he saw something special in the human. The five aztecs looked at that moment only at Lied, the light at the end of the tunnel¡­ [END OF CHAPTER] [ARC ¡°AWAKENING¡± STARTS] Lie 8 – Trial of the Slashing Wind Spirit and body become one. A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person¡¯s inner strength. Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode. In order to quickly awaken the Spirit Mode, Lied together with Zaccharias joined a cluster of dead people seeking reincarnation by passing Mictlan¡¯s trials. Could Lied slow down the slashing wind of the Underworld?! Luna, Eduardus, Zaccharias, Liana and Hector stared at the obstinate boy. At that point in time, not everyone believed he would perform a miracle. Luna had a sneaking feeling as she watched Lied closely: ¡°He¡¯s¡­ not an aztec, is he?¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s human¡± Zaccharias replied. ¡°H-Human?¡± Liana was surprised. ¡°The race that inhabits Tellus¡­¡± Hector said. ¡°A human, huh? My first time meeting one¡± Eduardus crossed his arms curious. The two nations hardly interacted with each other, nevertheless the aztec people were aware that they were not alone. It was said that the first contact between humans and aztecs had taken place only just eighteen years ago, when a human stepped onto aztec soil. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°Are all humans like him? Retarded?¡± Luna asked. ¡°He¡¯s a special case¡± the talking crow laughed loudly. ¡°Show us, Lied, the possibilities of your own spiritual potential¡± the crow thought to itself. The chamber¡¯s soul sensor whose range was approximately forty meters detected motion as six knives went towards Lied. He managed to dodge by the skin of his teeth using the developed Visibility property. Luckily, no more than a lock of hair was cut off in the course of the action. ¡°It¡¯s fast!¡± Lied jumped back. ¡°So, he¡¯s not just all talk¡­¡± Luna acknowledged him, although she wasn¡¯t convinced yet. The young man took a firm step forward and predicted with minimum wasted effort five hundred knives through the use of the Sensitivity property, two hundred and fifty coming from each side. It was easy for him to avoid them as he knew beforehand from where they were falling. Most of the metal blades remained stuck in the walls. ¡°Amazing!¡± Eduardus blurted out. Hector and Liana were equally amazed. Zaccharias, the only one able to keep up with the trial, did not get himself all worked up as he was aware of the looming difficulties. ¡°9494 left¡­¡± the talking crow counted the number of knives. Lied was not even a tiny bit scared, as though nothing could knock the stuffing out of him or diminish his unrelenting conviction. Luna clicked her tongue as his unwavering faith rubbed her the wrong way. ¡°Acting like a hero¡­ even though heroes don¡¯t exist¡­¡± she thought. Lied sighed. A sudden strong rush of wind nipped at his face and blew his hair. He felt extremely fired up. Another batch of five hundred knives hurled at him. The youth would not need to use the stamina consuming Sensitivity if he could guess the courses along which the knives moved. Lied later discovered that they were random. The breathless teenager had to take a short break. The fire in his green eyes burned bright as the tension escalated. ¡°What are you gonna do, Lied?¡± Zaccharias wondered. Lied¡¯s current SSL: 10,5% Number of knives left: 8994 [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 9 – No Heroes Spirit and body become one. A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person¡¯s inner strength. Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode. In order to quickly awaken the Spirit Mode, Lied together with Zaccharias joined a cluster of dead people seeking reincarnation by passing Mictlan¡¯s trials. Could Lied dodge the remaining knives before he runs out of stamina?! Lied took three steps forward and was once more within the knives¡¯ range as he predicted a thousand metal blades with Sensitivity. The young man bent down in order to dodge the knives ahead and right after leapt up so as to avoid those coming from the sides and behind. However, Lied did not manage to completely dodge the last knife and got a tear on his left sleeve. 7994 knives were left. The relentless teenager kept going as another thousand knives hurled at him. He had a rip on his right sleeve and a scratch on his face. 6994 knives were left. Lied fell back to the safe zone and there stretched his numb legs and arms. ¡°M-Move. I¡¯m not done yet¡­!¡± Lied clicked his tongue, frustrated. ¡°I don¡¯t get it¡­¡± Luna said. ¡­ Aqua, Aztecorum, ten years ago It was a wonderful emerald clad classroom where each student sat at his or her own table. Luna was sitting at the farthest seat by the window. ¡°The color of our sky is turquoise blue because it symbolizes Eve, while the reddish color at dawn represents Adam. There are still many things we don¡¯t know, ancient arts and science that hark back to the Original World¡± the teacher explained. ¡°Boring¡± Luna clicked her tongue. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. The last lesson of the day was over, everyone but Luna hung out with their friends. Aztecorum was the capital of Aqua, a top destination for thousands of travelers due to its enormous diversity of tourist facilities and goods that could only be found there. Luna was on her way home, in a sparsely populated area on the outskirts of Aztecorum, when she came across a large silver carved figure of a man in his twenties standing in the city center. He was the greatest historical personality, a depiction of hope and faith: Adam, ¡°the Hero¡±. As she walked along the statue, two male children around her age hurtled down the cobbled street. ¡°Hurry up, Klaus! Everybody¡¯s waiting for us!¡± the black-haired boy spoke to the one right behind him. ¡°Yeah!¡± the blond-haired lad nodded at him. In his haste, the first kid accidentally shoved Luna. The blond boy named Klaus apologized on his behalf. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen them before. Did they just move here?¡± Luna thought. The purple-haired girl stared again at Adam¡¯s statue. ¡°Heroes, huh? Maybe I do have two¡­¡± ¡­ Back to the present. ¡°¡­Why is he trying so hard when it doesn¡¯t concern him?¡± Luna asked. That question chiefly surprised Hector and Liana. Eduardus had his suspicions. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s alive¡± Zaccharias admitted. ¡°Hold on! What is he doing here then?¡± Hector asked. ¡°Lied is attempting to awaken the Spirit Mode to protect an important thing¡± the talking crow answered. Spirit Mode users were actually common in Aqua. Unfortunately, none of them, save for Zaccharias, learned it. ¡°So that¡¯s what he meant by ¡®surpass myself¡¯¡± Hector reasoned. ¡°A user should be able to beat these trials easily¡± Eduardus said. ¡°To protect an important thing¡­¡± Luna spoke very quietly, crestfallen. Lied made one last effort as a batch of one thousand knives went towards him. The onslaught ceased almost immediately; Lied did not manage to escape unscathed. He lay down on the ground with his eyes bulging while losing his senses. 5994 knives were left. Lied remembered that cruel late afternoon when his parents were murdered by Zechariah before he fell into the immensity of his spirit. It appears this journey in search of meaning to his existence was too short. Lied found himself in his seldom lively soul. Next to the Adam¡¯s Apple basket stood a male wearing ancient clothing between the ages of eighteen and nineteen years, who showed his face until now dressed in a red hood. He had crimson hair and bright scarlet eyes through which he emanated positive energy. His outer aura was truly befitting a hero. ¡°Y-You are¡­!¡± ¡°Hi, Lied.¡± Lied¡¯s current SSL: 12% Number of knives left: 5994 [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 10 – The Adams Eyes I Spirit and body become one. A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person¡¯s inner strength. Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode. In order to quickly awaken the Spirit Mode, Lied together with Zaccharias joined a cluster of dead people seeking reincarnation by passing Mictlan¡¯s trials. That was when, in the midst of despair, hope itself appeared before Lied¡­ Lied remained motionless on the ground. Eduardus could not bear to watch anymore. ¡°Don¡¯t go. By helping him, you¡¯re going against his will¡± Zaccharias said. ¡°But he¡­!¡± Eduardus said. ¡°These are the people¡¯s limits¡± Luna coldly stared at the boy¡¯s body. ¡­ Aqua, Aztecorum, ten years ago The turquoise blue sky gave way to the night sky black as an all-encompassing darkness covered the city. Luna came back home from school and met her parents at the front door. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°How was school today?¡± her mother greeted her smilingly. ¡°We¡¯re leaving now. The meeting tonight may take a little longer than usual, so don¡¯t wait for us to eat¡± her father patted her on the head. The girl only nodded. Luna¡¯s parents belonged to Eve¡¯s worship group. Their daughter¡¯s name was precisely a tribute to Eve. And that was the last time she saw them. During that late afternoon, the Eve Cult was assaulted by unknown survivors of the Talking Serpent Cult. Included among the victims were Luna¡¯s parents, thus she became an orphan. ¡°Why¡­ did you have to leave me by myself?¡± ¡­ Ten years later On a cold winter morning, her two neighbors chatted in an intentionally unobtrusive manner. ¡°She didn¡¯t pull round, huh?¡± ¡°¡­The war and the attack two years before were a big shock to everyone.¡± Luna had locked herself in her room. Her parents were her only family, and since Luna did not have any friends, no one was going to pay her a call. ¡­ The day was dawning as Luna went out for the first time in ten years. Luna passed by Adam¡¯s unscathed statue as she headed to the mountains where she intended to end her own life. The young woman stood there with an iced gaze. ¡°That¡¯s right. Heroes¡­ don¡¯t exist.¡± ¡­ Luna carefully climbed the treacherous mountain as it presented unpredictable dangers such as tortuous slopes and man-eating animals, reason why the authorities advised people to not go near it. Heavy footsteps suddenly echoed in the stillness while the gigantic silhouette of a spiritual bear appeared from a tree. The girl turned around and ran into the woods, but the mammal was too fast and attacked her with its sharp claws, blood gushed forth from her chest like a torrential tide. Luna was sent flying against a tree that nearly fell downhill. Luckily, she managed to cling to a branch. Luna glanced down ¨C a 65 feet fall. Her instincts told her to live, whilst her heart simply wanted to let go of the branch. That was when Luna saw a message carved in the bark that seemed to have been written by a child: ¡°The three of us will come back one day.¡± Luna then read the author¡¯s signature as the tip of her fingers slipped from the branch. ¡­ Lie 10 – The Adams Eyes II Lied was remarkably confused. That person was, without a doubt, the red cloaked figure who fought Martyr. At the same time, he was also the boy he saw that night, as he watched the moon at his home before falling asleep. ¡°In the meantime, I want you to know that I am your ally¡± the red-haired young man smiled warmly at him. ¡°It¡¯s too late. I don¡¯t even have the energy to get up¡± Lied said. ¡°If you quit now, who¡¯s going to beat Nachash?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You heard what Zaccharias said.¡± ¡°Why me?¡± The guy pointed his finger at the apple in the basket. ¡°And because you are¡­¡± ¡°I am¡­?¡± ¡°¡­Defeating Nachash also means ruining the Illuminatus¡¯ plans. You kill two birds with one stone.¡± ¡°How are the two connected?¡± ¡°Remember the man you met, Lied¡± he crossed his arms. After hearing those words, Lied was flooded with memories. ¡°HAHA, WE¡¯RE JUST TAKING A BREAK¡­ THE BATTLE ISN¡¯T OVER. THE TRUE FIGHT¡­ IS YET TO START!¡± ¡°I WILL DEFINITELY WIN! THE ADAM¡¯S APPLE¡­ WILL BE MINE!¡± ¡°Martyr. Then, is HE Nachash?¡± Lied asked. ¡°I cannot tell whether it¡¯s his main body or a secondary vessel. Anyway, you will have to fight Martyr in order to remember your past and thwart Nachash¡¯s plans¡± the bloke said seriously. The battle that was not over, the true fight yet to start. A destined to happen event. ¡°Forget it. I can¡¯t stand up on my own¡­!¡± Lied clenched his fists tightly. ¡°If you can¡¯t do it alone, why don¡¯t you ask for help?¡± He smiled slightly and held out his hand. Hesitantly, Lied took it. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡­ Lied, who stayed unconscious for a few seconds, was the center of attention in the dark chamber as he slowly tried to get back in action. Lied¡¯s perspective was different from the onlookers. While Luna and the others witnessed his individual effort, Lied was aided by that mysterious boy¡¯s mirage. ¡°He stood up!¡± Hector opened his mouth wide in amazement. ¡°I-Isn¡¯t he a little odd?¡± Liana gazed at Lied intently. ¡°His eyes¡­ are white?!¡± Eduardus noticed, too. ¡°The first sign of Spirit Mode¡± Zaccharias stated. Lied was within the knives¡¯ range. ¡°You don¡¯t have to hurt yourself any longer¡­¡± Luna looked at him. A thousand sharp blades coming ahead were completely dodged thanks to the strengthened combo of Sensitivity and Visibility properties. 4994 knives were left. Though his body screamed in agony, his spirit was determined to see the trial through to the end. A new round of a thousand knives tackled the teenager who managed to sidestep them once again. 3994 knives were left. ¡°If I had not given up, things could have turned out differently¡­¡± Luna reflected with sadness on her life. She embraced her neighbors¡¯ generosity of spirit and made friends as she imagined an alternative future. Her past memories shattered into pieces; a decade-long tragedy was, at last, overcome. ¡°Is it okay¡­ to believe in miracles just this once?¡± Luna was moved by his effort. That was when Lied stumbled at a bad time¡­ ¡°Go!¡± Luna cheered him on. The lad recomposed himself immediately. A knife scraped his bare shoulder, nevertheless he did not slow down. 1994 knives were left. Lied was pumped up due to their shouts of excitement that filled him with enthusiasm. He dodged more metal blades as he got closer to the exit gate. 994 knives were left. ¡°Less than a thousand knives left!¡± the golden-eyed crow said. Six hundred knives hurled at him, but he successfully avoided them. 394 knives were left. The teenager dodged three hundred more metal blades. 94 knives were left. 84 knives were left. The rounds were of ten knives hereafter. 74 knives were left. He was on the home straight. 64 knives were left. Liana rejoiced at the development. 54 knives were left. Her contagious joy brightened up Hector. 44 knives were left. At no time did Eduardus lose his faith in Lied and now he felt his hope fulfilled. 34 knives were left. Zaccharias was not the least bit surprised. 24 knives were left. Luna was left flabbergasted as she sank to her knees. 14 knives were left. Luna shed tears of happiness. ¡°Dad, Mom. You know¡­¡± Luna thought. Four knives were left. Three knives were left. Two knives were left. One knife was left. ¡°¡­heroes really and truly exist!¡± the young aztec stared at the hero. Lied fell to the ground as the gate that led to the next floor opened at a slow speed. Before he passed out, the lad grinned at the talking crow and gave him a thumbs-up sign. Zaccharias returned the smile and adjusted his hat. ¡­ In Lied¡¯s soul¡­ ¡°The journey might be painful, but you must take it. I will be at your side, so don¡¯t falter. Keep moving¡­ always forward¡± the red-haired boy said. This is another sad tale. Tragedy is inevitable. Fate cannot be disobeyed. It is up to the chosen one to follow the path¡­ for that is his sacred role. Lied¡¯s current SSL: 15% Number of knives left: 0 [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 11 – Trial of the Bloody River Spirit and body become one. A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person¡¯s inner strength. Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode. In order to quickly awaken the Spirit Mode, Lied together with Zaccharias joined a cluster of dead people seeking reincarnation by passing Mictlan¡¯s trials. With the help of the red cloaked figure who was waiting for him in his soul, Lied overcame the first trial. 9th Underworld Level, Upper Block, Administrative Floors The news that Lied and his peers made it through the trial quickly reached the God of Death¡¯s office. Mictlan did not seem to care as he focused on his paperwork. ¡°Aren¡¯t you too laid-back? What if the runaway is among them?¡± the skeleton Golgotha asked. ¡°That¡¯s impossible¡± the Shinigami turned to his assistant for a moment. ¡°You really trust security. Well, it¡¯s not necessarily a bad thing.¡± ¡­ Lied had an unprecedented dream wherein two children fought each other at the top of a large tree. Lied watched as a mere bystander floating in the air. ¡°Where am I?¡± Lied wondered. That is when time froze there, blood-red drops began to fall from the sky tainted by a bright shade of red. ¡°Rain? No, this is¡­¡± Lied noticed the red hooded standing behind him and faced him. Meanwhile, the world inside his dream faded away along with the cloaked man. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡­ The hero of the ten thousand knives trial woke up and saw firstly Zaccharias at his side. The remaining spirits gathered around Lied on the spot. ¡°We were all worried, especially Luna¡± Hector smirked. ¡°Shut up!¡± Luna blushed. Lied sat on the ground looking serious and thoughtful despite the warm welcome. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± the talking crow asked him. ¡°Do you remember Martyr, one of the Illuminatus members that I mentioned? He¡¯s connected to Nachash¡± Lied sent a telepathic message to Zaccharias. ¡°How so?¡± Zaccharias answered. ¡°I can¡¯t say, but I¡¯m absolutely sure of it.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Lied turned off telepathy. The boy wore a determined look while standing up. ¡°I can feel Martyr somewhere in Mictlan. I have to awaken the Spirit Mode, find him¡­ and defeat him!¡± he thought. Since they were also connected to each other, Lied could sense his presence. ¡°You should rest¡± Eduardus tried to talk him out of moving. ¡°I am fine. There probably aren¡¯t many trials left. Come if you want¡± Lied said. Zaccharias did not say a word as he took off and stood atop his student¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Lied¡± Luna called him ¡°I just wanted to say¡­ thanks.¡± The girl was better and different than before, as though Lied had undid the lock on her heart. ¡°Thank me later. And let me make one thing clear: I am not doing this for you guys¡± the lad gave a cold reply and kept walking. ¡°There are people like him, who fight solely for their own reasons, but still save people through the solitary journey¡± Eduardus appeared next to Luna. ¡°A hero by accident, huh?¡± Luna smiled gratefully. ¡­ 4th Underworld Level, Second trial floor They entered the penultimate trial¡¯s chamber. What awaited them within the room was a long crimson river. ¡°It seems like this is going to be one bizarre trial¡± Eduardus said. ¡°Be careful¡± Zaccharias warned Lied beforehand. Lied nodded and put his foot in the water. The young man confirmed that the thick, red liquid was, in fact, blood. He remembered the crimson rain of his dream before plunging headfirst into the blood. ¡­ Lied held his breath under the surface of the water as he used Sensitivity to detect dozens of predators targeting him. The teenager rolled his eyes tracking their high-speed movements, yet he sunk into the dim and dark depths. ¡­ The aztecs looked forward to the return of the human. ¡°He¡¯s getting attacked about fifty meters deep¡± Zaccharias informed them using Visibility. ¡°N-No way¡­¡± Liana could not believe it. ¡°That idiot! After all the talk¡­¡± Luna said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Here he comes¡± Zaccharias said. A mighty splash was heard throughout the chamber as three mammals were sent flying, their bodies floated lifeless on the bloody river. ¡°¡­Jaguars?¡± Eduardus identified the animals. These felines of the Pantherinae subfamily generally had yellow fur with black spots where Lied was from, but on account of the unusual habitat they had red fur and white spots. New jaguars emerged from the river. Last but not least, Lied popped up. The blood was up to his knees, his face was wet, and his shirt was full of blood. ¡°Domestication. So that¡¯s the second trial¡± Lied clenched his fists. Lied¡¯s current SSL: 16% [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 12 – Domestication Spirit and body become one. A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person¡¯s inner strength. Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode. In order to quickly awaken the Spirit Mode, Lied together with Zaccharias joined a cluster of dead people seeking reincarnation by passing Mictlan¡¯s trials. They started the second trial as a pack of hungry jaguars surrounded them. Luna breathed a great sigh of relief as she saw Lied unharmed. ¡°Guess there¡¯s no reason to worry¡± Eduardus chuckled. ¡°Hey lad, don''t scare us like that!¡± Hector shouted. The human was so focused that everything they said went through one ear and out the other. The jaguars positioned themselves around the male, however, instead of attacking him, the animals appeared to be afraid. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°The jaguars are hesitating?¡± Eduardus said. ¡°Eh, not too shabby¡± Zaccharias adjusted his hat and smiled proudly. ¡°Did Lied do something?¡± Liana asked him. ¡°The spirit is able to bring about sensations, feelings and emotions to others. In this situation, Lied is unwittingly compelling them to feel fear by the law of the strongest¡± the talking crow enlightened her. In other words, Lied was more powerful than the jaguars, that is why his Sensitivity worked on them. ¡°This trial¡¯s pretty much in the bag!¡± Hector perked up considerably after hearing that. ¡°Is it?¡± the crow wondered. Lied stepped forward as he took down the two nearest jaguars with bone-shattering kicks. The mammals snapped out of it and attacked ferociously from the flanks. He used Visibility so as to block their bites and delivered them chin jabs. The felines howled in agony. ¡°Is Lied, by any chance, a martial arts fighter?¡± Eduardus asked suddenly. ¡°No¡± Zaccharias replied. ¡°Where do those natural movements come from then?¡± ¡°Well, we could say that his spirit is awakening from its slumber.¡± ¡°Slumber¡­?¡± ¡­ Ten minutes had gone by. Lied stood unscratched as the opponents truly were not on a par with him. ¡°They keep showing up one after another¡± Hector found it odd. ¡°There must be something we are failing to understand¡­¡± Eduardus said. ¡°Now, will Lied figure out in time?¡± Zaccharias murmured. The boy took a short break. The reason he was in a rush is because he did not want to run out of stamina again. At the end of the day, it was a thinking test¡­ Lied¡¯s current SSL: 18% [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 13 – Thinking Test Spirit and body become one. A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person¡¯s inner strength. Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode. In order to quickly awaken the Spirit Mode, Lied together with Zaccharias joined a cluster of dead people seeking reincarnation by passing Mictlan¡¯s trials. Could Lied solve the mystery behind the second trial? ¡°Does it have anything to do with the blood itself¡­?¡± Eduardus used his cop intuition. ¡°I hope there¡¯s still time¡± Zaccharias said. ¡°For Lied?¡± Hector asked. ¡°¡­You haven¡¯t forgotten about the time limit to reincarnate, have you? I¡¯m afraid you don¡¯t have much left¡± the talking crow reminded him. Lied let his guard down as some jaguars took him back to the depths of the bloody river. ¡°At this rate¡­¡± Luna murmured. ¡°It¡¯s fine. My husband didn¡¯t want to accept the fact that I couldn¡¯t have children and left me. I lived and died alone. A weak spirit like mine isn¡¯t worthy of reincarnating¡± Liana bared her soul to them crestfallen. No one there could berate her, everyone went through similarly difficult situations. ¡°Same here. My son passed away relatively early in an accident. I always put work first and spent very little time together with my family. Ironic because it was while working that I kicked the bucket. So, it¡¯s okay¡­ if it ends like this¡± Hector said. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. The human returned to the surface as corpses huddled floating in the water. ¡°Damn it! What am I missing?¡± Lied thought. That was when the boy saw a body fading away and, in its place, a new jaguar materialized right off the bat. ¡°Looks like he noticed¡± the crow said. ¡°Eh?¡± the spirits said simultaneously. ¡°Stay as far away from me as possible!¡± Lied shouted. Bewildered, Luna and the rest simply complied with his command. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it will work, but I¡¯ll follow my instinct!¡± Lied thought. The young man clenched his fists and wriggled his body as if he were summoning all his strength. The concentration of spiritual power made the whole chamber quake. Zaccharias created a barrier around them with just his paw so as not to get hit by the squall breaking out from the river. ¡°W-What is he trying to do?!¡± Eduardus asked. After charging up energy for about a minute and a half, he released it. ¡°This is¡­ the answer!¡± Lied exclaimed. An immense, sudden brief burst of bright light swallowed everything while the entrance gate to the final trial moved by itself. The aztecs reopened their eyes ¨C both the river and the jaguars were completely gone. The teenager stood alone in the center of the chamber, blood soaking his shirt. ¡°Splendid¡± Zaccharias smiled slightly. ¡°I see¡­¡± Eduardus came to realize what happened. ¡°As long as there was blood, the jaguars wouldn¡¯t die for good¡± the talking crow started explaining in a plain manner. ¡°Then in order to put a halt to them¡­¡± Luna followed his reasoning. ¡°Yes, he needed to expunge the river, their source of life. However, there was only one way to wipe out such a large area at once¡± the crow said. ¡°A huge explosion¡± Eduardus said. ¡°He gathered all of his spiritual energy with the Expandability property to boil the water away¡± Zaccharias brought the explanation to a conclusion. ¡°He¡¯s not even a user and yet¡­ Your spirit is really something¡± the talking crow gazed at Lied. Liana and Hector were emotionally stirred. That overflowing light was also a ray of hope that pierced through the heart and illuminated the soul. ¡°Save the tears for when we reincarnate¡± the aztec police officer put his hand on Liana¡¯s shoulder, the latter on the verge of tears. ¡°We must hurry, Lied¡± the crow got his student¡¯s attention. ¡°Yeah!¡± the human nodded. Only five minutes remained¡­ Lied¡¯s current SSL: 20% [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 14 – Trial of the End Mountain Range Spirit and body become one. A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person¡¯s inner strength. Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode. In order to quickly awaken the Spirit Mode, Lied together with Zaccharias joined a cluster of dead people seeking reincarnation by passing Mictlan¡¯s trials. The group passed their first two trials with flying colors, and now it all comes down to one last final trial as the clock ticks away¡­ 5th Underworld Level, Third trial floor The large metal door closed behind them as they entered the final chamber. Lied was predictably tired after his herculean effort, which did not go unnoticed. ¡°Lied, are you sure¡­?¡± Luna was worried about him. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°I¡¯ll get some rest later¡± Lied said without delay. They paid attention to a series of giant mountains, connected in a line by high ground, that blocked their way. It was the last hurdle hindering them from reincarnating. ¡°Unless there¡¯s a surprise, it seems that the goal is to force the passage open¡± Zaccharias remarked. ¡°Phew, no more sharp blades or immortal man-eaters¡­¡± Hector breathed a sigh of relief. Lied stayed put in front of the mountain range. The teenager tried to move the mountains with the little strength he had left. The aztecs watched uneasily. He took his hands off the whopper for a moment, the mountain range did not budge an inch. It would not be easy to move something so heavy. To make matters worse, the weariness prevented him from using Expandability again. Reality knocked on their door¡­ ¡°It¡¯s over¡­¡± Eduardus smiled a painful smile. ¡°Darn it!¡± Hector kicked the air. ¡°W-What will become of us¡­?¡± Liana started panicking. ¡°Was everything we¡¯ve been through for nothing?¡± even Luna was losing heart. The frustration of their wishes was overwhelming. Zaccharias did not quite know what to say either. That was when Lied peered through a crack out of curiosity and saw a ghost. The young man fell back as the spirit crossed over to the other side as if the mountain range were not there. He was a forest green-haired man in his early twenties who wore formal attire. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, everyone, especially you, Lied. My name is Meshulam¡± the very first God of Death greeted them as he placed his hand on his chest and smiled kindly. [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 15 – Meshulam Spirit and body become one. A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person¡¯s inner strength. Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode. In order to quickly awaken the Spirit Mode, Lied together with Zaccharias joined a cluster of dead people seeking reincarnation by passing Mictlan¡¯s trials. And then, just when all seemed hopeless, the first God of Death in Mictlan¡¯s history appeared before them¡­ ¡°You are¡­ Meshulam?!¡± Eduardus was astonished. ¡°You mean that Meshulam?¡± Luna wondered. Lied stared at each aztec. On the face of it, he was the only one who did not know him. And for some reason, Meshulam guessed his name. ¡°Who is he?¡± Lied sent a telepathic message to Zaccharias. ¡°Remember when I told you about how Adam and his gang defeated the Guardians of God in the First Spiritual War? He was one of the Hero¡¯s companions. History says that he settled in Mictlan after the war was over with the duty to watchdog Nachash, the Underworld¡¯s first prisoner¡± the talking crow enlightened him. ¡°Are you sure this isn¡¯t a dream?¡± Hector shuddered at the presence of the notable man. ¡°Haha, is it so hard to believe?¡± Meshulam let out a shy laugh and met the boy¡¯s eyes again ¡°What about you, Lied? You look totally confused.¡± A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°How¡­ do you know my name?¡± Lied said. Meshulam reached out for a handshake as a red-headed, crimson-eyed male slightly older than him manifested himself spiritually next to Lied. ¡°Yo, Mesh¡± the man shook the Shinigami¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again¡± Meshulam smiled kindly at him. Lied suddenly noticed that the spirit was gone and found himself grasping the God of Death¡¯s hand in his place. The teenager looked at Zaccharias and the others, yet, oddly enough, no one else bore witness to their meeting. ¡°In a jam, I see¡± Meshulam beheld the mountain range. ¡°You came here to tell us that?¡± Luna asked. ¡°No, I came to congratulate everyone as you will be able to reincarnate¡± the Shinigami shook his head. ¡°Huh?!¡± Luna, Eduardus, Hector and Liana said at the same time. ¡°We don¡¯t have to get through this trial?¡± Hector seeked clarification from him. ¡°Technically yes, although the hardest thing is done¡± the God of Death said vaguely. ¡°The hardest?¡± Eduardus asked. ¡°Weren¡¯t you told beforehand that the main condition lies in your will to live? Throughout the course of these two trials, each one of you acquired a strong volition. From a moral position, nothing stands in your way anymore¡± Meshulam said. ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s what the psychopomp said¡± the crow corroborated. ¡°But they still need to move forward¡± Lied stated. The Shinigami nodded in response. ¡°If I had awakened the Spirit Mode¡­!¡±, Lied thought. ¡°Get some rest, Lied¡± the God of Death said as if he had read his thoughts ¡°Now it¡¯s up to the ones facing the trial.¡± ¡°What do we have to do?¡± Luna came forth. ¡°It¡¯s very simple¡± Meshulam pointed to the mountain range ¡°You just have to open the passage with your own hands.¡± ¡°O-Ourselves¡­?¡± Liana was reluctant. ¡°How do you expect us to open it when even Lied couldn¡¯t?!¡± Hector got hot under the collar. Luna clenched her fists as she started walking towards the series of giant mountains, followed by Eduardus and Liana. ¡°Whatever!¡± Hector joined them. The four spirits pushed the mountains with all their strength. Lied and Zaccharias merely watched their team effort together with the Shinigami. In the end, the aztecs managed to open the passage without difficulty, as if it were already open. ¡°Why¡­?¡± Lied, a bystander for a change, could not believe his eyes. ¡°Because you¡¯re not one of them¡± the God of Death answered him. ¡°W-We did it¡­¡± Liana shed tears of joy. ¡°It really opened¡± Hector was feeling thrilled. ¡°I¡¯ll have another chance¡­!¡± Eduardus beamed with happiness. ¡°Yes¡­!¡± Luna tried holding back her tears, but to no avail. [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 16 – Two Boys Spirit and body become one. A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person¡¯s inner strength. Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode. In order to quickly awaken the Spirit Mode, Lied together with Zaccharias joined a cluster of dead people seeking reincarnation by passing Mictlan¡¯s trials. After passing through the trials, the spirits will finally be able to reincarnate. 8th Underworld Level, Upper Block, Administrative Floors, Reincarnation Room Lied and everyone else went through a portal, popping up inside a new room instantly as they noticed a container big enough to fit a person in its center. Meshulam walked towards the capsule and motioned them to enter one at a time. Liana unexpectedly stepped forward. That shy woman managed to boost her low self-esteem without anyone even realizing it, and all thanks to their recent experiences. ¡°Thank you all so much! I promise I won¡¯t lose hope again¡± Liana bowed her head. The woman dematerialized into spiritual particles. The container was soon occupied by Hector. ¡°I won¡¯t waste this second chance¡± Hector said as his body disappeared into thin air. Eduardus sighed and headed for the capsule. The officer then focused his attention on Lied. ¡°Don¡¯t you have family or friends worried about you?¡± Eduardus asked. ¡°My parents are dead¡± Lied answered as he stared at the floor. ¡°Oh¡­ my condolences.¡± ¡°Friends? I have none.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I never needed them.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ¡°Hey, there¡¯s this one detective about my age who told me I didn¡¯t know how hard it is to uphold justice and that I would never understand him. What do you make of this?¡± ¡°A young man, on top of it¡­ I died while pursuing a fellow police officer who was engaging in acts of corruption. That man was a Spirit Mode user and my unit wasn¡¯t prepared¡± Eduardus paused momentarily ¡°I know how he feels. Not wanting more innocent people to be hurt and justice prevailing¡­ although it may seem utopian, that¡¯s the world we wish to see.¡± Both Susumu and Eduardus believed it was possible to build a fair and equal society. ¡°I¡¯m ready to stand up once more for what I believe in¡± the cop said. ¡°What you believe in¡­¡± Lied said in a low voice. ¡°Lied, I pray that you find your own tenet¡± Eduardus said goodbye. Luna was filled with determination as she entered the container. The memory of their first trial in which Lied dodged ten thousand knives came to her mind. ¡°What are you going to do next?¡± Luna stared at the human. ¡°Beats me¡± Lied answered, frustrated by the fact that he could not awaken the Spirit Mode ¡°Are you pleased with the way everything turned out?¡± he changed the subject. Luna nodded, and a smile spread across her face. The girl¡¯s spiritual body began to fade away, followed by a brief silence. ¡°¡­You know, there are a lot of people out there that just need a hand to turn their lives around. Will you help them if you run into them?¡± Luna asked. ¡°Well¡­ if I get something in return¡± Lied looked away. Luna was taken aback by the sudden appearance of a red-haired man who materialized himself via Lied¡¯s spirit. Since it was a connection strictly between Lied and Luna, Meshulam and Zaccharias could not see him. ¡°Sure¡± the male said. Everything started to make sense to the aztec as tears streamed down her face in tiny droplets. Luna did also witness the talking crow¡¯s human form. That was when she finally unraveled her past. Ten years ago, Luna was walking along Adam¡¯s statue when two children ran past her. The black-haired boy was Lied. Before she died, the girl read a message engraved on a tree, signed by Lied. Luna was thrilled after linking both memories. ¡°I really was part of your destiny!¡± The lass held out her hand to him. Lied was reluctant but still grabbed it. ¡­ Lied found himself standing in a completely empty dimension shaped through the link betwixt the boy¡¯s lost memories and the girl¡¯s memories. A blonde-haired, dark green-eyed kid stood at the end of an endless corridor. Lied¡¯s impulse commanded him to run towards the lad, then the latter turned his back on him. The unexpected happened as snakes wrapped their long bodies around Lied¡¯s arms and legs. The mysterious evil brought the fair-haired child to a halt in the same manner. Lied struggled to break loose from the reptiles, however he did not have the strength. ¡°Wait¡­ Klaus!¡± Lied remembered his name. The lad named Klaus smiled at him, his tragic smile hid unimaginable suffering. Overwhelming darkness engulfed them at last. ¡­ Lied returned to the Reincarnation Room. Luna was gone. Meanwhile, the teenager was shedding tears nonstop. ¡°Hey, Zaccharias¡­ ahn¡­ why¡­ am I crying?¡± the male asked the crow sitting on his shoulder. [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 17 – Situations Spirit and body become one. A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person¡¯s inner strength. Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode. A profound hush reigned in the room. Five minutes have passed since the spirits reincarnated. Lied was feeling calm, though he still did not understand the tears he shed earlier. ¡°This prana!¡± Meshulam said when he suddenly felt an overwhelming presence. ¡°¡¯Prana¡¯?¡± Lied gazed at Zaccharias who also sensed it. ¡°The spiritual energy. But this is¡­¡± the talking crow said. ¡°From the Restricted Block¡± the Shinigami found the source of the energy using his Sensitivity. Lied zeroed in on the terrifying devouring aura that reminded him of the snakes and the unknown boy Klaus. ¡°Martyr¡­!¡± the young man thought. The God of Death noticed his own spiritual body beginning to fade away. Meshulam took a deep breath and then looked at Lied, his last hope. ¡°Remember, Lied: the biggest trial is yourself¡± the Shinigami said. ¡°Myself¡­¡± Lied said in a low voice. ¡°A great battle is about to start in Mictlan. You must awake the power within you before it¡¯s too late!¡± the God of Death said whilst he disappeared into thin air. ¡°You heard what he said. The clock is ticking¡± the crow said. ¡°I know¡­¡± Lied clenched his fists as he did not hide his frustration. ¡­ Underworld Level -5, Restricted Block, Prison ¡°How long do you think we¡¯ll have to stay in this place?¡± a former aztec hunter in his forties named Pantera, wearing a cowboy hat and lying in a cell, asked. ¡°According to the psychopomp, until we have served our sentence¡± Blasius, another aztec male the same age as him who stood with his arms crossed in a cell next to Pantera, answered him. ¡°I was just doing my job. Blame the people that hired me¡± Pantera sighed. ¡°Aaaah, I¡¯d shear off your vocal cords if I could¡± Jirou Isaak, a slightly older human inmate sitting in a lower cell, said. ¡°Haha, don¡¯t fret. You won¡¯t have to listen to me anymore once I get out of here¡± the hunter smirked. ¡°Hihihi, I hope you¡¯re right¡­¡± Jirou raised a dark smile while he bit his own nails. ¡°Hm? One, two, three, four Spirit Mode users?¡± Blasius counted the several pranas that were approaching from Level -4. Martyr and Core were tasked with finding Iduma, a stumbling block to the Illuminatus¡¯ plans, and taking him out. None of them were keen to have a chat with the captives, yet Pantera would certainly not miss the chance to break out of prison. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°You there, the man with bandages¡± Pantera struck up a conversation with Martyr. ¡°Huh?¡± Martyr fixed his eyes on the hunter. ¡°My word! What happened to that hand of yours?¡± ¡°None of your business¡­¡± ¡°Did mommy smack you hard? Or was it daddy?¡± ¡°Do you¡­ want to be devoured?¡± Martyr was filled with rage as the pupil in his eyes turned fiendish for a split second. His eyes looked strangely familiar to Pantera. ¡°Are you challenging me to a fight? Unfortunately, these cells have a special property that prevents us from activating the Spirit Mode.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, if you destroy these iron bars we can fight as much as you wish!¡± Everyone¡¯s attention momentarily switched to the last two users who had just arrived at Level -5. The youngest user seemed especially alarmed by their meeting. ¡°Nemo!¡± Core was surprised to see her comrade ¡°And¡­ who?¡± she stared at the older guy alongside him. ¡°You are¡­¡± Martyr recognized him. The male¡¯s pants were badly torn, and he was not wearing upper body clothes apart from a damaged tie, thus his well-trained muscles stuck out. Having awakened the Spirit Mode, the boy was now able to remain in Mictlan with his real body. ¡°Susumu. Susumu Shinichi¡± he said. ¡­ Underworld Level -7, Restricted Block, Dead Zone Naomi could not see an end to the corridors as she constantly wondered how far away Lied was. Yamir brushed up on her ability from time to time since they never knew when more dwellers of death could show up. The two trained for a few minutes and they resumed walking after a short break. Yamir had a feeling of impending danger and motioned Naomi to be prepared. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong¡± Naomi found it odd that no one was coming. ¡°¡­Watch out, Naomi!¡± Yamir shouted, but it was already too late. A ferocious wind that often passed through the Restricted Block with the purpose of ¡°sweeping up¡± potential intruders caught her off guard as it took the girl away. Naomi had a brief vision of a red-hooded lad calling her by a different name, while carrying her body in his arms. ¡°¡­Adam¡± Naomi said before fainting as she awakened a memory. ¡­ Naomi regained consciousness and found herself resting on the ground. A barrier made of roots created by a red-headed boy protected her from the wind. ¡°Yo, I told ya we¡¯d meet again¡± Iduma grinned. ¡­ 1st Underworld Level, Lower Block, Reception Area Lied and Zaccharias managed to avoid being seen until they returned to the very first floor of Mictlan. The human and the crow moved to the buildings where they met each other. ¡°Hey, what kind of place is the Restricted Block?¡± Lied asked. ¡°It¡¯s an off-limits site where the sinful spirits are held captive¡± Zaccharias enlightened him. It was not long before they were spotted by half-dozen guards. Lied fought them and won without difficulty. ¡°I definitely got stronger. It¡¯s not enough¡­?¡± Lied thought. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± the talking crow said. They left the unconscious guards behind and rode an elevator down into the Restricted Block. Lied felt a shiver go down his spine as he trespassed the forbidden area. ¡°Zaccharias!¡± a feminine voice suddenly echoed through the walls. That thin voice belonged to a little snow-haired, blue-eyed girl wearing a dress. The talking crow perched on her shoulder. ¡°This is Mare, an aztec spirit. She¡¯s also a Spirit Mode user¡± the crow introduced her. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure, Lied! Zaccharias has told me a lot about you¡± Mare said as she walked up to the male. ¡°H-Hello¡± Lied nodded awkwardly. ¡°It¡¯s not a fully developed ability yet, but Mare is capable of seeing a glimpse of a person¡¯s far-off future¡± Zaccharias explained. ¡°A clairvoyant? That¡¯s amazing¡± Lied complimented her. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for this power¡­ I¡¯d be better off without it¡± the angst-ridden lass spoke quietly. ¡°What?¡± Lied said. ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡± Mare got her gentle smile back. ¡°Now that we¡¯re done with introductions, it¡¯s time to get down to business!¡± the teacher said as he flew towards his student. Lied¡¯s clothes were in tatters and for that reason he needed a new look. Zaccharias used the property Plasticity as Lied was presented with a leather jacket over a t-shirt and brand-new jeans. ¡°I¡¯m not the best costumer in Aqua, but I hope you like it¡± the crow said. ¡°Ooooh, you look great, Lied!¡± Mare was dazzled by his good looks. He did not dislike it either, despite his indifference. Zaccharias sat on Lied¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Are you sure you want to come with us, Mare?¡± the talking crow asked. ¡°Lied will keep me safe¡± the child nodded at the crow and smiled at the teenager who looked away. The trio finally set eyes on the long stairs leading to the lower levels. [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 18 – Savage Beast Spirit and body become one. A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person¡¯s inner strength. Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode. Underworld Level -2, Restricted Block Lied, Zaccharias and Mare descended into the depths of the Underworld, an area forbidden even to the guards themselves. It did not take long for danger to knock at their door. ¡°Looks like we have company¡± the talking crow said while feeling something lurking in the shadows. The crow immediately created a barrier around Mare and left Lied to fend for himself as the ¡°company¡± flew towards him at supersonic speed. ¡°W-What¡­?!¡± the wide-eyed human thought as a large claw grabbed him by the neck. ¡°Lied!¡± Mare shouted. ¡°You couldn¡¯t wait for us¡± the very composed Zaccharias adjusted his hat. This critter that Yamir and Naomi called ¡°dweller of death¡± was tall, extremely thin and had a warped face. The monster turned its head to look straight at the talking crow, the one holding a huge prana which it followed to Level -2. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°You know what it is, Zaccharias?!¡± Mare asked him. ¡°¡¯Animus¡¯, the argus-eyed watchdogs of the Restricted Block¡± the crow said. Lied was trapped against the wall by the critter. His new clothes were not damaged in any way due to the fact that they were manufactured with the property Plasticity, giving them greater durability. Lied took advantage of the Animus¡¯ distraction to scoot away. ¡°I couldn¡¯t feel his presence! And such raw brutal strength¡­ what the hell is this thing?¡± Lied thought. The Animus suddenly let out a roar that echoed off the thick walls as Lied covered his ears. Zaccharias and Mare did not hear it because they were inside the barrier. ¡°I¡¯ll let him handle this¡± the talking crow said. ¡°Can Lied defeat it without the Spirit Mode?¡± Mare asked. The crow became profoundly serious whilst a deep silence reigned there. ¡°¡­Of course not.¡± ¡°Then why?¡± ¡°For the same reason that I asked him to go through the trials even though I wasn¡¯t absolutely sure he would be able to pass them. The only option was to trust his resilience.¡± ¡°What if¡­¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let Lied die. However, I will not allow him to go any further, for his own good.¡± Both aztecs fixed their eyes on the human. ¡°This is your last chance, Lied!¡± Zaccharias thought to himself. Lied swallowed his saliva as he stared at the Animus. He was aware that there was a huge power gap between the two. Unlike in his previous battles, the odds were against him this time. The boy trembled convulsively with fear before the beast. ¡°I¡¯m scared?¡± Lied thought. The Animus used Sensitivity on him just like Lied did with the jaguars, a sign that the roles have been reversed. The teenager girded his loins and adopted a fighting stance. ¡°This funny feeling¡­ right, give everything I have and, in the end, defy all expectations¡­ isn¡¯t that how it should be? The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning!¡± Lied smiled as he was itching to fight. [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 19 – Resolve Spirit and body become one. A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person¡¯s inner strength. Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode. Zaccharias and Mare were attentive bystanders of the forthcoming fight between Lied and the Animus. There was a huge power gap and merely the miracle of the Spirit Mode could help him even the odds. ¡°I know. This monster is harder than anything I have faced so far. The only way to beat it¡­¡± Lied thought, crestfallen. The young man clenched his fist and then raised his head to look at the beast. ¡°Anyway, I have to do what I can. If I just stand still, I¡¯ll definitely die.¡± Lied sighed and punched the Animus twice in the chest. The critter felt nothing as the teenager threw a leg kick next, but it did no damage either. The Animus responded by letting out a deafening roar that sent him flying against the wall. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. The male got up immediately, meanwhile his opponent had vanished without trace. Lied focused all his attention on feeling the enemy¡¯s presence, nevertheless Sensitivity did not work again as he knelt after being hit in the belly. ¡°G-Gah¡­!¡± The human made a quick return thrust, yet it was as if he was not even tickling. The Animus flung him away as they fought in midair. Lied tried using Visibility in order to dodge its attacks, but to no avail. The monster disappeared into thin air once more before reappearing milliseconds later in front of the lad to mercilessly attack him. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Zaccharias noticed Lied¡¯s eyes intermittently turn white. The beast literally beat the boy to a pulp. Lastly, the critter lifted him up with its claw and headbutted him in the face. He fell to the ground like a broken toy. ¡°This isn¡¯t even a fight¡± Mare covered her mouth with her hands. Lied could barely stand as he felt his own body heavy, almost blacking out. ¡°Please go, Zaccharias¡­!¡± Mare asked the teacher to help his student. ¡°Take a good look at him. Do you think those are the eyes of someone who has already lost?¡± Zaccharias asked her. Despite not having any strength left, Lied did not give up as he raised one leg at a time. ¡°¡­They are white?¡± the aztec witnessed the phenomenon of the ¡°Adam¡¯s Eyes¡±, awakened by the unbreakable resolve of the boy. [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 20 – Spirit Mode Spirit and body become one. A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person¡¯s inner strength. Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode. Mare was amazed with the manifestation of the mystical eyes, which Zaccharias had witnessed before. The Animus felt slightly intimidated by him. The monster then rushed with an uncontrollable desire for bloodshed towards the helpless Lied at supersonic speed. ¡°Watch out!¡± Mare shouted. Much to everyone¡¯s surprise, a barrier automatically appeared around the motionless boy and protected him from the beast¡¯s claws. ¡°Was it you, Zaccharias?¡± the aztec girl asked. ¡°No¡­ I didn¡¯t do anything¡± the talking crow replied. The Animus let out a bellow of rage as it tried to break the shield. ¡­ Lied opened his eyes. He was standing inside the orphanage, a place that brought back bitter memories. At the end of the first hallway close to the entrance, Lied saw a lonely child huddled on the floor. Three other children walked to him. ¡°Lied, we¡¯re going to play in the park. Do you want to come with us?¡± the only female in the trio asked him. Little Lied merely turned his gaze away from her as he did not show emotions. ¡°Hey, she¡¯s talking to you¡± one of the boys did not like his attitude and told him. He ignored him and the lad grabbed him by the collar. ¡°I know you lost your memories, but we all lost important things too. You don¡¯t need to suffer in silence!¡± Words did not resonate in his icy heart. The kid dropped him and the three left. Little Lied inclined his head and muttered: ¡°¡­Why can¡¯t I cry?¡± When he noticed, the present Lied was sent to his soul. ¡°I was¡­¡± the human said. ¡°Yes, remembering the past¡± the red hooded figure popped up beside the basket with the apple and said. ¡°You¡­ What about my fight?¡± ¡°More importantly, are you okay with that?¡± ¡°My life wouldn¡¯t have radically changed even if I went to play with them.¡± ¡°No, not that¡± the guardian of the Adam¡¯s Apple shook his head ¡°That day, there were things you would have liked to say, but you were unable to.¡± Within Lied existed a mix of emotions that he could no longer suppress. As a matter of fact, it was on the afternoon of the death of his parents and after his meeting with the mysterious woman that this inner padlock opened. ¡°I have more to do than mull over what happened. Also¡­ I get it. I really regret many things now.¡± The young man¡¯s late parents came to his mind. Next to the red hooded male unexpectedly appeared his normal version that Lied met during the first trial as the two versions coexisted, both very serious. ¡°Lied, why do you think you couldn¡¯t awake the Spirit Mode?¡± the normal version took a step forward and asked. ¡°Beats me. I thought I might be too worried¡­¡± the teenager replied. ¡°Here¡¯s another question: what¡¯s your main goal?¡± the normal version asked as he trod around him. ¡°Recover my lost memories.¡± ¡°Remembering the past to understand the present. There¡¯s nothing wrong with that line of thought, but you¡¯re neglecting something very important.¡± This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Something very important?¡± ¡°The spirit is made up of past and present memories. It¡¯s essential that you restore your memory, but you should also value your new memories.¡± Dozens of soap bubbles representing Lied¡¯s remembrances began to float in the air. ¡°(¡­) don¡¯t forget to come back home, okay?¡± ¡°Your name is Naomi.¡± ¡°Eh? How do you know?¡± ¡°Who¡­ is it¡­?¡± ¡°Are you going to let those tears blind you (¡­)?¡± ¡°Destiny is reserved¡­ for those who are chosen.¡± ¡°What do you really want from me?!¡± ¡°(¡­) the Adam¡¯s Apple!¡± ¡°You have no idea¡­ how hard it is to uphold justice. You don¡¯t understand our pain.¡± ¡°That was a close call, huh?¡± ¡°A¡­ talking crow?¡± ¡°When in doubt, ask your spirit. It shall steer your way towards the answer.¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t do it alone, why don¡¯t you ask for help?¡± ¡°This is¡­ the answer!¡± ¡°(¡­) My name is Meshulam.¡± ¡°(¡­) I promise I won¡¯t lose hope again.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t waste this second chance.¡± ¡°I¡¯m ready to stand up once more for what I believe in.¡± ¡°I really was part of your destiny!¡± ¡°Remember, Lied: the biggest trial is yourself.¡± Lied had his determination renewed after watching a film containing his memories. The normal version smiled a sweet smile. A door opened as if by magic near the Adam¡¯s Apple. Meanwhile, little Lied showed up as an illusion created by the soul. ¡°Let¡¯s go¡± the younger Lied told the older Lied. Lied nodded and the two held hands. Together they walked through the door into a new dimension betwixt the soul and reality. Lied stood there alone as he sighted his injured real body in the room where Xanthus left him for the first time. Spirit and physical body got in sync as a steady radiance of light descended upon the dimension. Back in the Underworld, the static Lied kept being protected by his spiritual barrier. The shield ultimately cracked¡­ That was when the young man and the Animus were engulfed in a powerful brief burst of bright light. The energy propulsion generated multiple prana blasts that bounced back after hitting the wall created by the crow. Lied returned to the soul and saw a swinging white cross lying above the surface, the very same object that his arcane ally wore around the neck. ¡°Looks like you won¡¯t need me anymore¡± the red hooded figure behind him said. ¡°Thank you¡± Lied turned to him and nodded. ¡°As long as you have that look on your face, I am sure you will be able to do what I couldn¡¯t¡­¡± the guardian said in a sad way before disappearing into thin air. Tears that did not belong to him flowed from Lied¡¯s eyes. He grasped the cross. ¡­ 9th Underworld Level, Upper Block, Administrative Floors Mictlan promptly stood up from the chair. The reincarnation of Meshulam felt something similar when Naomi awakened the Spirit Mode¡­ ¡­ Underworld Level -5, Restricted Block, Prison Core and Martyr came face-to-face with Susumu and Nemo. Pantera and the other captives watched as the event unfolded. ¡°This prana now¡­!¡± Core sensed Iduma¡¯s spiritual energy. ¡°Again!!¡± Martyr sensed a funny but different vibration once more. ¡°Long time no see, little Core¡± Zosimus said while staring at Core. ¡°It¡¯s talking?¡± Martyr observed Susumu¡¯s shadow. ¡°That voice¡­ it couldn¡¯t be¡­?¡± Core wondered. ¡­ Underworld Level -8, Restricted Block, Dead Zone Naomi was saved by Iduma, the mysterious red-haired boy. Upon waking up, the girl instinctively called him ¡°Adam¡±, the name of the red hooded man from her dream. However, the human chose not to quiz Iduma as she believed it was just the Underworld playing tricks on her. Naomi had a lot of questions, but she thought there were more important things at the moment, such as meeting up with Yamir. The two went together to Level -7. Iduma made a point of training her during rest breaks. Iduma¡¯s cross wavered as they simultaneously sensed Lied¡¯s awakening in the middle of one of these training sessions. ¡°Haha, it was about time¡± Iduma commented as he put his hands behind his head. ¡°You felt this too?¡± Naomi asked. ¡°Lied finally awakened the Spirit Mode.¡± ¡°You know Lied?!¡± ¡°Kinda¡­¡± ¡°I see¡­ you¡¯re really here, Lied!¡± Naomi was pleased. ¡­ Underworld Level -7, Restricted Block, Dead Zone Yamir ranged over the dark corridors by himself in search of Naomi. The snake felt a hostile yet familiar aura not far away from him. ¡°¡­An enemy?!¡± Yamir looked to the darkness behind him. ¡­ 1st Underworld Level, Lower Block, Reception Area Zechariah gave Varius a secret task which he was carrying out now. Varius also became aware of Lied¡¯s awakening. ¡°That¡¯s how it should be, Lied.¡± ¡­ Underworld Level -6, Restricted Block, Prison A sturdy old man with a long white beard and two meters tall meditated in one of the single cells. He suddenly interrupted his meditation. ¡°Oh, it seems God was right. The ¡®Adam¡¯s Heir¡¯, bearer of the Eden¡¯s Apple, arrived at last¡± the geezer smirked. ¡­ Aqua A blonde-haired, dark green-eyed teenager freely stared into the horizon at the top of a hill. A black cross popped up around his neck and a dark aura surrounded his body. ¡°Until the day we meet again, get stronger¡­ Brother¡± he said. ¡­ The jet of highly compressed air bursted over the entire floor and only a minute later did the explosion end. Zaccharias¡¯ barrier remained intact. Lied was in his real body, though still wearing his Mictlan outfit. He easily stopped the Animus¡¯ claw with his right hand whilst wiping away the tears with his left hand. His eyes were completely white just like the mystical aura that enveloped him. He wore the holy cross on his right wrist as it moved to and fro with a swaying motion in response to its owner¡¯s feelings. ¡°It¡¯s payback time¡± Lied said. Lied¡¯s current SSL: 30% [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 21 – Anima Sancta Spirit and body become one. A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person¡¯s inner strength. Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode. Each person brought, in their own perispirit, the sum of their evolutionary achievements ¨C the Oneness property. Thereby, the cross that the Adam¡¯s Heir wore on his wrist was the object that mirrored his holy soul. Lied took a firm hold of the Animus¡¯ claw as the beast could not get free from him. The wounds on the boy¡¯s real body seemed to have slightly healed with the awakening. ¡°Amazing¡­¡± Mare was amazed. ¡°It¡¯s my first time seeing it, but as expected from Adam¡¯s Spirit Mode¡± Zaccharias thought. Lied lifted the monster into the air, in a demonstration of strength, and hurled it away. The Animus got up from the ground right away and hid in the shadows. The male closed his eyes as he predicted the enemy¡¯s movement using Sensitivity. Lied easily blocked the attack with Visibility. The angry beast uttered a yelp. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°Communication isn¡¯t your strong point, huh? No problem, my fists speak for me¡± Lied said. Lied threw a powerful punch in the monster¡¯s warped face. He did not stop here and gave two more biffs in its belly. The Animus flew away as it hit the wall. The critter, although bewildered by his sudden comeback, did not yield up and kept attacking the young man but to no avail as it was not able to hurt him. Meanwhile, the predator lost some of its ferocity and Lied noticed that his opponent had reached its limit. ¡°It¡¯s time to end this¡± Lied said. The teenager raised his arm as the cross swayed back and forth and a large concentration of prana was produced around his hand. ¡°W-What is he trying to do?!¡± Mare wondered. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± the talking crow was saying. The energy took the form of a sharp-pointed white weapon, consisted of a long and fine blade with a tiny cross attached to the hilt. The sword radiated a white-hot glow that lit up the all-encompassing darkness of the Underworld and hurt the Animus¡¯ eyes with its blaze. ¡°Let¡¯s go, ¡®Anima Sancta¡¯¡± the Adam¡¯s Heir stated his weapon¡¯s name. Lied promptly cut the creature in a single blow that only the crow there managed to see. The beast began to disappear into spiritual particles. Zaccharias removed his barrier. ¡°I hope¡­ that you have a good reincarnation¡± Lied said before the Animus perished. Mare was totally happy for him as she went near the boy seconds later with the talking crow perched on her shoulder. ¡°Congratulations, Lied!¡± the aztec girl said with a kind smile on her face. ¡°Thanks¡± the human thanked while holding the sword. ¡°This is the perfect moment¡± the crow landed on the ground at a considerable distance from its student and adjusted its hat, its shining golden eyes fixed determinedly on him ¡°Don¡¯t deactivate your Spirit Mode, Lied. We¡¯re going to fight.¡± [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 22 – Starting Point Spirit and body become one. A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person¡¯s inner strength. Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode. Zaccharias startled both Mare and Lied, especially the latter. ¡°Huh?¡± Lied said. ¡°Zaccharias?¡± Mare found his attitude strange. The talking crow created a barrier around Mare. Lied let his guard down as the crow gave him a painful clout on the head that sent him flying backwards. ¡°What was that for¡­?!¡± Lied got angry. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me? We¡¯re going to fight. However, I¡¯ll only use one of my wings.¡± The human felt like he was being looked down on and took a step forward. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Lied asked. ¡°Yeah¡± Zaccharias replied. ¡°You too, Lied?¡± Mare gasped in disbelief. For the teenager it was an opportunity to assess his strength versus a Spirit Mode user with 100% SSL. Furthermore, he was not able to show the extent of his power before. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I won¡¯t hold back!¡± Lied shouted as he blasted off towards the talking crow wielding the Anima Sancta. The Adam¡¯s Heir tried to cut its small body surrounded by a black aura, but the crow blocked the attack using just its right wing and then Zaccharias pushed him by simply touching his forehead. ¡°Are you for real?!¡± Lied thought as he was forced to move away by his opponent¡¯s extraordinary force. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Lied went back into the fray, nevertheless the talking crow easily managed to read the very same movements that the Animus could not keep up with. ¡°Now that I think about it, I haven¡¯t told you how I died yet¡± the aztec said while deftly avoiding his attacks ¡°Eight years ago, I fought Nachash and lost.¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± the human said in a low voice. ¡°You don¡¯t stand a chance as you are now.¡± Lied gripped the Anima Sancta firmly. The young man went at him showing an overwhelming willingness, even though he knew he could not win. The talking crow dodged and gathered his energy to make a wave-shaped body of prana. ¡°This one is a basic, yet very effective technique if used at the right time.¡± The aztec fired the wave at his chest and put an end to the fight. The barrier that protected Mare disappeared. Zaccharias walked up to Lied who was lying conscious on the ground, too tired to retain his Spirit Mode. ¡°I¡¯m not a doctor, so the wounds will have to heal over time¡± the crow said as it started to cure him with the Expandability property. ¡°¡­I see. Awakening the Spirit Mode was just the starting point¡± the boy reached a conclusion. ¡°Exactly. The real training begins now.¡± The aztec smiled. The lad felt Zaccharias¡¯ heartwarming aura once again as he returned the smile. ¡­ In Lied¡¯s soul, the normal version of the red hooded figure watched the events unfold next to the Adam¡¯s Apple. He sensed a tenebrous prana within the soul as he turned around to see the shadow of a person with fiendish dark green eyes. ¡°¡­It¡¯s you, Nachash¡± the normal version said coldly. The normal version continually suppressed the presence of the Talking Serpent inside Lied, but nonetheless, the snake crawled into a hole formed by the Spirit Mode awakening¡­ ¡°All great expectations are followed by sadness, those who have much to hope and nothing to lose will always be dangerous. He may have your soul, but he still has my eyes¡± the silhouette laughed wickedly and vanished. The red-haired man clenched his fists as strong emotions welled up. He bit his lips. ¡°No. I will not let Lied become one of your pawns¡­!¡± ¡­ 8th Underworld Level, Upper Block, Administrative Floors, Reincarnation Room A silver-haired, blue-eyed male in his twenties wearing a ponytail arrived at the Underworld out of the blue, through a secret portal that directly connected Mictlan to Aqua and vice versa. He wore an elegant attire with an eagle badge and carried a sword stored in a scabbard on his waist. This gallant gentleman was sent on a particularly important mission. ¡°Okay, where do I find the God of Death¡­?¡± he wondered. [END OF CHAPTER] [ARC ¡°AWAKENING¡± ENDS] [END OF VOLUME 2] Lie 23 – Carthago delenda est I This is a story that goes back to a time when the fruits of chaos are still being formed, the cruel fates yet to be revealed. In another volume of his journey through the Underworld, the "Adam¡¯s Heir" will fight memorable battles and meet people who might have the answers he is looking for. Origins, convictions, and duties. Everything will be put to the test once more. Underworld Level -7, Restricted Block, Dead Zone Yamir and Naomi were split away from each other by the ¡°Wind of Death¡±. The snake was reminded of the old days when he wandered alone in the darkness of the Underworld. He felt empty again without the girl there. ¡°Wait for me¡­¡± Yamir thought. ¡­ Underworld Level -8, Restricted Block, Dead Zone, before Lied awakened the Spirit Mode Naomi regained consciousness and saw Iduma standing by her side. ¡°Yo, I told ya we¡¯d meet again¡± the kid said and grinned. ¡°Y-You are¡­¡± she stood up with dizzy spells. ¡°The great Iduma!¡± he introduced himself to her. ¡°¡­What are you doing here?¡± Naomi asked. ¡°And you?¡± Iduma answered the question with a question. ¡°I was with my guardian, but we got separated¡± she looked around for Yamir. ¡°Eeeeeh¡­¡± the boy had a smug smile on his face ¡°Do you want me to help ya find your ¡®guardian¡¯?¡± ¡°Do you know this place?¡± Naomi asked. ¡°Nope¡± Iduma giggled. ¡°Forget I even asked¡­¡± Naomi shook her head. The child removed the barrier of roots that protected her, and they continued their way until they spotted Yamir. Naomi ran happily towards him. ¡°You came looking for me!¡± the girl exclaimed in delight. ¡°I have to keep my promise¡± the snake smiled. ¡°Ah, this is Iduma, he saved me when¡­¡± Naomi turned to the red-haired lad and then back to the green-haired young man ¡°Yamir¡­?¡± He was oddly crestfallen; his smile was gone as if he had seen his worst enemy. ¡°Naomi¡­¡± Iduma spoke quietly. ¡°¡­move¡­¡± Yamir was saying. Both activated their respective Spirit Modes: Iduma¡¯s body was surrounded by a mystical white aura and Yamir¡¯s by a dark green prana. ¡°W-What¡¯s wrong with you two?¡± Naomi got worried. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ dangerous¡± Iduma and Yamir said simultaneously. ¡­ Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Ganeden, School, five minutes after Susumu and Nemo arrived in Mictlan in the island¡¯s time zone Time passed faster in the Underworld as 1 hour in Ganeden was equal to 60 hours in Mictlan. A school nurse forgot a personal belonging in the sickroom and entered the closed building to retrieve it. That was where she saw a pasty-faced student lying on one of the beds. ¡°Susumu-kun?!¡± the woman recognized him. Susumu was afterwards taken to a hospital. The young detective was carried on a stretcher to the emergency ward while his father waited patiently in the waiting room. One by one Tatsuo¡¯s coworkers arrived at the hospital in their police cars. ¡°How is he, Tatsuo-san?¡± an officer asked him. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡± the veteran detective replied in an apprehensive manner ¡°Have you managed to get in touch with Nemo?¡± ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± ¡°¡­Yes, who am I talking about¡­?¡± Their memory was returning to normal just like Nemo said. A few minutes later, a trio of doctors burst out of the room. ¡°What is it?!¡± Tatsuo stood up nervously from the chair where he was sitting. ¡°Your son disappeared!¡± the taller doctor said. ¡°Come again¡­?¡± That was the moment when Susumu¡¯s physical body synchronized with his spiritual body, therefore awakening the Spirit Mode. ¡­ 7th Underworld Level, Upper Block, Administrative Floors, Secret Room The duo Susumu and Nemo found a hidden room on the 7th Level and started an intense training led by Zosimus. ¡°How do you feel?¡± the Chains Man said after an hour. ¡°¡­Different¡± the detective clenched his fists. ¡°Uff¡­ what now?¡± Nemo was panting as he stood up from the floor. ¡°We go to where the Illuminatus is¡± the human turned towards the aztec. The Animus were divided into three types: the type C that Lied fought, tall and thin, between 30% and 35% SSL; the type B, short and thin, between 40% and 50% SSL; the type A, tall and muscular, between 60% and 65% SSL. Halfway to Level -5, they faced a type C Animus that Susumu had no trouble defeating with his brand-new power. At the present time¡­ ¡°Mr. Zosimus, is it really you?¡± Core took a step forward and asked. ¡°The man himself¡± Susumu¡¯s shadow said. ¡°But I thought on that day, eight years ago, you were¡­¡± ¡°It seems that revenge didn¡¯t let me rest.¡± ¡°Revenge¡­¡± Core said with a woeful look before glaring at Nemo ¡°AND? What do you think you¡¯re doing, Nemo?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a hostage!¡± Nemo was hiding behind Susumu. ¡°A hostage?¡± Core mistrusted him. ¡°I-It¡¯s the truth!¡± ¡°Susumu Shinichi, huh¡­? What kind of relationship does he have with Mr. Zosimus?¡± the lass thought. Susumu tightened his tie as he gave Martyr a defiant look and the latter glanced back. ¡°¡­I feel irritated for some reason. Do you think you can help me with that?¡± the aztec said. The Illuminatus member walked to the center of the floor. Pantera, Blasius, Jirou and the rest of the agog captives watched in their respective cells. ¡°Are they going to fight?¡± the hunter wondered. ¡°Oh, a human cop¡± Blasius understood that the blue-haired boy was a policeman because of his posture. ¡°Susumu Shinichi¡­ Shinichi¡­ Tatsuo Shinichi?¡± Jirou connected the dots related to his unknown past. ¡°Martyr, isn¡¯t it? I want to ask you a question: what is your connection with Nachash?¡± the Chains Man spoke to the snake. The mention of the Talking Serpent¡¯s name alone raised the tension. All of them, except for Susumu, had heard of him. ¡°N-N-Nachash?¡± Nemo almost panicked. ¡°What about the Talking Serpent¡­?¡± Pantera was curious. ¡°Nachash¡­!¡± Core said, equally surprised. ¡°Who is that?¡± Susumu asked his own shadow. ¡°The man who killed me¡± Zosimus replied succinctly. ¡°What?!¡± Susumu and Nemo said at the same time. ¡°Mr. Zosimus¡­¡± Core tilted her head as she felt sad. Everybody¡¯s attention was finally focused on Martyr as a profound hush reigned. ¡°Nachash¡­ ah, the ¡®demon¡¯ that everyone¡¯s so afraid of. Connection? What are you on about?¡± the male said while scratching his earhole. ¡°Hm¡­¡± the Chains Man was intrigued by him, albeit he did not doubt him. Susumu knew that he had to enquire Zosimus about everything later, including his real identity. Meanwhile, Martyr could no longer hold back his eagerness to fight. Nemo sensed his partner¡¯s murderous intent and distanced himself from them. ¡°Less talk¡­ more fight!¡± the Illuminatus member bellowed and moved at full speed. Martyr tried to punch Susumu, however his fist went through him due to the Intangibility property. The snake stopped before hitting the wall thirty meters away from the teenager. Martyr noticed a light blue aura enveloping him. The aztec realized that the once ordinary human had also awakened the power of the spirit. ¡°Hah. Haha. Hahaha!¡± the Illuminatus member worked himself into a frenzy as he activated his Spirit Mode and a dark yellow prana surrounded him. ¡°He¡¯s fast!¡± Susumu thought as he saw his opponent shorten the distance between them in an instant, the immense pressure sent a shiver down his spine. ¡°Can you entertain me?¡± Martyr whispered in his ear. ¡°Don¡¯t waver!¡± Zosimus shouted. Susumu regained his composure and fought back using a combination of Aikido, Jujutsu and Judo, three japanese martial arts that he learned as part of his police training. Martyr was taken by surprise as he was knocked over, but he quickly got up from the ground. Susumu was unable to dodge the upcoming biff with Visibility. The force of the blow sent him flying backwards. Blood was gushing from his nose. ¡°Be careful¡± the shadow said. ¡°Yeah¡± the teenager nodded and wiped the red liquid off his mug. Susumu and Martyr advanced until they were face to face, eye to eye. ¡°I will¡­ DEVOUR YOU!¡± Martyr exclaimed. ¡°Justice will¡­ STEER MY SPIRIT TO VICTORY!¡± Susumu exclaimed. ¡­ Lie 23 – Carthago delenda est II 9th Underworld Level, Upper Block, Administrative Floors, Shinigami¡¯s Office Two white-haired, blue-eyed twins ¨C a male named Chalmecacihuilt and a female named Cihuacoatl ¨C entered the office. They were officially the Guardians of the Underworld, created by Meshulam himself. Both Mictlan and his assistant Golgotha placed enormous trust in them. ¡°You called us, Mictlan-sama?¡± Chalme asked. ¡°Yes¡­ how should I tell you this¡­¡± the Shinigami looked nervously at the skeleton standing on his shoulder ¡°We¡¯ve got a runaway.¡± Cihua snapped as she smashed the God of Death¡¯s desk with a single loud slap and hundreds of papers were sent flying much to the disbelief of the young god. ¡°THE DAMN SNAKE AGAIN?!¡± the woman went crazy. Cihua and Chalme were defeated by Nachash when the latter escaped from prison, thus her hate towards the Talking Serpent. ¡°Ahn, that 80-page contract took me three months to write¡­ and now¡­¡± Mictlan sobbed while kneeling. ¡°Mictlan-sama, I would like to resign from my position as Guardian of the Underworld. For hundreds of years I have endured, but I really cannot work with Cihua. We¡¯re just incompatible with each other, even though we¡¯re brothers¡± tears welled up out of Chalme¡¯s eyes ¡°This isn¡¯t easy for me, either¡­ Mictlan has been my home since the day I was born¡­!¡± ¡°Be quiet, you grumpy children! Cihua, it¡¯s not the Talking Serpent! Chalme, your resignation has been rejected! Mictlan, write one more time!¡± the short framework of bones said. A loathsome guardian, her alienated brother and a depressive god. Golgotha had a hard time. That was when the shadow of a person lurked at the doorway. The rampaging Cihua activated her Spirit Mode and summoned a scythe that she used to attack the newcomer. The silver-haired man in his twenties wearing uniform did not stagger and easily stopped her long blade as a clear, silvery aura surrounded his body. ¡°Howdy¡± the knight forced a smile. ¡°With just one hand?¡± Chalme thought. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°Lower your weapon!¡± the skeleton said and Cihua promptly deactivated her Spirit Mode. The male walked up to the Shinigami who stood up. ¡°Are you the God of Death?¡± the man asked. ¡°T-That¡¯s right¡­ and you are?¡± Mictlan nodded and said. ¡°Sir, my name is Ajax Alcestis and I am one of the Generals of the Aztec Armed Forces. I come on behalf of Aqua and its King, Abrahamus A. Corum IX, to request your help¡± Ajax bowed his head and said with reverence. ¡°What can I help you with?¡± the Shinigami blinked in astonishment and said. ¡°I¡¯m trying to find a certain person.¡± The God of Death asked a guard to bring another table to replace the one Cihua destroyed and a chair for the general to sit on. The Guardians of the Underworld remained alert beside Mictlan. ¡°There¡¯s no doubt about it. This guy is a Spirit Mode master, a user with 100% SSL¡± Chalme thought. Full Spirit Mode users brought up bad memories to Cihua and Chalme since Nachash, who overpowered them eighteen years ago, was one. ¡°And who would that be?¡± the God of Death asked. ¡°He¡¯s known as ¡®The Lost Prince¡¯ and has been missing for 8 years. I believe he¡¯s alive somewhere in the Underworld¡± the aztec explained. ¡°What makes you so sure he¡¯s here?¡± ¡°Our King said so.¡± ¡°Hm¡­¡± Mictlan picked up a black notebook that contained the list of the dead ¡°What is his real name?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± ¡­ Aqua, Aztecorum, Royal Palace, Throne Room A 123-year-old man was seen sitting in the center of a wide and luxurious room. At his side stood another male of the same age. They were Abrahamus A. Corum IX, the current king of Aqua, and his counselor and right-hand man, Gregorius Donatus. ¡°Come in!¡± the king said when he heard someone knocking on the big door made of crystal. A 25-year-old short violet-haired, orange-eyed knight wearing a uniform with a jaguar badge and a hat walked in. The male who was also a musician bowed to King Abrahamus. ¡°Do you need me, your Majesty, do, re, mi?¡± ¡°Thank you for coming. It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t trust Ajax, but I have a feeling things are going to get complicated in the Underworld, which is why I think it¡¯s best to send you.¡± ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll make arrangements to leave immediately, fa, so, la¡± he raised his head slightly to look at Abrahamus and said. The knight was about to leave when the king said to him: ¡°My great-grandson¡­ please¡­¡± ¡°Do not worry. I, Regulus Fidelis, one of the Generals of the Aztec Armed Forces, swear on my soul to bring the Prince back, si, do¡± he smiled determinedly and left. The two old foxes Abrahamus and Gregorius were silent. ¡°Am I wrong, Gregorius?¡± the king asked him. ¡°No¡­ we must never give up on our family, my dear friend¡± the counselor smilingly answered. ¡°¡¯We must never give up on our family¡¯, eh¡­¡± [END OF CHAPTER] [ARC ¡°RESTRICTED BLOCK¡± STARTS] Lie 24 – Iduma vs Yamir: Combat Nostalgia I This is a story that goes back to a time when the fruits of chaos are still being formed, the cruel fates yet to be revealed. In another volume of his journey through the Underworld, the ¡°Adam¡¯s Heir¡± will fight memorable battles and meet people who might have the answers he is looking for. Origins, convictions, and duties. Everything will be put to the test once more. Underworld Level -8, Restricted Block, Dead Zone ¡°He¡¯s¡­ dangerous¡± Iduma and Yamir said simultaneously. ¡°You know each other?¡± Naomi looked from side to side, confused. ¡°No, but this feeling stirring within me is¡­!¡± Yamir said as he was getting agitated. ¡°I remember him PERFECTLY!¡± Iduma said with a huge smile plastered on his face. ¡°Could it be that¡­ you know about them?¡± Yamir asked him. ¡°Haha, do I?¡± Iduma said. Yamir did not hold back as he summoned an exceptionally long spiritual snake that brought Iduma to him and then violently squeezed the lad in midair. ¡°Stop, Yamir!¡± Naomi shouted. ¡°Tell me now!!¡± Yamir exclaimed. The child wearing his smug smile gave him the finger. The snake then hurled him away while Iduma used his roots to protect his back before hitting the wall. ¡°Iduma!¡± the girl went to him right away. The kid got up off the ground. The last time the boy felt so fired up was when he fought against Xanthus, on the day they met¡­ ¡°Why do you have to fight?!¡± Naomi stood between them trying to avoid the inevitable. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°He knows about my memories¡± Yamir argued. Naomi wanted to stop them, but her conscience was telling her to let them do as they please. ¡°The Hero and the Talking Serpent are considered the most powerful Spirit Mode users in History. I wonder which one is the strongest: Adam¡¯s power or Nachash¡¯s power? Let¡¯s find out!¡± the red-haired lad said. ¡°Very well¡­ be devoured!¡± the green-haired young man took that as a challenge and accepted it. Yamir did not waste time as he summoned a few snakes that nearly hit him, were it not for the barrier of roots that Iduma created at the last minute. The red-eyed child laughed and went over from defense to attack ¨C a thick mass of roots rushed towards Yamir who copied Iduma and protected himself with a shield made of snakes. As if they were reading the opponent¡¯s mind, Yamir and Iduma each summoned a dozen roots and snakes that clashed at the speed of light. The battle gradually intensified and at this very moment exactly fifty snakes and fifty roots accurately controlled using the Visibility property were clashing against each other as sparks flew in the air. ¡°Wow. Both are¡­ amazing!¡± Naomi thought. However, there was a difference in strength even amongst Full Spirit Mode users that was about to become apparent¡­ Iduma, who was enjoying himself immensely, went up to the ceiling of the floor swiftly on top of roots, riding them like a surfboard. ¡°You won¡¯t escape!¡± Yamir followed him also on top of snakes. ¡°I don¡¯t intend to¡± Iduma snapped his fingers and a sizable number of roots he had previously planted grew from the ground. His trap caught the snake off guard and Yamir would have been crushed had he not created a barrier. ¡°Why does watching them fight¡­ makes me so sad?¡± Naomi thought as she almost wanted to cry. The girl found herself reliving a memory that did not belong to her yet happening in a place oddly familiar to Naomi. In a village on a warm sunny day, two smiling teen boys fought whilst being watched by a gleeful audience. The youngest one was the spitting image of Iduma and the oldest looked like a younger Yamir. Naomi stared at the person next to her. It was a beautiful turquoise-eyed lass that greatly resembled the woman Naomi saw when she met Core. The girl noticed her gaze and smiled at Naomi. ¡°Who¡­ are you?¡± Naomi asked. The teenager returned to reality without hearing an answer. Yamir closed distance as he was getting more and more obsessed with the possibility of recovering his memories. The snake threw a punch and Iduma bled from his nose. ¡°If you really want to get them back, you¡¯ll have to hit harder!¡± Iduma backed off and razzed him while wiping his blood off. Yamir reached Iduma in the blink of an eye and kicked his enemy¡¯s belly. ¡°S-So fast¡­!¡± Iduma thought as he knelt on the ground. For hundreds of years in the Underworld Yamir battled easy preys and only now, stimulated by high intensity, did he start to remember his forgotten instincts. ¡°¡­It is for these moments that I live!¡± the crimson-haired boy withstood the pain and stood up as roots surrounded Iduma and snakes Yamir ¡°C¡¯mon¡­ LET¡¯S KEEP GOING!¡± Iduma exclaimed and the cross around his neck swayed. ... Lie 24 – Iduma vs Yamir: Combat Nostalgia II ¡°Interesting. You don¡¯t want to stop, do you?¡± an eerie voice in Yamir¡¯s mind asked. ¡°Huh?¡± the snake thought. He shortly forgot what he heard and was back to attacking the scarlet-haired boy. The latter was so busy dodging the snakes that he did not notice his opponent approaching him. Yamir threw a punch hard enough to send him flying. Iduma responded with several roots that chased him across the floor. The child was once more blindsided as the snake appeared out of the blue in front of him and kicked him in the stomach. Iduma was beginning to acknowledge the fact that his foe was slowly leaving him behind. The young man¡¯s spirit remained unbreakable regardless of that, fueled by his immense willpower to continue to exchange blows with Yamir. Five intense minutes of fighting went by, as the power gap between the two of them widened to almost absurd levels. ¡°You can barely keep up with me. Just give up already¡± Yamir said. ¡°Are you kidding me? The bigger the challenge, the more fun it is to overcome it! That said¡­ hihi, don¡¯t be surprised¡± Iduma lifted his right arm to summon a sublime sword whose blade consisted of roots serving as an adornment with a tiny cross attached to the hilt ¡°Tadaaa! Her name is ¡®Anima Sancta¡¯. She¡¯s a beauty, don¡¯t ya think?¡± For some reason, the snake felt that it was not its first time seeing that sword. It was at that very moment that the ¡°voice¡± returned to terrify him: ¡°Why don¡¯t you summon yours too?¡± ¡°¡­That again!¡± Yamir said. Naomi realized that something was wrong with Yamir. Meanwhile, Iduma did not overlook his opponent¡¯s distraction as he tried to slash him right off the bat. The snake stopped the Anima Sancta at the last second by holding it with both hands on the blade and then mustered up his strength to keep it away from him. ¡°Someone¡¯s¡­ inside¡­¡± Yamir thought as he was shaking. Snakes suddenly assaulted the red-eyed child who found himself being strangled to death. Iduma dropped the Anima Sancta on the ground. Yamir walked over to him completely overtaken by anger. ¡°I¡¯VE HAD ENOUGH! I want my memories right now¡­ u-ugh?!¡± the young man was exclaiming before being tormented by headaches. ¡°That wouldn¡¯t be very convenient¡± the voice of his mind spoke. Yamir grouned and allowed the lad to break out of the constriction. Naomi desperately went to help him, but Iduma stayed her hand. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°No¡­ get out!!¡± the dark green-haired male said. ¡°Yamir!¡± the girl shouted. ¡°Could it be¡­?!¡± the crimson-haired kid wondered. Yamir was fighting something that was trying to take control of his body. Finally, his entire torso was entangled by snakes against their user¡¯s will. An explosion of dark prana occurred, and bursts of spiritual energy erupted as Yamir uttered cries of despair. Naomi and Iduma distanced themselves from the epicenter of the explosion. Yamir slowly emerged from the whirlwind of prana looking fascinated shortly thereafter. The fully tamed snakes levitated around him. ¡°Aaah, it brings me back. What a fine vessel¡± Yamir said while appreciating his own body. Iduma charged at him with the sword in hand. He was repelled by a mere whiplash of snakes as Yamir advanced towards the girl. ¡°You¡¯re not Yamir. Who are you?¡± the teenager asked confused. The mysterious individual using Yamir as a vessel stared at her with his mouth wide open in astonishment for brief seconds and then smiled a cunning smile. ¡°You don¡¯t remember me? I¡¯m Nacha¡­¡± That was when Iduma restricted his movements with his roots so that he would not get closer to Naomi, the one he was rather interested in. ¡°Run!¡± the kid said to her. ¡°Wha¡­?¡± the teenager was saying. ¡°Hurry, I can¡¯t hold him back for much longer!!¡± Iduma shouted. ¡°Y-You insolent spectrum!¡± the possessed Yamir summoned a mystical snake-like blade that he used to cut the roots restraining him and promptly paralyzed the red-haired lad, before walking up to Naomi ¡°Now¡­ LILITH!¡± he raised his sword in the air and said. ¡°Help me¡­ Adam!¡± she closed her eyes and thought, saying the first name that came to mind. In the face of overwhelming fear, her Spirit Mode activated itself as the moon-shaped bracelet that she was carrying was moving to and fro with a swaying motion in response to her feelings. As if he had heard Naomi¡¯s thought, the determined Iduma broke free of his grasp and stood between them. The two swords collided with each other. The lass opened her eyes and saw the image of Adam alongside Iduma. ¡°I¡¯m tired of running away. Just like you and Yamir saved me, this time I will save you both!¡± the young woman said, inspired by the Adam¡¯s illusion created from her spirit. Yamir and Iduma were amazed to witness the evolution of Eve¡¯s Spirit Mode. Naomi Setsuko took yet another step to her true awakening¡­ ¡°¡­In every fight there must be a winner and a loser, otherwise there¡¯s no point in fighting in the first place¡± Iduma smiled and shook his head. ¡°Why would you go that far for me?¡± Naomi asked him. Deep down, the lass knew that it was just an excuse for her not to get hurt. The boy¡¯s smile faded away after hearing her question. ¡°That¡¯s my mission. And¡­ because I don¡¯t want to lose you again¡± he replied. ¡°¡­?!¡± His response sparked her memories ¨C Naomi saw flashes of herself and the turquoise-haired lady. Iduma turned one last time to her and said: ¡°See ya later, Naomi!¡± he grinned. After saying goodbye, the male used his roots in order to send her far away from there. The girl bore witness to the outcome of the sword duel prior to being swallowed by the darkness of the Underworld. Iduma laid on the ground as he was about to have his heart pierced by the enemy. What happened next, she did not see. ¡°The woman who was always with Adam¡­ is called Eve¡± Naomi was reminded of her name buried in her subconscious as she was losing consciousness whilst descending into the abyss. Among the nostalgic memories of the ancient times, another girl was seen. Naomi could not remember what she looked like, nevertheless, she was also an oddly familiar person. ¡°But who¡­ is Lilith?¡± She passed out and let fate guide her once again. [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 25 – Susumu vs Martyr: Achilles Heel I This is a story that goes back to a time when the fruits of chaos are still being formed, the cruel fates yet to be revealed. In another volume of his journey through the Underworld, the ¡°Adam¡¯s Heir¡± will fight memorable battles and meet people who might have the answers he is looking for. Origins, convictions, and duties. Everything will be put to the test once more. One of several breathtaking battles about to take place in the Underworld began¡­ ¡°I will¡­ DEVOUR YOU!¡± Martyr exclaimed. ¡°Justice will¡­ STEER MY SPIRIT TO VICTORY!¡± Susumu exclaimed. The detective summoned a pistol coated with a rich layer of spiritual energy and the initials ¡°P.J¡± written as he held it in his hand. It was his Oneness, a homage to the weapon his father gave him. ¡°That¡¯s right¡­ with the Progressus Justitiae, I will fight!¡± the teenager thought. Susumu aimed the Progressus Justitiae at his target and fired, at the same time Martyr started running around the battlefield. The Illuminatus member was trying to close the distance between them while dodging the bullets, but he could not find an opening. ¡°He knows, huh¡± Core thought. ¡°Nemo told me about your Spirit Mode. I won¡¯t let you get near me anymore!¡± Susumu thought. Martyr let out a smile and then used his great agility to reduce him to a nonplus. ¡°I realized when I punched you¡­ your eyes cannot keep up with me. It¡¯s understandable. An amateur who just awakened the Spirit Mode doesn¡¯t have a Visibility sufficiently developed to follow my movements! The same¡­¡± the male hid his presence and waited for the right moment to strike ¡°¡­goes for your Sensitivity!¡± The detective was unable to predict Martyr¡¯s attack. Luckily, the human fired randomly and almost hit him as the Illuminatus member was forced to fall back. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Heh, a fluky shot¡± the unruffled snake said with hands on hips. Susumu was sweating already from his effort. His inexperience when it comes to fighting with the Spirit Mode was showing in the face of an opponent on a completely different level from the Animus he defeated before. ¡°Is that it?¡± Pantera got bored. ¡°Shinichi¡­!¡± Jirou was overwhelmed with anger. ¡°What are you doing, Susumu?!¡± Nemo complained about his performance. ¡°It looks like the winner is decided. Now, why is Mr. Zosimus not saying nothing¡­?¡± Core gazed at the detective¡¯s silent shadow. ¡°You thought you could beat me just because you know my Spirit Mode? It¡¯s smart-ass wimps like you¡­ that I hate the most!¡± Martyr shot out towards Susumu. The boy failed to react; the Illuminatus member touched Susumu¡¯s chest with his bandaged hand as the latter¡¯s Spirit Mode deactivated itself against the user¡¯s own will. ¡°Hehe¡­ hehehe!¡± Martyr giggled. ¡°It doesn¡¯t work¡± Susumu tried reactivating his Spirit Mode time and time again, but to no avail ¡°So this is the power to negate other Spirit Modes¡­ the ¡®Negation Spirit Mode¡¯!¡± ¡°Without the Spirit Mode, you¡¯re merely an ordinary human. Lady Luck will no longer save you!¡± Martyr told him. ¡°It¡¯s over¡± Nemo put his hands on his head and knelt to the ground. For a traitor like the aztec kid, it also meant the end. Core, Pantera and the remaining prisoners simply looked at Susumu, a rat trapped in a cage. Clueless as to what to do, the young man entered his soul in order to ask for advice from the Chains Man. ¡°Zosimus, what should I do¡­?¡± he asked. ¡°Look at you. Now that you¡¯ve lost the power of the spirit, you¡¯re only a wingless bird. Are you seriously this fragile?¡± the shadow said. ¡°How am I supposed to keep fighting?!¡± ¡°Susumu, do you think I would fight a battle I cannot win? Without any plan?¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± Back to reality, a dark blue prana enveloped the lad to the surprise of Martyr and everyone else. ¡°I-Impossible!! How?! I negated your Spirit Mode!¡± Martyr was left flabbergasted. ¡°No, this Spirit Mode is¡­!¡± Nemo said, shockingly. ¡°Of course¡­¡± Core said in a low voice as a light bulb went off in her head. ¡°Yes, Susumu¡¯s Spirit Mode was nullified. However, it happens that there are two spirits dwelling in this body¡­ that is, two Spirit Modes¡± Zosimus was saying. ¡°Two?!¡± Blasius could not believe it. ¡°A single person with more than one Spirit Mode¡­ it¡¯s my first time seeing someone like that. Well yes, Mr. Zosimus was originally a user. And¡­¡± Core thought. ¡°¡­a rule of the Negation Spirit Mode is that it can only cancel one Spirit Mode at a time¡± the girl continued out loud. ¡°It¡¯s unbelievable, but the truth is that Susumu may very well be¡­ Martyr¡¯s ¡®Achilles¡¯ heel¡¯¡± the silhouette laughed and said. Susumu¡¯s eyes became deep blue too as they lit up with renewed determination. He then ultimately faced his enemy. ¡°CURSED HUMAN¡­!¡± the pupil in the blonde-haired man¡¯s eyes turned fiendish. ... Lie 25 – Susumu vs Martyr: Achilles Heel II The Illuminatus member was incredulous. For the first time, someone, and a human in the bargain, withstood his Negation Spirit Mode. ¡°I can feel Zosimus¡¯ energy. My Spirit Mode may have been nullified, but I can still fight!¡± Susumu thought and shouted a battle cry before running towards the snake. With the Progressus Justitiae unusable, Susumu engaged in hand-to-hand combat. Martyr blocked his punch with Visibility, then touched him with his bandaged hand as he negated the Chains Man¡¯s Spirit Mode and triggered the detective¡¯s Spirit Mode to the latter¡¯s delight. A negations loop thus began as the teenager alternated between long and short range depending on the Spirit Mode at his disposal. ¡°So far so good. Here¡¯s a little extra help¡± Zosimus said and summoned his chains, even though his power was limited due to his location and Susumu using it. ¡°Martyr is under pressure. Could he actually stand a chance?¡± Core thought. Just when the tide of the battle seemed to have turned in favor of the human, the snake grinned as if mocking his efforts. ¡°This hasn¡¯t changed a thing. Don¡¯t think that¡­¡± Martyr vanished and reappeared in front of Susumu ¡°¡­you can fight on equal terms with me!¡± The Illuminatus member landed a quick succession of blows as the boy had a slow response time. At the end of the day, there was a difference between them that could not be shortened. ¡°Gah!¡± Susumu exclaimed when he got kicked in the stomach. The teenager tried to make a comeback, but the snake once again aced him out with its superb reflexes and punched him in the face. The young man fell on the dark ground. ¡°¡¯Justice will steer my spirit to victory¡¯? Hah! Do you seriously believe in the crap you spouted? Is your world that fair?¡± Martyr grabbed the boy by the tie and lifted him up in the air ¡°Well, good for you, because MINE ISN¡¯T!¡± The Illuminatus member then struck another blow with his fist as Susumu was sent flying backwards. Finally, the glimmer of hope dissipated. None of the spectators believed in the detective¡¯s victory anymore. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°Now it¡¯s really the end¡­¡± Nemo muttered, feeling thoroughly defeated. Martyr walked up to Susumu who, in the meantime, stood up catching his breath with his hands on knees. He could barely stay on his feet. ¡°You¡¯re a very unlucky person. If you hadn¡¯t come across me, you¡¯d live a little longer and die with everyone else¡± the snake said. ¡°With everyone else?¡± the lad said. ¡°After I am done with you, I will kill ALL the humans on your island! HAHAHAHA!¡± ¡°¡­!!¡± ¡°I want to see you talking about justice when their blood is on your hands!¡± ¡°Y-YOU SCUM¡­!¡± Susumu said while thinking about his father and the police guys. The human fired twice at Martyr who easily dodged the shots. It was then that chilling howls were heard across the floor. Dozens of Animus had suddenly arrived on the scene looking for the intruders who were yet to be detected by the Upper Block authorities. ¡°Damn it, they¡¯re back already¡± Pantera said. ¡°It seems like the entertainment is over¡± Blasius commented. ¡°AAAAAAH, we¡¯re all doomed!!¡± Nemo was in the depths of despair. ¡°We stayed too long here!¡± Core complained about it. The monsters besieged Core, Nemo, Susumu, and Martyr. Meanwhile, the detective looked pleased as he saw this situation as a major turnaround for him. ¡°Hey, Zosimus. Do you want to bet on whether or not I will survive?¡± the teenager asked his shadow. ¡°Heh, I didn¡¯t know you liked betting that much¡± the Chains Man replied. Zosimus understood what was going on in his mind without exchanging further words. That was because he knew him since he was a kid. ¡°Huh? Why are you smiling?¡± the snake noticed the young man¡¯s smiling countenance. ¡°It¡¯s true that I can¡¯t win over you in a fight in my current state. But you speak like I am the only defense that Ganeden has. Let me tell you something: on that island there are several brave people. I may not know him well, but I¡¯m sure he¡¯s thinking about beating you up right now¡± Susumu said, referring to Lied ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ underestimate humans!¡± the detective said and aimed his pistol at the ceiling above him. ¡°No way¡­ Have you gone mad?!¡± the Illuminatus member stared at the gun and asked. ¡°Bullet of Justice¡±, his Spirit Mode¡¯s skill where the third bullet fired, in addition to chasing the target until it hits, had double the power of a normal projectile. It consisted of the Expandability (making of the bullet) and Density (automatic trajectory calculation) properties. The lad¡¯s goal was to destroy the floor by hitting the weakest point of the damaged ceiling. ¡°It¡¯s time¡± Susumu said. ¡°You really think you¡¯re getting out of here alive?!¡± Martyr asked him. ¡°I will not die¡± the detective waited before replying. ¡°G-Guh¡­¡± His assertion sounded like d¨¦j¨¤ vu as Lied said the exact same thing to the snake. When Core, Nemo and the others became aware of his intention, the boy was already pulling the trigger. The blonde male tried to stop him, nevertheless, he could not forestall the catastrophe as much of the ceiling collapsed and fell on them. [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 26 – Training This is a story that goes back to a time when the fruits of chaos are still being formed, the cruel fates yet to be revealed. In another volume of his journey through the Underworld, the ¡°Adam¡¯s Heir¡± will fight memorable battles and meet people who might have the answers he is looking for. Origins, convictions, and duties. Everything will be put to the test once more. Underworld Level -2, Restricted Block Lied rested for thirty minutes after fighting against Zaccharias. The boy was not feeling down for losing the battle, because he knew it was not realistic to be able to defeat a user with 100% SSL so soon. ¡°Hey, why are you guys still in Mictlan? Shouldn¡¯t you have reincarnated by now?¡± Lied looked at the talking crow, who was adjusting his hat, and at Mare. ¡°That¡¯s because we¡­ still have our regrets¡± the aztec girl smiled with a broken heart. ¡°Regrets¡­¡± the human murmured. ¡°Eight years ago, I fought Nachash and lost.¡± Lied was reminded of what the crow told him during their fight. Was that really Zaccharias¡¯ deep regret? What about Mare? Now that he had obtained the power of the spirit, the human felt like he was getting a little closer to understanding everything and everyone, but he was also aware that there was still a long way to go. ¡°How are you feeling, Lied?¡± the talking crow asked him. ¡°Good, I don¡¯t feel pain anymore¡± the young man nodded and replied. ¡°Great. We can start training then.¡± ¡°What are we going to do?¡± ¡°First I¡¯d like to get back to the foundations. Activate your Spirit Mode.¡± Lied obeyed him as his eyes turned white and his body was surrounded by a mystical aura. The swinging cross popped up on his right wrist. ¡°Have you ever done meditation?¡± the crow asked. ¡°No¡± the teenager shook his head and replied. ¡°There¡¯s a first time for everything. Sit down, close your eyes and feel your surroundings.¡± The boy sat in lotus pose and used the Sensitivity property. The results were almost instantaneous. ¡°There¡¯s two different pranas¡­¡± Lied said. ¡°It¡¯s me and Mare. Spiritual flows usually vary from person to person, so it¡¯s easy to know who¡¯s who. I want you to stay like that for ten minutes¡± Zaccharias said. Lied meditated without losing focus. When he finished his first task, the talking crow asked him to keep his eyes closed. ¡°I¡¯ll be shooting you with spiritual energy blasts for the next five minutes. You¡¯re going to try predicting and therefore dodging them¡± the teacher said. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Both his Sensitivity and his Visibility were not good enough. Either way, Zaccharias¡¯ goal was not for him to be able to handle the crow¡¯s attacks, but rather to improve his fundamentals, that is, the underlying basis of fighting with the spirit: the main properties. Time flew by and Lied was getting tired of kneeling. Fortunately, the talking crow¡¯s next order was for him to get up from the ground. The crow told him to summon his sword afterwards. The Anima Sancta appeared in his right hand as he gripped it firmly. ¡°A truly unique blade, better than any I have ever seen. That¡¯s precisely why you must learn not to rely on it¡± the teacher was saying ¡°Your fighting style is too predictable. It may have worked against that Animus, but the Spirit Mode users you will encounter from now on all have their own specialties and most likely more experience than you.¡± ¡°Not rely on the Anima Sancta¡­¡± the student said and swallowed his saliva as he made his sword disappear. ¡°The best way is to obtain more weapons. Remember the attack I used in our fight? I¡¯ll teach you it.¡± Zaccharias previously described it as a ¡°basic, yet very effective technique if used at the right time¡±. The truth is that anything would serve to expand his arsenal. The talking crow wished to demonstrate the technique once more before teaching it to him through a step-by-step training procedure. Lied joined Mare as the two of them watched his demo. The crow gathered prana into one of its wings. Then, the mass of spiritual energy took on a wavy shape resembling a sea wave. Lastly, he fired at a wall with a bang. ¡°This is the ¡®Unda¡¯¡± the teacher said. After watching Zaccharias¡¯ impressive demonstration, Lied was eager to learn the Unda and get stronger. Mare gave words of encouragement to him before they started training. ¡°While I said that the Unda is an elementary technique, it doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s easy to learn, especially for a beginner¡± the talking crow was saying ¡°When you fought the jaguars, you managed to summon a great deal of energy. To do this, you unconsciously used the Expandability property, necessary to make the Unda. For the first step, start by remembering that very same feeling.¡± The young man listened carefully. Prana gradually surrounded Lied as he replicated what he did earlier to pass the second trial. He built up a considerable amount of spiritual energy in just a few seconds. ¡°Good. Now focus the prana into your right hand. Don¡¯t unleash everything this time, just a little¡± the crow said. Lied channeled some of his spiritual energy into his right hand and then tried stabilizing it in his palm. However, this proved to be difficult, as he could not properly control the prana. ¡°Your spiritual flow is unstable¡± Zaccharias said. The lad took a deep breath and repeated the same procedure as he nailed it to the satisfaction of the talking crow. Everything was going well. Mare watched nervously. ¡°Second step: give a form to the energy by using Expandability. The shape is that of a wave¡± the crow explained. The teenager closed his eyes and pushed his imagination to the limit. ¡°Imagine it. Yeah¡­ like the ocean waves on that day¡­¡± Lied thought. To better picture it in his mind, he recalled the warm sun and the calm sea on a summer day spent with his late parents six years ago. After multiple failed attempts, the prana finally got a wavy shape. Mare¡¯s mouth fell open in a gape of astonishment. ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Zaccharias nodded and said ¡°Lastly, fire!¡± Lied stuck his right foot in the ground as he prepared to shoot at the wall that the talking crow hit earlier. However, it was at that moment that, to his dismay, the wave faded away. ¡°You need to maintain control¡± the crow said. The Unda training began a little over ten minutes ago and sweat was already running down Lied¡¯s face. This was nothing to be surprised about, since he was not yet used to this type of intense practice, which required high levels of stamina. ¡°Don¡¯t overstrain yourself, Lied. You can rest for a bit¡± the teacher suggested. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s continue¡± the student said. The lad knew there was no time to waste. They carried on with his training as twenty minutes passed in an instant. Never before did Lied try so hard and his dedication would surely bear fruit. ¡°Alright, show me what you¡¯ve learned¡± Zaccharias said and moved away from him. ¡°First step: remembering how I felt at that time¡­¡± the human thought. He recalled the time he released all his spiritual energy in order to utterly destroy the bloody river and pass the second trial. Then, the boy calculated the amount of energy needed and channeled it into his right hand. ¡°Second step: shaping the prana¡­¡± Lied remembered the ocean waves he had seen with his parents. The nostalgic memory slowly gave shape to the spiritual energy as he stabilized it in his palm. ¡°Third step¡­!¡± He fired the Unda as the result went far beyond the talking crow¡¯s expectations. [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 27 – 2-Kai Unda This is a story that goes back to a time when the fruits of chaos are still being formed, the cruel fates yet to be revealed. In another volume of his journey through the Underworld, the ¡°Adam¡¯s Heir¡± will fight memorable battles and meet people who might have the answers he is looking for. Origins, convictions, and duties. Everything will be put to the test once more. Underworld Level -4, Restricted Block Lied, Zaccharias and Mare went on their way as soon as the human finished his Unda training and regained his energy. Meanwhile, they heard a bang that came from the floors below. The three of them managed to cross the Level -3 ¨C the Animus¡¯ lair ¨C without being noticed by the monsters, thanks to a barrier the talking crow created that hid their presence. They found themselves in the first prisons of the Restricted Block, the blown-up surface could barely hold itself up. That was when they started hearing voices of people coming from Level -5. They were Pantera, Blasius and Jirou, along with a few more prisoners who broke out of their cells following the fight between Susumu and Martyr. ¡°Lied¡± the talking crow, who was perched on his shoulder, warned him as he felt powerful auras emanating from them. ¡°I know. Mare, you should back away¡± the boy stopped walking and told the girl without looking at her. The young aztec nodded and took a few steps back. ¡°Spirits. Did they escape from prison? So, the noise from before was¡­¡± Lied thought. Blasius and Jirou just stood there in silence as the young human prepared for imminent combat. Pantera giggled after assessing his strength. ¡°What is this? Some more unknown faces¡± Pantera said, ignoring Lied ¡°I don¡¯t fight weaklings. But you, with the Plasticity¡­ is another story¡± the hunter then looked at Zaccharias and said. ¡°No¡± the teacher refused the man¡¯s challenge on the spot and pointed to his student ¡°Your opponent¡­ will be him¡± the crow said and flew towards Mare flapping its wings. ¡°Huh? Didn¡¯t you hear me? Like the other kid, he¡¯s no match for me!¡± Pantera said. ¡°The other kid¡­?¡± Lied thought. ¡°I, too, would rather avoid unnecessary fights¡± Blasius said, averting his gaze from him. ¡°Then¡­ he¡¯s mine¡± Jirou said with a smile on his face as he took one step forward, which did not bode well for the boy. ¡°I¡¯ve seen him before. Where did I¡­?¡± Lied thought. ¡°Haaaaah¡­ student, right?¡± the psychopath asked before activating his Spirit Mode and closing in on Lied ¡°First is¡­ THE LIVER!¡± The teenager promptly activated the Spirit Mode as he dodged Jirou¡¯s surprise attack. The man did not give up and pressured him with his unusual movements. Lied was struggling to fight back due to the fact that he was unaware of his opponent¡¯s power. ¡°I remembered. You are¡­ the serial killer, Jirou Isaak!¡± the lad exclaimed. Lied watched him several times on TV. The second of three children, Jirou Isaak was the perpetrator of the most violent crimes that happened in Ganeden. He killed dozens of people, mostly students, with the supernatural ability he awoke in himself. In the end, he got tired of going after easy prey and committed suicide in hope of finding something fun beyond death. He ended up in the prison of Mictlan. And finally, many years later, he would satisfy his hunger. ¡°Hehe¡­ once I put my eyes on an organ¡­ I GOUGE IT OUT!¡± the killer said. ¡°He¡¯s completely crazy¡­!¡± the human thought. ¡°Judging by his words, he will target a specific body part and then extract the organ with Penetrability. A very annoying first opponent in a real match, but it¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t handle as you are now, Lied. You just need to pull yourself together¡­¡± the talking crow thought to himself. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The growing nervousness was affecting Lied¡¯s instincts, his inexperience set his teeth on edge. The young man took two deep breaths and faced his opponent as he entered the zone. On the other side of the floor, there was a strangely calm young man with dark green eyes among the prisoners looking at Lied as if he knew him from somewhere. ¡°It looks like he¡¯s gonna stop running¡± Pantera said seeing him motivated. Jirou never let go of his smile, and the change in psychological state of his prey only increased his appetite. Lied charged towards the psychopath. The boy was getting the better of his fellow countryman in hand-to-hand combat as he started using Visibility. The killer¡¯s opposition had drastically waned for some reason. ¡°Could it be that¡­? Even though he¡¯s a Spirit Mode user like me?¡± Lied thought. ¡°You finally noticed¡± Zaccharias thought. ¡°How can you predict all my movements?!¡± Jirou became irritated and fatigued. ¡°There¡¯s no mistake. He doesn¡¯t know about the properties!¡± Lied thought as he dodged the enemy¡¯s attacks one last time. ¡°In truth, not all Spirit Mode users necessarily learn the spiritual properties¡± the crow was explaining to Mare. ¡°Unlike Jirou, who spontaneously awakened the Spirit Mode, the kid went through some training. He has the ¡®fundamentals¡¯¡± Pantera said as he followed the same line of thinking. ¡°In other words, this is one of those fights wherein the SSL hardly matters¡± Blasius said. ¡°Exactly. Jirou may be more experienced with the Spirit Mode, but experience without foundations isn¡¯t real experience¡± the hunter was saying ¡°He¡¯s all mouth and no trousers¡­ pathetic¡± Pantera mocked his fellow inmate. Even without hearing them, the psychopath understood that the other prisoners were making fun of him. Jirou was full of anger as he hurled himself towards Lied craving to kill, or worse, maim him for the unprecedented humiliation. If the enemy was unable to use either Visibility or Sensitivity, then there was nothing to fear, or so Lied thought. However, it was from that moment that Jirou instinctively learned to use these properties, therefore the odds evened up. ¡°FIRST I¡¯LL TAKE YOUR LIVER OUT, THEN THE STOMACH, THE BOWELS, THE LUNGS¡­ ALL THE ORGANS OF YOUR BODY!!¡± the killer roared as he put the teenager under pressure. ¡°What¡¯s going on? I thought he couldn¡¯t use the properties¡­!¡± Lied thought. ¡°It¡¯s not just your spirit that evolves in the face of adversity¡± the talking crow thought. The teenager was forced to adopt a defensive stance as he retreated to analyze the situation. This sudden turnaround rendered Lied¡¯s chances of winning very small. The psychopath had no intention of letting him recharge his energy and attacked him from the flanks with mesmerizing speed. ¡°Focus. All that training effort wasn¡¯t in vain. My foundations¡­ are on another level!¡± Lied thought and countered Jirou¡¯s attacks with his Sensitivity and Visibility. The young man paddled against the tide as he once again caused an upset and hurt the enemy¡¯s pride twice. The killer was feeling ashamed of himself. ¡°I wanted to end this¡­ preferably without having to use the Anima Sancta¡± Lied said in a low voice. ¡°Huh?!¡± Jirou did not hear him. ¡°Gonna try it, Lied?¡± Zaccharias thought. ¡°I will test something on you¡± Lied said and positioned himself properly. ¡°T-Test? Don¡¯t¡­ DON¡¯T JOKE WITH MEEEEE!¡± the killer shot out towards the lad like a cannonball. ?????? We step back in time to Lied¡¯s training¡­ The teenager fired the Unda at the wall as Zaccharias and Mare watched closely. Despite not leaving the same marks as the crow¡¯s Unda, something special happened upon impact. ¡°This is¡­¡± the talking crow said. ¡°It was¡­ different from Zaccharias¡¯ Unda¡± Lied said, looking at his right hand. ?????? Back to the present moment, Jirou went berserk while Lied was getting down to business. Pantera raised his eyebrows. ¡°First step¡­¡± the young man said as spiritual energy surrounded his whole body and he channeled some of that energy into his right hand, then stabilized it in his palm. ¡°Lied¡­!¡± Mare thought, antsy. ¡°Show us ¡®that¡¯!¡± the talking crow thought, keenly expectant. ¡°Second step¡­¡± he said while setting his imagination free and remembering the time he spent with his parents, namely the ocean waves on that day. ¡°Yes¡­ within my spirit, you will live forever¡± the lad thought. Jirou did not slow down and neither Lied hesitated before the oncoming threat. ¡°When I was alive, no one could match my strength! Knowing this, I asked myself: will I find worthy prey beyond death? AND I WAS RIGHT! THEY ARE HERE, SCATTERED AROUND THE UNDERWORLD! DO YOU REALLY THINK I¡¯LL BE DEFEATED¡­ BY JUST ANOTHER HUMAN TRASH?!¡± the psychopath gave a bellow of rage. ¡°Third step¡­!¡± the boy exclaimed as he finished shaping the prana with Expandability. ¡°DIIIIIEEEEE!¡± the killer loudly shouted a few centimeters away from the young man as he stretched out his left hand to gouge the liver out, which he was able to see with his Spirit Mode. However, the Adam¡¯s Heir swerved to avoid his stroke as Jirou was left disoriented, giving Lied enough time to stick his right foot in the ground and aim on the opponent¡¯s abdomen. The unexpected happened and the Unda broke a second time before detonating. ¡°In a lucky accident, he applied the Density property to reformat the Unda so that it broke twice, doubling the impact of the explosion. That is, two Undas in one¡± the crow said. Jirou was sent flying after receiving the 2-Kai Unda. The psychopath¡¯s body collapsed right in front of the dozens of gobsmacked inmates. ¡°Zaccharias explained to me why, but I have another not so technical explanation¡­¡± Lied thought. ¡°My Unda is special¡­ because of these precious memories!¡± he shouted, inspired by the waves he had seen in the company of his eternal parents. Lied¡¯s current SSL: 40% [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 28 – The Hunter This is a story that goes back to a time when the fruits of chaos are still being formed, the cruel fates yet to be revealed. In another volume of his journey through the Underworld, the ¡°Adam¡¯s Heir¡± will fight memorable battles and meet people who might have the answers he is looking for. Origins, convictions, and duties. Everything will be put to the test once more. Lied hit Jirou with his new technique as he won the fight between the two humans. Since he was already dead, the killer only blacked out. Meanwhile, Lied was feeling quite tired. When he looked at the remaining prisoners, Pantera was no longer with them. The hunter startled the boy as he popped up a few seconds later in front of him. ¡°H-He¡¯s fast!¡± Lied thought. ¡°Interesting. You¡¯ll do¡± Pantera said before activating his Spirit Mode. The teenager jumped back as he felt the intense aura that emanated from the aztec. Apart from the pranas of Zaccharias and Meshulam, that was the most powerful spiritual energy he had sensed so far in Mictlan. His next opponent was in a different league altogether. ¡°Lied, you showed your trump card in the previous fight and there¡¯s no guarantee that it will work again. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to back off for now?¡± Zaccharias contacted Lied telepathically. ¡°I know that. But I have a feeling that my spirit will regret forever if I run away¡± the human replied to the talking crow. ¡°Very well¡± the crow complied with his student¡¯s resolution. ¡°My name is Pantera Lazarus. I used to be a professional aztec hunter. And you are?¡± the man started by introducing himself. ¡°Lied. A human from Ganeden¡± the young man replied, not letting his guard down for a second. ¡°And what is Lied, a human from Ganeden, doing in Mictlan?¡± Pantera asked with a smug smile on his face. ¡°I came here to get stronger and defeat a certain person¡± Lied said in a convincing way. ¡°A person? In the Restricted Block?¡± the hunter said as he raised his eyebrows. ¡°His name is Martyr. His left hand is wrapped in bandages¡± the Adam¡¯s Heir said. ¡°Ah, that guy¡± Pantera said. ¡°You saw him?!¡± the human asked. ¡°How about this: I¡¯ll tell you what I know if you manage to touch me in the next few minutes¡± the aztec challenged him. Lied was once again feeling underestimated by the inmates, even after he beat one of them. Nevertheless, it was motivating to know that he was hot on Martyr¡¯s trail. The boy stepped forward and quickly shortened the distance between them with his supersonic speed as he threw punches and kicks. ¡°You awakened the Spirit Mode recently, am I right? For how long have you been a user? Weeks? Days? No, less¡­ hours, not many hours. Judging by your average movements, the fight against Jirou was your first real experience after awakening. And that last technique¡­ to acquire such mastery of the Density property in a short time, you must be someone with immense spiritual propensity. In other words, you¡¯re a gifted lad!¡± Pantera was saying while easily dodging his attacks by swaying from side to side. ¡°I appreciate the compliment, but I got more butts to kick. I have no time for trivial talks¡± Lied smiled wryly and said. ¡°Oh, we got a kid here who¡¯s very sure of himself. You should be careful with overconfidence though. It¡¯s just that, unlike Jirou, I¡¯m not full of openings¡± the hunter said. Pantera blocked the teenager¡¯s kick with his left elbow, then gave him a powerful jab with his right hand, which Lied failed to dodge with his Visibility. The human immediately realized that the enemy was not only cognizant of the spirit¡¯s properties, but his foundations were also vastly superior to his. The aztec adjusted his cowboy hat as he whistled whilst waiting for him to regain his composure. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°What do you think, Zaccharias? Can Lied win this one too?¡± Mare asked, but she did not get a response from the thoughtful talking crow right away. Lied did not want to leave Pantera waiting and assumed a fighting stance. It was not the first time the odds were against him; the lad also had to overcome a stronger hurdle in order to awaken the Spirit Mode. ¡°By the way, my SSL is 70%, although that¡¯s not very relevant¡­¡± the hunter stared at Jirou, unconscious on the ground, and sarcastically coughed. ¡°So what?!¡± Lied said feeling irked as he summoned the Anima Sancta and attacked his opponent right off the bat. The aztec successively avoided the sharp blows of the shiny blade. As previously remarked by Pantera, in the eyes of a developed Spirit Mode user, Lied¡¯s movements were disjointed and dull. It became obvious by how badly he wielded his sword. Strength, endurance, dexterity, Visibility and Sensitivity¡­ he was inferior to him in all aspects. To make matters worse, the hunter was not serious at all. ¡°Oh, so you were still hiding something. C¡¯mon, don¡¯t hold back. Show me all your weapons!¡± Pantera exclaimed, it had been a long time since he last enjoyed himself so much. Little Mare grew restless among the spectators. As another Spirit Mode user, she could feel the power difference between the two, but part of her wanted to believe that Lied would be able to turn the situation around. ¡°It¡¯s talent versus experience¡± the crow broke the silence and said. ¡°Huh?¡± the girl said, confused. ¡°Will Lied¡¯s talent surpass the experience of this man named Pantera? We can say that, like in other occasions, the outcome of this battle will depend on Lied¡¯s growth¡± Zaccharias explained. ¡°Lied¡­¡± Mare gazed at the lad, worried. Pantera invited Lied to attack. He accepted the invitation and determinedly moved forward, wielding the Anima Sancta. The Adam¡¯s cross moved with a swaying motion in response to its owner¡¯s tremendous will. The hunter was dancing around in front of Lied. The young man just could not find an opening. ¡°I was wondering why I felt something familiar about you¡­ yes, it¡¯s your eyes, they remind me of him¡± Pantera said as his smile faded away. ¡°What?¡± Lied said. ¡°I remember it like it was yesterday¡­ The day I died and the man, no, the snake that killed me¡± Pantera clenched his fists in anger and said ¡°It happened over ten years ago, during one of my hunts. My target was a rare deer, the nobleman who hired me wanted his succulent meat for dinner. And in the wild mountains of Aqua, I met him¡­ the worst predator of them all.¡± The term ¡°snake¡± aroused the attention of the talking crow, which did not go unnoticed by Mare. Both Zaccharias and Lied listened carefully to his story. ?????? Aqua, Mountains, eleven years ago On a sunny afternoon, Pantera walked through a forest in search of the requested deer with only one thought in his head: the reward from his employer. ¡°There it is!¡± the hunter activated his Spirit Mode upon spotting the deer and chased it relentlessly. The hunt took him to the heart of the hinterland. As he was about to corner the animal, a child stepped out of the bushes and blocked his path, stretching out his arms and staring fearlessly at Pantera. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing, kid?¡± Pantera asked him. ¡°Sir, you¡¯re going to kill the poor animal, aren¡¯t you?¡± the boy answered his question with a question. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s my job. Now get out of the way¡± the hunter said. ¡°No!¡± the boy exclaimed. ¡°I don¡¯t have the patience, so go home¡± Pantera said. ¡°No!!¡± the lad refused to leave once again. The hunter took a deep breath as he finally understood that the child would not back down. Pantera walked up to the kid with the intention of hitting him. That was when he felt intimidated by a strong prana nearby. The hunter turned around and saw a blonde-haired, dark green-eyed male in his thirties. The newcomer called the lad and comforted him. The kid nodded and bolted out of the forest as he left the two adults alone. ¡°Who are you?!¡± Pantera asked. The man disappeared into thin air and reappeared in front of the hunter in the blink of an eye. A spiritual snake emerged from his back and strangled Pantera to death. ¡°I can¡¯t move¡­!¡± the hunter thought before breathing his last. ¡°That child¡¯s father¡± his killer at last replied. ?????? The kid named Klaus that Lied saw in his sleeping memories buried deep inside him, during Luna¡¯s reincarnation, seemed to coincide partly with Pantera¡¯s description of his killer. Could it be the same person? Or at the very least be connected with each other? He was sure of one thing: this was no coincidence. The hunter noticed that his story had left the teenager strangely curious, while Pantera himself merely felt empty as he remembered the episode. ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t believe in that ¡®fate¡¯ stuff, thus my death, as well as the fact that we met here, are all unfortunate coincidences¡± the aztec was saying ¡°You said you didn¡¯t have time to waste? What a coincidence¡­ me neither.¡± The human gripped the exuberant Anima Sancta firmly as he pondered all possibilities. Lied remembered Zaccharias¡¯ phrase that had stuck in his mind: ¡°When in doubt, ask your spirit. It shall steer your way towards the answer.¡± His legs moved by themselves, and the teenager ran full of determination once more as he listened to the guiding voice within him. ¡°The answer¡­ lies beyond this fight. What I must do hasn¡¯t changed: defeat the enemy in front of me!¡± the Adam¡¯s Heir shouted. [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 29 – Insufficient This is a story that goes back to a time when the fruits of chaos are still being formed, the cruel fates yet to be revealed. In another volume of his journey through the Underworld, the ¡°Adam¡¯s Heir¡± will fight memorable battles and meet people who might have the answers he is looking for. Origins, convictions, and duties. Everything will be put to the test once more. Pantera¡¯s past was revealed, and it contained some important clues for Lied to unravel the mysteries of his lost memories. In search of the answers to his questions, he strode decisively towards the hunter as he wielded his sword. ¡°Good, you¡¯re full of spirit! That¡¯s how I like it¡± Pantera said. The hunter stopped the boy¡¯s blade with a single hand. Lied then delivered a side kick, which Pantera blocked. The battle was fought with enormous intensity as the teenager incessantly tried to break the aztec¡¯s guard, but to no avail. Lied challenged him again in a Visibility contest, however, the hunter was able to foresee his every move. ¡°Is the difference this big?¡± Lied thought. ?????? 9th Underworld Level, Upper Block, Administrative Floors, Shinigami¡¯s Office Mictlantecuhtli X was writing the monthly report of the souls that arrived and departed from the Underworld, under the supervision of his assistant Golgotha. About 7 minutes ago, Mictlan had been informed that there was a riot at Level -5. Thankfully, Chalme and Cihua were already on their way to the Restricted Block, nonetheless, the Shinigami remained apprehensive. ¡°Hey, Golgotha. Do you think the prince is really here?¡± the God of Death asked the skeleton standing on the desk. ¡°I have my doubts, although it¡¯s hard to believe that the Aztec King¡¯s intuition is wrong¡± the assistant crossed his little arms and replied. ¡°What if it¡¯s true¡­?¡± Mictlan asked. ¡°In that case, we may be facing the biggest crisis in the Underworld since the Talking Serpent¡¯s breakout¡± Golgotha said. The Shinigami swallowed his saliva. The first runaway, the prisoners waging an insurgency, then to top it all off the heir to the crown of Aqua was walking around the corridors of Mictlan. It was hell. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. ?????? Underworld Level -3, Restricted Block Three people pressed for time were seen running as if there was no tomorrow. The Animus were surprisingly collected as they watched them traverse their lair. ¡°We¡¯re about to reach Level -4¡± Chalmecacihuilt said. ¡°So many inmates on the loose!¡± Cihuacoatl said as she felt multiple auras in the distance. ¡°The cells have a special property that nullifies the power of the Spirit Mode, so it¡¯s not possible that they escaped by themselves. Either someone neglected the maintenance of the prisons, or they had outside help¡± Chalme said. ¡°FUUUUUCK!!¡± Cihua was a timebomb getting ready to explode as she constantly rewinded the humiliation she had suffered 18 years ago at the hands of Nachash. ¡°There¡¯s no mistake. This prana is surely¡­!¡± Ajax Alcestis said as he was manifestly eager to find who he was looking for. ?????? ¡°Hey, I haven¡¯t finished warming up yet. C¡¯mon, why don¡¯t you show me your fascinating technique again?¡± Pantera said. Perhaps the 2-Kai Unda was indeed the only option left for the teenager if he wanted to win. Nevertheless, he knew he had to catch him off guard and so he ran from side to side in an attempt to confuse the opponent, all while performing the technique step by step. The aztec did not even bother moving as his endeavour was futile. ¡°You¡¯re not just talented, you also possess the foundations, albeit inexperienced¡± the hunter said. The lad was gradually getting faster as he reduced the distance between him and Pantera. Blasius seemed to be able to follow his movements, but the remaining prisoners were dazed. Lied came up to Pantera as the wavy shaped prana in the palm of his hand indicated that the Unda was done and set to be fired. Like in the previous fight, the boy aimed at the opponent¡¯s abdomen. A weak burst of spiritual energy occurred among them as the battle came to a standstill. The hunter popped up unharmed from the murk, grabbing Lied¡¯s arm. Vestiges of energy could be seen on the latter¡¯s right hand. ¡°When it¡¯s about to detonate, the prana breaks one more time before finally blowing up. An interesting technique. However, when seen once, it gets very predictable¡± Pantera asserted. ¡°Impossible¡­¡± Lied muttered in disbelief. ¡°Only talent and a bit of knowledge¡­ can¡¯t beat real experience¡± Pantera said and summoned a pole weapon with a pointed head which he wielded in his free hand ¡°In exchange for giving everything you¡¯ve got, I¡¯ll give you a little of what I have.¡± ¡°A spear?!¡± the human said. ¡°Yeah, I hunt my prey with it!¡± the man exclaimed. Pantera struck him twice, one time with the sharp end of his spear and the other with the shaft, knocking the young man back. He got a tear on the special jacket that Zaccharias manufactured using Plasticity, as he dropped his sword and started bleeding from the chest. Lied called the Anima Sancta back as their weapons clashed together. In the end, it was the blade that hit the ground and faded beside its sagging master. It was at this moment that the human resigned himself to defeat. The enemy now intended to deliver the final blow. ¡°Now¡¯s the time for you to beg for your life¡± the man said. ¡°Zaccharias!¡± Mare turned to face the talking crow perched on her shoulder and shouted. The crow immediately understood the urgency of the situation and prepared to act. That was when Cihua and Chalme, the almost identical twins, and Ajax, the handsome silver-haired knight, pitched up on the floor, breaking the tense atmosphere. The aztec general was one jump ahead of Zaccharias as he stood between Pantera and Lied. Ajax clutched the spear before it pierced the lad¡¯s heart as if it was child¡¯s play. The smiling Ajax gazed at the human and said: ¡°I finally found you¡­ Prince!¡± [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 30 – The Lost Prince This is a story that goes back to a time when the fruits of chaos are still being formed, the cruel fates yet to be revealed. In another volume of his journey through the Underworld, the ¡°Adam¡¯s Heir¡± will fight memorable battles and meet people who might have the answers he is looking for. Origins, convictions, and duties. Everything will be put to the test once more. 9th Underworld Level, Upper Block, Administrative Floors, Shinigami¡¯s Office, just before Ajax, Cihua and Chalme departed towards the Restricted Block where Lied and the others were located Cihuacoatl and Chalmecacihuilt were standing beside the restless Mictlantecuhtli, while Golgotha was seen on top of the desk. Ajax politely took a seat in front of the Shinigami. ¡°Hm¡­¡± the God of Death took a black notebook from the drawer ¡°What is his real name?¡± he asked. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ Lied A. Corum¡± the knight replied with a smile on his face. ¡°Lied¡­ no, there¡¯s no one here by that name¡± Mictlan checked the list that contained hundreds of names and said. ¡°Obviously¡± the general said. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s actually here¡­¡± the Shinigami received a signal from his assistant and sighed ¡°The truth is, a spirit has recently escaped security shortly after arriving in the Underworld. As we were unable to confirm his identity, there¡¯s a remote possibility that he¡¯s an intruder after all. Just saying, but maybe you should make sure he¡¯s not the one who you¡¯re looking for¡± the God of Death crossed his arms and said. ¡°Is that so? Well then, if you¡¯ll excuse me¡± upon hearing about the potential intruder, the thrilled Ajax jumped to his feet. ¡°Hold on. Allow my guardians, Cihua and Chalme, to accompany you. They know the Restricted Block better than anyone¡± Mictlan said. ¡°That¡¯s fine by me¡± the general did not object. ¡°In the case that it¡¯s not the prince, I want you to identify the runaway at the Reception Area and send him to the trials straight away¡± the Shinigami ordered the two Guardians of the Underworld and they nodded. ?????? Ajax, Cihua and Chalme caught up to them at Level -4. As Pantera prepared to deliver the final blow to the human, the aztec general appeared among them and prevented the hunter¡¯s spear from piercing the person he had been searching for. ¡°I finally found you¡­ Prince!¡± Ajax said. ¡°What¡­?¡± Lied said, completely amazed. Pantera made his spear disappear as he didn¡¯t have the strength to break it free of Ajax¡¯s grasp, then the hunter jumped back. Meanwhile, Cihua and Chalme wasted no time in quelling the other prisoners except the unconscious Jirou. Blasius was the only one out of them who offered resistance as he activated his Spirit Mode and faced Chalme one-on-one, whereas Cihua repressed the weaker inmates. ¡°Return to your cell, sinner¡± Chalme summoned a scythe like the one his sister had and attacked Blasius with it. ¡°Now that I finally got out? No, thanks¡± Blasius smirked as he dodged his attacks and summoned a revolver. On the opposite side of the battlefield, Zaccharias left Mare¡¯s shoulders to fly towards Lied with the girl right behind him. Cihua went after them as she finished the job of subduing most of the prisoners. The talking crow noticed her and promptly shielded the vulnerable Mare from the scythe that the Guardian of the Underworld carried, by using just its wings. ¡°This damn bird¡­ such strength¡­!¡± Cihua thought as she gave it her all to remain standing. ¡°We have to help Lied!¡± Mare shouted, she looked more worried about the teenager than about herself. The teacher wanted to assist his student, however, Mare had no way of defending herself. Their focus shifted back to Lied, Ajax and Pantera. The Adam¡¯s Heir and the hunter found themselves increasing their distance from the knight; their spiritual instincts warned them that the newcomer was on another level. ¡°That¡¯s the uniform of the aztec army¡± Pantera said as he stared at his aztec congener. ¡°Who are you?¡± the human asked the stranger, confused. ¡°Oh, right, it is our first time meeting in person after so many years. It¡¯s me, the knight Ajax Alcestis, member of the special forces ¡®Eagles¡¯¡± the general introduced himself. The teenager¡¯s expression changed as he felt intimidated by him and summoned the Anima Sancta. It was clear that Lied wasn¡¯t at all familiar with the knight. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Could it be that¡­ you lost your memories?¡± Ajax¡¯s smile faded away as he realized the situation at hand ¡°You really don¡¯t remember anything, not even your hometown or your family?¡± the knight said in disbelief. ¡°¡¯Prince¡¯? Weren¡¯t you human?¡± the hunter barged in on the conversation and questioned Lied. ¡°That¡¯s right, he called me¡­¡± the boy thought. ¡°What do you know about me?!¡± Lied pointed his sword at the general and asked effusively. Pantera inconspicuously drew his spear and struck the knight from behind trying to catch him off-guard. However, a defensive aura protected Ajax as the hunter bumped into the barrier and was sent flying backwards. ¡°A user with 100% SSL¡­¡± Pantera said as he hit a wall. The general overlooked the man¡¯s existence again and scratched his head, wondering how to go from there. Lied¡¯s amnesia was an unforeseeable circumstance. ¡°¡­Damn it, I was hoping to get some clues of his whereabouts. Anyway, I ask you to trust me. I¡¯ll tell you anything you don¡¯t know on our way back to Aqua¡± Ajax cordially asked the Lost Prince. ¡°H-Huh? I¡¯m not going anywhere!¡± Lied said. The aztec sighed. The unwanted response from the prince reminded the knight of the conversation he had with Abrahamus. The great-grandfather of the Adam¡¯s Heir was adamant; Ajax was authorized to use force should he encounter resistance. The general brought down Lied in the blink of an eye, pressing his head against the ground. ¡°Let me go!!¡± the Lost Prince exclaimed. ¡°I can¡¯t, Prince. Please stay put and¡­ hm?!¡± the knight was saying when a powerful spiritual aura was felt throughout the floor. Right after that, Cihua knelt on the ground as a small shadow approached them at full speed. Ajax released the human and stared at the moving silhouette of a crow landing just a few feet away from the general. Lied gazed at his familiar savior. ¡°I can see you¡¯ve got a big responsibility on your shoulders. And you¡¯re looking more like your brother¡­¡± the teacher said to Ajax and then looked at his student ¡°Lied, take Mare and get out of here. This is where we part ways¡± Zaccharias adjusted his hat and said firmly before staring back at the knight in front of him. ¡°What are you saying?!¡± the Adam¡¯s Heir asked, shocked. ¡°Golden eyes¡­ and that hat¡­ you couldn¡¯t be?!¡± the general said, astonished. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Ajax. How are Regulus and the others doing?¡± the talking crow smiled and said. ¡°Why? Why are you getting in the way?¡± the knight asked. ¡°Lied still has a lot to learn. He can¡¯t go with you¡± Zaccharias said. On the other side of the battlefield, Chalme blew off Blasius for the time being as he saw Cihua lying on the ground and ran towards his sister. Deep down, these incompatible brothers cared about each other. ¡°Are you okay?!¡± Chalme asked. ¡°He¡­ the fucking crow is also¡­!¡± Cihua said as she had a hard time speaking. ¡°A Spirit Mode master¡± the man said as he stared at the animal, a Full Spirit Mode user just like Ajax. Blasius joined Pantera and the remaining prisoners who could stand up. Mare walked over to the strong-willed Lied as the latter was against leaving the battlefield. ¡°I¡¯ll stop him, so you two run away¡± Zaccharias told them. ¡°I refuse! If I don¡¯t fight, I¡¯ll never get my memories back!!¡± the young man answered back. The general was just standing there, staring at them. Ajax took a deep breath as he had fire in his eyes; the intrepid knight¡¯s determination was immense. ¡°Seeing you in Mictlan, it must be because your spirit isn¡¯t at peace. I am really sorry. Notwithstanding, I swore to His Majesty, Abrahamus A. Corum IX, that I¡¯d bring Prince Lied back!¡± the general activated his Spirit Mode as a silver-hued aura surrounded him. ¡°Heh, it seems that it wasn¡¯t just Lied who grew up in these past eight years¡± the talking crow said as he had a nostalgic look on his face, then turned to his student who was gaping at the aztec knight and his tremendous power ¡°Do you get it now?¡± the teacher asked rhetorically. Regardless of his frustration, Lied wasn¡¯t going to be reckless. The young man clenched his fists, then grabbed Mare by her hand and ran off with the girl. For some reason, the Lost Prince felt that this wasn¡¯t the first time he had said goodbye to him. ¡°Prince!¡± the general said as he tried to go after him, but he was blocked off by Zaccharias. ¡°I, too, swore to keep my own oath. I won¡¯t let you pass, Ajax¡± the resolute talking crow said. The teenager raced to the exit like there was no tomorrow. At that moment, an obstacle called Cihua popped up before the kid as she barred his way. As one of the Guardians of the Underworld, she had a duty to arrest the outsider. Lied had to think fast. Mare nodded to him and began to run on her own as she gave Lied space to prepare for the impending battle. Cihua looked into the young man¡¯s greenish eyes, which reminded her of the loathsome Nachash, the Talking Serpent. In the meantime, the lad channeled prana into his right hand and shaped it with Expandability. ¡°S-SO IT WAS REALLY YOU¡­ YOU FREEAAKING SNAAAKEEE!!¡± Cihua roared and jumped on him. ¡°GEEET OUUUT OF THEEE WAAAY!¡± Lied screamed and aimed the wave at her abdomen. The woman let her guard down and barely dodged his attack at first. The Adam¡¯s Heir knew that he only had enough energy for a single 2-Kai Unda, therefore he couldn¡¯t afford to miss it. Lied suddenly got a massive adrenaline rush as it awakened his wild instincts and an unprecedented phenomenon occurred: the pupil in his white Spirit Mode eyes turned fiendish, then the boy mimicked a snake as he advanced through a sinusoidal movement of his body and hit Cihua. Although the Unda merely scratched her, it was enough to scare the Guardian of the Underworld and open a path for them. Mare rejoined Lied. The child started feeling a little dizzy when she grabbed his hand; Mare unintentionally activated her Spirit Mode. The lass was terrified to see his future, yet the Adam¡¯s Heir was so busy that he did not notice her countenance. ¡°SHIIIT!¡± Cihua squawked and chased them right away. Chalme suspended his well-balanced duel against Blasius once more in order not to let the intruder escape. The lad was caught between a rock and a hard place as he did not expect the other Guardian of the Underworld to appear. That was when an unexpected helper, Pantera, showed up out of the blue and blocked Chalme¡¯s scythe with his spear. ¡°What¡­?¡± the Lost Prince said in a low voice as he saw an enemy protecting him. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. I have to beat these guys anyway¡± the hunter said, focused on his opponent. The boy swallowed his pride and proceeded to the exit without further problems. Zaccharias smiled as he glanced back at them for one last time. ¡°Nothing you¡¯ve learned so far has been in vain. Get stronger, Lied¡± the talking crow thought to himself and faced Ajax again. The crow turned off the property Plasticity as he returned to his human form: an adult male in his thirties, with hair black as ebony going below his shoulders. ¡°¡­It¡¯s really you, Prince Bertramus¡± the general said. ¡°Nope. Right now, I¡¯m Zaccharias, ¡®The Talking Crow¡¯!¡± the male all over the moon exclaimed as an intense dark aura enveloped him. Lied and Mare left the crow behind as they went back to Level -3. [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 31 – Intertwined Paths This is a story that goes back to a time when the fruits of chaos are still being formed, the cruel fates yet to be revealed. In another volume of his journey through the Underworld, the ¡°Adam¡¯s Heir¡± will fight memorable battles and meet people who might have the answers he is looking for. Origins, convictions, and duties. Everything will be put to the test once more. Naomi dramatically parted company with Yamir and Iduma. The blue-eyed girl was currently unconscious as she had one of those strange dreams of hers. In this particular dream, Adam and Eve in their teens were seen sitting under the Tree of Science enjoying the stunning landscape of the garden. A lass from the village about their age approached them, shyly, wondering whether or not to show herself. ¡°Lilith? Come on, sit next to us¡± Eve noticed the girl¡¯s presence and said. ¡°The view is super cool!¡± Adam said, smiling. The young lady named Lilith sat next to Eve, albeit keeping some distance. The afternoon breeze and the birds chirping and singing on the branches of the colossal tree behind them was something heavenly. ¡°Seen from above is way better though¡­¡± Adam crossed his arms and said feeling disappointed. ¡°We¡¯re not climbing to the top of the tree¡± Eve looked at Adam and reiterated what she had said earlier. ¡°Why? You wouldn¡¯t mind if it were Nachash asking¡± the crimson-eyed boy said in a sulky pout. ¡°He¡¯s responsible, unlike you¡± the turquoise-haired lady talked back to him. Lilith just stood there, silent and devoid of emotion, as she listened to their conversation. Eve took it as a sign of discomfort and suddenly hugged her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lilith, for what happened to Ezekiel¡± the teenager said with great regret. Lilith became listless, as if she was trying to understand the meaning of Eve¡¯s hug and chiefly the importance of the name spoken by her friend. ¡°Eze¡­kiel¡± the young woman widened her eyes and said. ?????? Underworld Level -7, Restricted Block, Dead Zone Naomi woke up from her deep sleep. The lass got up off the floor and looked around ¨C apart from her, there was no one else present. Luckily, she was only feeling disoriented and didn¡¯t have any injuries. Naomi started walking, still dizzy. Despite being lost, the young woman knew she needed to keep moving, otherwise she could run the risk of being overwhelmed by the endless darkness of the Underworld. That¡¯s what Yamir often told her. ¡°Yamir¡­ what happened to him?¡± Naomi, crestfallen, thought. From the moment he saw Iduma, Yamir became strangely obsessed, and after a certain point it seemed like he was no longer the same person, as if he had been possessed by a demon. Naomi deeply regretted not having stopped their fight. ¡°If I had done something, Iduma wouldn¡¯t have¡­!¡± she gritted her teeth and thought. The young girl was tormented by the vision of the red-haired kid on the brink of being pierced by the snake¡¯s sword. Naomi shook her head as she tried to forget all about it. Silence reigned in the Restricted Block until chilling howls were heard coming from various directions. Naomi coped with her fear and remained alert as two scrawny figures emerged from the shadows driven by their animal instincts. It was a pair of type C Animus who were hunting the Level -5 fugitives. ¡°Enough. I¡¯m tired of running away!¡± the lass clenched her fists and shouted. Past experiences triggered Naomi as the spirit responded to her desire to change, thus awakening the power within: a turquoise aura surrounded Naomi and the moon-shaped bracelet popped up on her wrist. ¡°My power¡± the girl observed her own body ¡°That¡¯s right, I can fight too! You don¡¯t scare me!¡± the bold Naomi then glared at the Animus. One of the predators threw itself fiercely at its prey as if it had understood her words. The teenager waved her arms in an attempt to defend herself from its attack and unconsciously summoned a sword with which she cut the beast in a single blow. Much to Naomi¡¯s surprise, the monster collapsed in front of her as the teenager didn¡¯t even realize what she had done. She contemplated the sharp-pointed white weapon in her hand: it consisted of a beautiful, gleaming blade with a tiny moon attached to the hilt. The lass felt that this was her time to shine and attacked the last Animus. The way she handled the sword suggested that it wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d wielded it, albeit a bit clumsy. With a little luck, Naomi dodged the monster¡¯s claw and slashed the beast across its chest on the trot, amazingly taking it down. ¡°O-Oh my god!¡± the teenager exclaimed and examined the shiny blade she was holding in her hand ¡°It¡¯s so pretty¡­¡± Naomi said before she resumed her journey. The newly obtained sword lit the dark path. During the several minutes that followed, Naomi constantly fought the Animus and was forced to find a fighting style best suited for her. At this moment, the girl pondered whether it was better to wield the weapon in her right or left hand. Meanwhile, the three monsters were roaring impatiently and peeved her. ¡°Shut up! I¡¯m trying to make up my mind¡± Naomi scolded them. One of the predators, type C, didn¡¯t miss the chance as it immediately lashed out at its distracted prey. The young girl was leaning against a wall and, in one of her experiences where she shifted her sword between hands, Naomi knocked the Animus down. ¡°Yep¡­ it¡¯s better with the right hand¡± Naomi smiled and faced the other two beasts. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. A thin and smaller Animus came forward. It was a type B, more elastic than type C, and therefore the second strongest in their hierarchy. ¡°When I was with Yamir, you seemed weaker and¡­ taller?¡± the lass made a forced joke as she tried to damp down the tension between them. The monster in question was quick to target Naomi. Against an above-average opponent such as the type B Animus, the girl had no other choice but to step up her game. ¡°Okay, this is the time when I must stay cool. Feel the opponent, just like Yamir taught me¡­¡± Naomi thought and closed her eyes as she concentrated on the task at hand. ?????? We step back in time to Naomi¡¯s training with Yamir¡­ Occasionally, whenever they stopped to rest after a long walk through the Restricted Block, Naomi received practical lessons in the use of her ability and on how to enhance it. Basically, Yamir moved quickly in his Spirit Mode while the lass focused on using her senses to predict when his snakes would strike her. ¡°The dwellers of death are somewhat impulsive and tend to follow their wild instinct. In this case, sensing the opponent is key¡± Yamir explained. ?????? Naomi remembered the snake¡¯s teaching as she made use of the Sensitivity property and successfully sensed the Animus¡¯ attack. ¡°Next, avoid it, just like Iduma taught me¡­¡± Naomi thought and opened her eyes. ?????? We step back in time to Naomi¡¯s training with Iduma¡­ From time to time, Iduma took advantage of the fact that they had nothing to do and ¡°played a bit¡± with Naomi, who saw him as a training partner. The child controlled his roots and the human¡¯s objective was to dodge them ¨C not entirely possible given the speed at which they were moving as one might have expected. Regardless of this, the most important thing was to get her eyes used to it. ¡°Hey, do ya need glasses? Here they come!¡± Iduma spurred her on. ?????? Naomi put the knowledge acquired into practice and used the Visibility property against the Animus. The girl gradually learned to block its attacks at a millisecond cadence. ¡°Now!¡± the teenager shouted as she found an opening and hit the beast with her blade. The creature collapsed onto the black pavement and seconds later disappeared into spiritual particles. Naomi was panting; using the properties drained a lot of stamina, which didn¡¯t stop her from defeating the last of the three enemies. ¡°I really did it¡± the human said and stared again at her sword ¡°And it¡¯s all thanks to you. Will you keep me company, ¡®Lumen Orbis¡¯?¡± she finally cracked a smile and went on her way. The mind might forget, but the spirit won¡¯t¡­ The corpses piled up in a line and left trails behind as she beat the Animus that barred her path. Precise slashes from the blade ended the creatures¡¯ lives in mere seconds. Naomi was starting to lose count of the number of beasts she had killed. The human walked and walked aimlessly through the floor, always gripping the Lumen Orbis in her dominant hand. No matter how many she cut, the monsters persistently appeared one after another. ¡°So, this is how Yamir felt¡± Naomi thought with a tired look on her face. The mental fatigue was appearing to take its toll. Naomi could no longer bear the smell of death and above all her loneliness, the emptiness that not even the sword¡¯s light filled. Exhausted, the human finally fell to the ground. All she wanted was to dive into the darkness and embrace the void in which sensations canceled each other. Naomi closed her blue eyes as her orange hair was sucked into the entrails of Mictlan. At last Naomi was magically transported to her soul where she laid, helpless, under the titanic tree at the center of the dimension. A female silhouette emerged from the depths of the soul as her image became progressively clearer. The woman had long turquoise hair and her enchanting eyes crystallized anyone who looked into them. ¡°E-Eve?¡± the teenager murmured. ¡°Please¡­ stand up!¡± the woman beseeched her to not give up. ?????? Underworld Level -7, Restricted Block, Dead Zone On the first half of the floor, still relatively far from Naomi, the Illuminatus¡¯ party consisted of Core, Martyr and Nemo were heading to the lower levels where Iduma, their original target identified by Zechariah, supposedly was. ¡°Stand up¡­¡± Core stopped walking and said in a low voice, involuntarily. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Nemo eyed her bewilderedly. ¡°Hey, why are we stopping?¡± Martyr sullenly asked the lass. Core turned around and beheld the inexhaustible darkness. Not even the aztec herself comprehended the look of concern on her face. ?????? Back to the haunting world of Mictlan, Naomi opened her eyes and stood up slowly as her spirit was filled with motivation again. It was almost as if she¡¯d taken an elixir of life. The meeting with Eve had been exactly that kind of stimulus. ¡°I have to find Lied¡­ and save Iduma and Yamir¡± Naomi latched on to the Lumen Orbis and regained her balance ¡°I can¡¯t give up now!¡± the human said and continued her own mission as she had no doubt in her heart. A few minutes later, Naomi arrived at Level -6. The teenager was tired out as she leaned against a wall and loosed her grip, lowering the tip of the blade to touch the ground. ¡°Is that you, Lilith?¡± a thick voice echoed through the walls. The call prompted Naomi, who could barely breathe, to gaze at the single prison cells ahead of her. On the second cell, she saw a tall man with white beard in a meditation posture. ¡°¡­An old man?¡± Naomi said. ?????? Susumu lost consciousness shortly after shooting the ceiling and demolishing the floor he was on. His objective was to kill two birds with one stone, that is, to whup both Martyr and the Animus. Right now, the detective was dreaming about the past¡­ Ganeden, Regenbogen Orphanage, eight years ago Susumu, a 9-year-old orphan at the time, stared curiously at a couple in their 30s who walked into the institution, and especially at the lad about to be adopted by them. His name was Lied, and he arrived at the orphanage a few months ago. Little Lied avoided eye contact with his new parents. Susumu, who had never spoken to him, noticed his gloomy, blank mug, which did not match his mother¡¯s gentle expression. It was as if that boy didn¡¯t know how to smile. Meanwhile, Lied also aroused the curiosity of the Chains Man residing inside the future detective. Susumu entered his soul. ¡°Lied¡­!¡± the silhouette said, startled. ¡°You know him?¡± the kid asked the Chains Man. ¡°Yes, and to think that we would meet here. It can only be¡­ fate¡± Zosimus replied, intrigued. Susumu returned to reality after speaking with the Chains Man. He gazed at Lied, a child devoid of empathy and distant from the world around him. ¡°His eyes are so cold¡± Susumu said, not seeing much difference in them compared to his own eyes. One hour later, it was Susumu¡¯s turn to become a son. His father, Tatsuo Shinichi, was single and apparently a well-known figure on the island. ?????? Underworld Level -5, Restricted Block, Prison Susumu woke up from his dream on the same floor where he nearly lost his life. The teenager was in pain, not surprising since the wreckage was on top of him. He noticed chains wrapped around his body; an armor made by Zosimus to lessen the damage. ¡°L-Looks like I won the bet¡± Susumu said, he could barely speak. ¡°At the last second, and with my help. Guess you really are a lucky man¡± the Chains Man said. ¡°Heh, luck is a skill itself¡­¡± the human said, with difficulty, then made an effort to get up. ¡°Don¡¯t move yet¡± the aztec said and summoned his chains. The silhouette carefully removed the debris from Susumu¡¯s torso and lower limbs. ¡°Slowly. You are seriously injured¡± Zosimus said. The boy followed his shadow¡¯s advice and simply sat on the floor. The chain armor he wore acted like bandages that stopped the bleeding. ¡°I don¡¯t see Nemo and the others. So, they managed to escape¡± the detective surveyed the surroundings, and neither the Illuminatus members nor the Underworld guards could be seen. ¡°What¡¯s your plan now?¡± his shadow asked him. ¡°I will go after them. Martyr is very dangerous. If I let him loose, Ganeden will surely be destroyed¡­¡± Susumu said as he remembered the threats from the snake. ¡°It became very clear in your fight that you cannot defeat him¡± the aztec said. ¡°I know. However, I can¡¯t just stand by and do nothing¡± the human said and clenched his fists. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, Susumu ¨C I¡¯m not throwing in the towel, my goal is still the same as yours¡± the shadow said. ¡°What?¡± the detective said, slightly surprised. ¡°It¡¯s time to review the basics¡± Zosimus flashed a cheeky smile and said. [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 32 – Xanthus vs Zechariah: Ghost from the Past This is a story that goes back to a time when the fruits of chaos are still being formed, the cruel fates yet to be revealed. In another volume of his journey through the Underworld, the ¡°Adam¡¯s Heir¡± will fight memorable battles and meet people who might have the answers he is looking for. Origins, convictions, and duties. Everything will be put to the test once more. Ganeden The event to be told¡­ Lied and Xanthus had a conversation about the Adam¡¯s Heir¡¯s lost memories in the park. In the end, the aztec sent the human to Mictlan, and now Xanthus was holding the lad¡¯s lifeless body on his left shoulder. Perhaps just a coincidence, but that was when the silhouette of the second-in-command of the Illuminatus approached them. ¡°Today¡¯s a beautiful day, don¡¯t you think?¡± Zechariah greeted him with his typical smug smile and hands behind his back. ¡°You¡­¡± Xanthus said as his eyes peered intently at the male. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost¡± the Illuminatus member said. ¡°¡­Yes, one that I thought I would never see again¡± the blonde said and turned to face him ¡°But that doesn¡¯t matter. Who is ¡®Martyr¡¯?¡± he finally asked. ¡°Hm? A member of the new Illuminatus¡± Zechariah replied. ¡°What¡¯s your goal?¡± Xanthus continued his interrogation relentlessly. ¡°Who knows¡± the male with long dark hair said cynically. ¡°Don¡¯t feign ignorance¡± the young man with blonde hair said. ¡°Haha, as cheeky as ever! He would have loved this¡± Zechariah gestured with his right hand and said to him in an ironic tone. ¡°I ask and you answer. Simple¡± Xanthus answered back. ¡°Talking like this is very boring. Please allow me to make one or two comments¡± Zechariah waved his hands as if asking for the male¡¯s understanding, yet it was obvious from the grimace on his face that he was just teasing him. Xanthus laid Lied on a park bench, then stared at Zechariah as his fierce, cyan eyes locked on the man. ¡°If you are not willing to answer, then you can comment on your death¡± Xanthus threatened him. ¡°Hah, as if you could beat me¡­¡± Zechariah sneered and smiled. ¡°Want to test me?¡± the blonde asked a rhetorical question as a gold, brilliant glowing aura surrounded his torso. ¡°Hehe, right, you¡¯ve ALWAYS been a fan of tests, Xanthus¡± the black-haired man said and activated his Spirit Mode as a dark prana enveloped him ¡°Come on, let¡¯s have some fun¡­ for old times¡¯ sake!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°Don¡¯t call me by my name!¡± Xanthus shouted. They charged at each other as both masters of their own spirits. Xanthus made the first move by delivering a powerful punch, which Zechariah skillfully dodged. Then, the Illuminatus member tried to trip him up, but the young man jumped over his foot. Xanthus swiftly dribbled past his opponent by performing a body feint, and then aimed for the stomach as he found an opening. It was at that moment that a dark hand clutched at him as Xanthus was caught by surprise. Zechariah took the opportunity he himself created to strike him, however, his fist was stopped by a barrier of light. ¡°Such a beautiful light¡­¡±, Zechariah thought. Xanthus used his ability to make a celestial ladder and ascend to the sky. Zechariah in turn rode a sort of prana-made black carpet that materialized, following him afterwards. They kept on fighting way above the ground, not afraid of attracting attention. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°Shadow and darkness manipulation. Even the Spirit Mode is the same¡­¡± the blue-eyed aztec thought during their exchange of blows. ¡°Then, may I call you by a name that isn¡¯t yours?¡± Zechariah asked him, feeling amused. ¡°Shut up!¡± Xanthus bellowed. ?????? In another part of Ganeden, a crowd of people stopped what they were doing to watch what they thought was an unexpected fireworks display. ¡°Look mommy, fireworks!!¡± a beaming little boy said as he pointed his finger at the sky. ¡°Oh, how beautiful! But at this time¡­?¡± the child¡¯s mother said, feeling strange about the situation. Due to the fact that Xanthus and Zechariah were in their spiritual forms, normal people couldn¡¯t see them and therefore believed that the sparks in the air were fireworks. ?????? None of them yielded to the high intensity combat as they kept pace with each other, battling it out on top of houses and frightening the local residents who thought they were being hit by an earthquake. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten even stronger in these last few years¡­ as expected of one of the unsung heroes of the Second Spiritual War. In terms of latent potential, I would venture to say that you don¡¯t lose to Adam and Nachash¡± Zechariah honestly admitted. ¡°Yeah? And what do you know about Adam and Nachash?¡± Xanthus questioned him. ¡°Oh, you have no idea¡­¡± the Illuminatus leader¡¯s right-hand man said. ¡°Spit it out!¡± the blonde exclaimed. The fight went on without Xanthus receiving any answers from Zechariah. The blue-eyed aztec channeled prana into his right hand and shot a laser at the enemy, who used his arms to defend himself. Zechariah absorbed the shadows of objects around him and, by combining the Density and Expandability properties, transformed those shadows into spiritual energy. Lastly, Zechariah mimicked his opponent as he focused that prana into his right hand, hurling a shadowy blob at the target. The blonde avoided the attack that brought a tree down instead. Both fighters descended to the ground, their clash produced wind gusts that dried the lawn which was wet because of the rain. There stood the smiling Zechariah and the grim Xanthus. The blonde-haired male sighed and turned his back on the Illuminatus member. ¡°Whatever. There¡¯s no point in wasting any more time¡­ with a ghost from the past¡± Xanthus said, feeling indulgent after understanding that he wouldn¡¯t get anything out of their duel. ¡°Fair enough ¡ª you do need to leave that boy somewhere¡± Zechariah said as he eyeballed the unconscious Lied on the bench. ¡°Are you going to get in my way?¡± the young man asked him in a menacing tone. ¡°Of course not! My work here is done¡­¡± the man said and then his smile vanished ¡°Xanthus, you must have felt it too. Nachash is returning. The ¡®Talking Serpent¡¯ wants to finish what he started¡± he declaimed. ¡°But we killed him eight years ago¡­¡± Xanthus lowered his head and said, looking confused. ¡°You only destroyed a fragment of his existence. As you have surely noticed, there are more ¡®eggs¡¯ whence that one came¡± Zechariah explained. ¡°And the organization is helping him?¡± the blonde-haired male looked at him and asked. ¡°¡­Heh¡± Zechariah immediately cracked a nostalgic smile ¡°¡¯When in doubt, ask your spirit. It shall steer your way towards the answer.¡¯ Isn¡¯t that what Zaccharias used to say?¡± he said. ¡°Tch¡± Xanthus said, visibly troubled. ¡°We shall meet again¡­¡± the Illuminatus member gazed at Lied before continuing ¡°¡­when the kid learns how to differentiate truths from lies¡± he said before leaving. The blonde remained silent in the center of the park for a few seconds. Xanthus turned to the bench where the Adam¡¯s Heir lay, so close yet so far. He wondered if Lied had already met Zaccharias, Xanthus¡¯ great idol and almost the father he never had. Yes, no matter how lost the teenager may feel in the present, with Zaccharias he will have the guidance and support he needs. ¡°No more victims¡± Xanthus clenched his fists and said. ?????? Aqua, a few minutes later At the top of the hill where he had been seen before, a blonde-haired, dark green-eyed lad ¨C who was actually the leader of the Illuminatus ¨C stared into the horizon bearing an unceasing anguish in his heart. A goldfinch cooped up in a reality that seemed incomplete. Zechariah, whose presence the teenager felt beforehand, appeared at his side bearing news. Nicklaus A. Corum, however, didn¡¯t take his eyes off the fabulous view for a moment. ¡°Klaus, I met with Xanthus¡± the male said. ¡°¡­How are Core and the others doing?¡± the leader asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t hear from anyone¡± Zechariah replied. ¡°I see¡± Nicklaus said. ¡°Are you worried?¡± his right-hand man smirked and asked him. ¡°I want to see him¡± the blonde ignored his question and said wistfully. ¡°You mean Lied?¡± Zechariah said. Nicklaus activated his Spirit Mode as a dark green aura surrounded his body. He nodded and gripped the cross-shaped black pendant around his neck. ¡°I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t be long before you see each other again¡­¡± the black-haired man said. [END OF CHAPTER] [END OF VOLUME 3] Lie 33 – Auribus teneo lupum This is a story that goes back to a time when the fruits of chaos are still being formed, the cruel fates yet to be revealed. In another volume of his journey through the Underworld, the ¡°Adam¡¯s Heir¡± will fight memorable battles and meet people who might have the answers he is looking for. Origins, convictions, and duties. Everything will be put to the test once more. Underworld Level -6, Restricted Block, Prison Naomi set off on a lonely journey in search of Lied. She arrived, sword in hand, at Level -6 of the Restricted Block. There, the lass heard a voice coming from the second prison cell, from left to right. The burly old man was about two meters tall and had a long white beard down to the ground. In the adjacent prison cells were exactly two men and one woman who emanated powerful auras like the geezer, and they stared expectantly at the human girl. ¡°Are you¡­ prisoners?¡± Naomi asked, feeling a little insecure. ¡°Yes, each of us has sinned during our lifetime. Here, in the depths of the Underworld, far from the other dead, we atone for those sins¡± the ancient said. Naomi swallowed her saliva. Even though she was used to the smell of death, it was her first time encountering dead spirits in Mictlan. In this case, sinners in eternal atonement. ¡°I¡¯m Elijah. Could you tell me your name, young lady?¡± the old man asked. ¡°N-Naomi¡± the human said hesitantly. ¡°Naomi, is it?¡± Elijah said and then looked at the Lumen Orbis ¡°That sword¡­¡± the male opened his eyes wide as he gazed curiously at the glittering blade. ¡°Do you know what she is?¡± the teenager asked. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s Eve¡¯s sword¡± the man replied. ¡°Eve¡­ the girl who was always with Adam¡± Naomi looked down and said. ¡°Indeed, the two of them were inseparable, or so we thought¡­ until the ¡®Tragedy of Eden¡¯¡± Elijah said as he raised his voice at the end of the sentence. ¡°Are you referring to the First Spiritual War?¡± the young woman remembered the story Varius had told her and asked. ¡°That¡¯s right. The brutal battle between Adam¡¯s party and the Guardians of God¡± the geezer said. ¡°The Guardians of God¡­¡± the teenager murmured. ¡°After the war, Adam settled in the ¡®Land of Adam¡¯, the world with more water than land, while Eve went to live in the ¡®Land of Eve¡¯, the world with more land than water¡± Elijah said. Those names fell out of use, but the ¡°Land of Adam¡± was Tellus and the ¡°Land of Eve¡± was Aqua. ¡°And Nachash was¡­¡± Naomi said as she knew the rest of the story. ¡°Imprisoned in Mictlan¡± Elijah said as he pointed his index finger at the empty prison cell at his right side. Naomi landed her eyes on the first prison cell in the floor. She felt shivers run down her spine while picturing the Talking Serpent sitting there as it patiently waits for the right moment to escape. ¡°I almost forgot. You called me ¡®Lilith¡¯ just now, didn¡¯t you?¡± the human asked. ¡°One of the first human beings, born through the power of the Adam¡¯s Apple. A stubborn but supportive girl, until one day¡­ she changed completely. It was after her brother¡¯s death¡± the geezer guessed what the young woman wanted to know and said. Elijah¡¯s revelation unsettled her as a hush fell over the floor. Naomi tried hard to remember Lilith and her brother as she couldn¡¯t brush off the strange feeling of familiarity, which did not go unnoticed by Elijah. ¡°Anyway, what is a young woman like you doing in this place, alone?¡± the man tried to cut the tension in the air with a question. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m looking for a boy!¡± Naomi said. ¡°Hm¡­?¡± Elijah said as he got curious. ?????? Underworld Level -7, Restricted Block, Dead Zone The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Stand up¡± ¨C these words came out of Core¡¯s mouth without her knowing why. Martyr and Nemo wondered why she just stood there, staring into space, a pause that lasted a few seconds. ¡°Why am I thinking about that girl now?¡± she thought as the image of Naomi came to her mind. Core rewinded Eve¡¯s memories of that day. Meanwhile, she remembered the time in Mictlan when her Spirit Mode activated on its own. Could it all be connected somehow? And almost as if trying to find the answer within herself, the aztec briefly visited her spacious and innocent soul. Upon entering the dimension, the lass was greeted with an infectious smile of a turquoise-haired, greenish-blue-eyed lady. Perhaps the sudden appearance of someone Core hadn¡¯t seen in years meant that nothing was a coincidence. A message from the past to the present. ¡°E-Eve!¡± the aztec exclaimed and stretched out her right hand towards her imaginary friend. The lady disappeared soon after. Core returned to reality; her peers had stopped walking and grew restless as they waited for the lass. ¡°Oi! You have your head in the clouds!¡± Martyr got angry with her companion. ¡°Sorry¡­ let¡¯s keep going¡± the aztec nodded and the three continued on their way. The Illuminatus trio quickened their pace, but the path to the lower floors was a long one. Nemo wasn¡¯t feeling at ease with them after spending all that time with Susumu and even cooperating with the human; he knew that sooner or later his superiors would have his head. ¡°Hey, Core, it seems you were acquainted with that detective¡¯s weird shadow. Who was it?¡± Martyr asked her a question that Nemo was also meaning to ask. His curiosity stopped Core dead in her tracks. The lass lowered her head as she showed a melancholic expression, remembering yet another dark chapter in her life. ¡°Mr. Zosimus was¡­ a member of the old Illuminatus¡± she said. ?????? Underworld Level -5, Restricted Block, Prison While Susumu didn¡¯t want to owe Zosimus any favors, the truth is that the chain armor made by the latter was proving to be essential in his recovery as it stopped the bleeding. The priority was to defeat Martyr, and for that the detective was going to have to sweat a little more. The teenager thought twice about whether he should question the shadow about its relationship with the Illuminatus, the enemy organization that Zosimus seemed to be acquainted with. Nevertheless, Susumu decided to save the interrogation for later. ¡°It¡¯s time to review the basics¡± the Chains Man said. ¡°The basics, so Visibility and Sensitivity?¡± Susumu asked while stretching. ¡°Yes, those are the fundamentals. And there¡¯s also something else I want to work on¡­ Before we continue, I¡¯ll check your SSL again¡± the aztec said. The last time the lad had his Spiritual Synchronization Level measured, before fighting Martyr, it was 30%. Zosimus summoned a single chain that floated to the human¡¯s chest. Finally, the shadow applied the Density property and registered a notable increase of 10% in relation to the previous reading. ¡°As I calculated, your spirit evolved by gaining new battle experience. 40% SSL means you have reached the Stage 3 of the Spirit Mode. I explained it to you, didn¡¯t I?¡± the Chains Man asked a rhetorical question. ¡°If my memory serves me, there are seven stages¡± the detective said. ¡°Correct. ¡®Stage 0¡¯ is the initiation point; ¡®Stage 1¡¯, between 0 and 20% SSL; ¡®Stage 2¡¯, between 20% and 40% SSL; ¡®Stage 3¡¯, between 40% and 60% SSL; ¡®Stage 4¡¯, between 60% and 80% SSL; ¡®Stage 5¡¯, between 80% and 100% SSL; lastly ¡®Stage 6¡¯, 100% SSL, the final phase in which the user awakens the Full Spirit Mode¡± Zosimus used his chains to write in the air what he was saying. Susumu rested for 45 minutes to give his body more time to heal. The fact that the detective¡¯s endurance had increased considerably since he arrived in Mictlan is what allowed him to move at that moment, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t be budging an inch. That¡¯s how intense his last fight was. ¡°Zosimus, about the restriction of your strength¡­¡± the human said, but the Chains Man predicted his question. ¡°¡­It¡¯s true that I can¡¯t use my full power without a body to inhabit. Nevertheless, I can feel my chains becoming ¡®freer¡¯ as you get stronger. Proof of this is that armor I made for you¡± the shadow explained. ¡°I see¡­¡± Susumu said as he looked at the armor he was wearing. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Just focus on strengthening your own spirit¡± the aztec said. The human nodded and the two started training. ?????? Underworld Level -9, Restricted Block, Dead Zone Iduma limped heavily as the boy moved towards the portal he had previously used to enter Mictlan. He came from Level -8, where he narrowly avoided death. The enemy, Yamir or Nachash, whoever it was, lost control as he prepared to pierce Iduma¡¯s heart with his blade, thus giving the child an opportunity to escape. ?????? Ganeden It was a beautiful afternoon on the island located south of Honshu, but not everyone could allow themselves the luxury of enjoying the good weather. Xanthus was in front of Naomi¡¯s house, one of several entrances to the Underworld in Ganeden, waiting patiently for his companion to arrive. The blonde man raised his eyebrows when a portal spawned and Iduma came out of it. The lad smiled the moment their eyes locked with each other; Xanthus promptly helped him stand as Iduma could barely walk because of the injury. ¡°What happened?!¡± Xanthus asked. ¡°Hehe, we got a problem¡­¡± the red-headed kid said, he would have fallen to the side if it weren¡¯t for Xanthus¡¯ support. Iduma gave an account of the events that transpired at the Restricted Block. Xanthus listened carefully, his intuition telling him that the conversation he had with Zechariah was a presage to these facts. ¡°Xanthus, I have to go back¡± Iduma clenched his fists and said. ¡°I will go with you¡± Xanthus said. ¡°No, go to Aqua and tell the others what¡¯s going on¡± the red-headed kid shook his head and said. ¡°Iduma¡­¡± the man murmured. ¡°Please. She needs me¡± the child said very sincerely. Xanthus had never seen Iduma so serious. The spark in his fiery red eyes convinced him that the boy¡¯s mind was made up, along with his unwavering spirit. ¡°Alright. Take care of yourself and return in one piece¡± Xanthus put his hand on Iduma¡¯s shoulder ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t want any more victims¡± he finished his sentence with a heavy countenance. ¡°Heh, who do you think I am?¡± the lad turned his back and walked towards the portal that appeared out of nowhere ¡°The great Iduma!¡± Iduma said as he crossed the passage that connected Ganeden to Mictlan, separated by time and space. Meanwhile, a green hooded boy the same age as Iduma watched them from hundreds of meters away, all while hiding his prana. [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 34 – Variations This is a story that goes back to a time when the fruits of chaos are still being formed, the cruel fates yet to be revealed. In another volume of his journey through the Underworld, the ¡°Adam¡¯s Heir¡± will fight memorable battles and meet people who might have the answers he is looking for. Origins, convictions, and duties. Everything will be put to the test once more. Underworld Level -3, Restricted Block Lied and Mare managed to escape from Ajax and the guardians of Mictlan thanks not only to Zaccharias, who put himself in front of the aztec knight and stayed behind, but also to Pantera, the enemy that surprisingly appeared at a critical moment to help the human. Finding themselves in the lair of the fearsome Animus, the boy and the girl took advantage of the fact that the creatures seemed to be distracted by the signals of emerging crises throughout the Underworld and left the floor. The young man felt like he was about to explode¡­ ?????? Underworld Level -2, Restricted Block Lied went back to a place where he had been happy ¨C depending on the perspective. It was here that, not long ago, the Lost Prince awakened the Spirit Mode and defeated the type C Animus. Mare finally let herself fall onto the dark pavement as she was tired from all that running. Lied just stood there, almost out of breath. He punched the ground in frustration as he was ashamed of his impotence, overwhelmed by feelings of helplessness. ¡°Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!¡± the teenager continued to vent his anger on the pavement by punching it multiple times. ¡°L-Lied¡­¡± Mare muttered, worried. ¡°Why did I awaken the Spirit Mode? Wasn¡¯t it to get stronger? To be able to fight when necessary? In the end, nothing has changed. The Adam¡¯s Apple or myself¡­ I CAN¡¯T PROTECT ANYTHING ON MY OWN!¡± the prince exclaimed, his voice echoed through the four walls of the floor. The straight-faced Mare promptly stood up and approached Lied, who didn¡¯t look away from the ground. ¡°That¡¯s not true, you protected me now¡± the aztec said. ¡°I ran away from the fight!¡± the Lost Prince looked at her and retorted. ¡°That was Zaccharias¡¯ decision!¡± the child said. The girl¡¯s statement silenced him. Lied felt even more dejected as he stared, again, at the pavement. ¡°Yes, it was thanks to Zaccharias that I got this far. If I hadn¡¯t met him, my journey would have ended much sooner. He was the one who guided me. Without Zaccharias, I don¡¯t know where to go or what I should do. I feel¡­ lost once again¡± he said, feeling depressed. Mare¡¯s face dimpled into a sad smile and then she sat down next to him. ¡°Oh right, I still haven¡¯t told you how I died, have I?¡± she asked a rhetorical question. ¡°Eh?¡± he turned his head to look at her. ¡°I grew up in a village in Videmolla, near Aztecorum. Both my father and mother worked a lot, so my two older sisters had to take care of me. I passed away eight years ago, a few months before the war broke out. Some emissaries from the Royal Palace showed up at our house and abducted me. My parents and one of my sisters died trying to help me. Fortunately, my other sister wasn¡¯t home¡± Mare said. ¡°They abducted you¡­? Why?¡± Lied asked. Mare curled up on the ground as she unearthed her traumatic memories. ¡°Experiments. I never understood their purpose, but they also kidnapped other children my age. It was through these experiments that I awakened my Spirit Mode¡± she said. ¡°I see¡± he said. The lass remained strong, holding back the tears every time she opened her mouth to speak. Mare stood up, little by little remembering and accepting the past became easier. ¡°Going to school; shopping with my sisters; playing with my friends, so many things I wish I had done more of. Ah, but at least I got to see my sister Eione before dying. She¡¯s amazing¡­ she became a knight just to find me!¡± the girl said, pronouncing the last sentence with pride. ¡°Mare¡­¡± Lied murmured, feeling sorry for her and at the same time recognizing Mare¡¯s effort to get it off her chest. ¡°When I arrived in Mictlan, I was so scared that I ran away without thinking twice. The guards chased me, because of the experiments I was afraid of what they were going to do to my body¡­¡± a smile appeared on the child¡¯s countenance ¡°It was then that I met Zaccharias! He saved me¡± Mare said. ¡°You too, huh¡­¡± he said, smiling shyly. ¡°At first, I didn¡¯t know how to react. I mean, it¡¯s not every day that a talking crow starts talking to you!¡± she said, remembering the episode as if it were yesterday. ¡°Yeah¡± the prince nodded. Lied and Mare chuckled together as the conversation turned to a light-hearted one, dampening down the tension in the air and making them both forget for an instant where they were. ¡°That¡¯s when I understood that, more important than a person¡¯s presence, is what they leave us after they¡¯re gone. What did Zaccharias leave you, Lied?¡± she gently asked. ¡°What he left was¡­¡± Lied said and then started having flashbacks of his recent past. Lied¡¯s encounter with the talking crow; the fight against the guards of Mictlan; the first trial; the second trial; the battle to awaken the Spirit Mode against the Animus; the short bout between teacher and student; the Unda training; the victory against Jirou Isaak; and lastly the confrontation with Pantera and Ajax that led to them being separated from each other. On all these occasions, Zaccharias was Lied¡¯s direct and indirect support. But why? The answer was simple: because he had complete faith in him. ¡°Determination¡± the Adam¡¯s Heir replied confidently. ¡°Yes, feelings ¨C the legacy of the heart¡± the child nodded and said. The lad smiled and stood up from the cold pavement, much to Mare¡¯s surprise. Lied had a kind expression on his face as he looked at the lass. ¡°Thank you for opening my eyes¡± he said. ¡°Hehehe, it may not seem like it because of my appearance, but if I were alive, I would be almost the same age as you!¡± Mare stood up and said cheerfully. ¡°Seriously? That¡¯s why you¡¯re so mature¡± the Adam¡¯s Heir, impressed. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re making me embarrassed¡­¡± the lass blushed and said. Lied started exercising at once as a new training was about to begin. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± the girl asked him. ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to try¡± the Lost Prince said after stretching and took two steps forward, then stared at his right hand ¡°When you asked about what Zaccharias left me, the Unda naturally came to mind. I was thinking: the normal Unda breaks once before it blows up. The 2-Kai Unda, the enhanced version, breaks twice. What if¡­ it could break three or more times?¡± he said. ¡°Increasing the number of times the Unda breaks would make it stronger, right? Yes, it might work!¡± Mare said, the enthusiasm was visible on her face. ¡°It¡¯s a promising idea, but there is a problem that I need to solve. The basic concept of the Unda was drilled into my head by Zaccharias and that¡¯s why I was able to instinctively create the 2-Kai Unda. To level it up further, I have to understand how my own technique truly works, and then apply the same logic. I believe that the answer lies in the second step of the process, the imagination¡± the prince said and lowered his arms. ¡°Let¡¯s relive the memory of that day with greater clarity¡± Lied closed his eyes and thought, his mind traveling through time¡­ ?????? Shirahama Beach, Shimoda, Japan, six years ago The warmest time of the year was here, the summer reached peak heat across Japan. The searing sun shone down at the hundreds of people immersing themselves in the inviting water of the famous Shirahama Beach during the afternoon. Among them were three tourists from Ganeden, the Fujita family, visiting their relatives during holidays. The father Seiji insisted on returning to the beach in the evening, when the sun starts going down, as this was the best time to surf, one of his favorite pastimes. The mother Makoto didn¡¯t mind enjoying the cool sea breeze without the crowds, while Lied simply followed his parents¡¯ wishes. For him nothing could replace the comfort of being in the park near his house. Whilst the mother lazed on her beach towel, father and son sat by the water¡¯s edge watching the sea. Seiji saw that as an opportunity to strengthen the ties with Lied, who wasn¡¯t so interested in the waves. ¡°I already explained to you that there are different types of waves, right? I love catching the breaking waves, they¡¯re fascinating because they break into different shapes. The one that broke earlier is called ¡®collapsing breaker¡¯. Oh, did you see that wave now? It¡¯s known as ¡®spilling breaker¡¯. Its kindness reminds me of your mother. Sorry, am I boring you? Well, maybe one day you will get your teeth into this¡± the man said, a little embarrassed, and kept rambling on about his hobby. ?????? Lied suddenly opened his eyes wider, feeling as if he had received enlightenment. It was ironic; at the time the boy didn¡¯t give any importance to his father¡¯s babbling but now his auditory memory actually came in handy. ¡°Hey, Mare, do you like the ocean?¡± the Lost Prince asked. ¡°I do, but where I lived there were no beaches. Why?¡± she said, curious. ¡°I used to have no interest in it at all, but so much has changed since I came to Mictlan that I feel like I don¡¯t know myself anymore¡± Lied moved away from Mare and walked to the center of the floor ¡°Then pay attention because I¡¯m going to show you a sea of possibilities¡± he glanced at the lass with a confident expression and said. The teenager activated his Spirit Mode as a mystical aura enveloped him and Adam¡¯s sparkling cross popped up on the right wrist. Then, Lied began his tests by channeling prana into his right hand and using the left to stabilize it, shaping the energy into a plain wave. Finally, he fired the 1-Kai Unda at the nearest wall. ¡°This is the original Unda that breaks once before blowing up. The bottom face of the wave gets steeper and collapses, therefore it¡¯s a collapsing breaker¡± the prince analyzed. Lied immediately proceeded to the next test. Once again, he focused the prana into his right hand and shaped it, making a normal Unda. In an unconscious final touch, the young man applied the Density property and shot his signature move as it left a huge crack on the wall. ¡°Lastly, the 2-Kai Unda. It¡¯s clear that the wave tends to steepen until the crest becomes unstable, so it can only be a spilling breaker. In both cases the types of waves were identified, but a big question remains¡­¡± he said. Zaccharias explained that Lied¡¯s technique worked by using the Density property to break the Unda twice. However, that execution was prompted by instinct as the male did not know how he was doing it; after all, the 2-Kai Unda itself was a training accident, his efforts paid off in a way that no one expected. ¡°Density, the theory behind the 2-Kai. I need to study it before anything else¡± Lied said. For the next few minutes, the boy simply threw the 2-Kai Unda over and over until he realized how his move worked. Mare watched patiently. The explosive noise went on and on, nevertheless, Lied was unable to see the light. Unless he got a grasp of the 2-Kai, it would be impossible to devise the 3-Kai variant. The spiritual properties were easy to learn but difficult to master, especially for a beginner like the human. If the talking crow were there, he would certainly give him one piece of advice¡­ ¡°In this situation, what would Zaccharias say?¡± Lied thought. The lad sat in lotus pose and closed his eyes. He decided to meditate for five minutes to calm himself down. The human stood up with a clear head and performed the 2-Kai Unda once more. That was when the Adam¡¯s Heir finally figured it out. ¡°Wait, could it be¡­ my body posture?¡± he inferred by observing his body from the waist down. Lied got down to work for another hour, totaling around two and a half hours of intensive training, and afterwards he allowed himself to rest for 15 minutes. Lied was planning to return to Level-3, where Zaccharias was still fighting against Ajax, but Mare¡¯s safety came first and, on that account, he decided to leave her on Level -1, the entrance to the Restricted Block, and come back later with the crow. ?????? Underworld Level -1, Restricted Block Lied and Mare reached their destination, but it wasn¡¯t long before two type B and three type C Animus coming from Level -2 got in their way. The human gave the signal and Mare backed away. ¡°I am your opponent. Come at me!¡± Lied activated his Spirit Mode and said, wielding the Anima Sancta. The teenager knew that he could not let his guard down, even for a moment, aware that those savage but intelligent creatures would take advantage of the slightest distraction to target the weakest prey, Mare. The three type C Animus attacked him in perfect synchronization, the human first blocked the attack from the left-sided opponent with his sword, then grabbed the right-sided beast by the head and hurled it away as the two Animus crashed into each other. Lied dodged the last Animus¡¯ onslaught and kicked it away to cap off the first round. The more cautious type B Animus motioned the type C Animus to change formation. Meanwhile, Mare was very apprehensive about the fight as there were too many enemies and she feared the worst. ¡°Mare, I know it¡¯s a lot to ask, but please believe in me one more time¡± the Lost Prince noticed that she was getting uneasy and said. ¡°Sis¡­¡± the little aztec said in a low voice. Mare remembered hearing the same comforting words from her dear sister Eione, the one who joined the aztec army just to find her. The girl nodded and a smile bloomed across Lied¡¯s face in response. The pair of type B Animus lashed out at the Adam¡¯s Heir, followed by rapid strikes and movements that Mare couldn¡¯t keep up with. ¡°These two are on a completely different level from the others¡± Lied thought. The superb teamwork demonstrated by the argus-eyed watchdogs of the Restricted Block forced Lied to take a defensive approach. Besides the type B Animus, he also couldn¡¯t lose sight of the three other beasts lurking in the shadows as Mare was still a target. ¡°Dragging the fight on any longer will only make things worse for me. Unlike them, I don¡¯t have infinite stamina¡­¡± he thought after about five minutes of fighting. Not once did the lad take his eyes off the Animus as he positioned himself to make the Unda like usual, but with a slight change: his right foot was sliding two centimeters away. Lied¡¯s plan was to take out multiple opponents at once with the leveled-up version of his technique. Mare swallowed her saliva as she knew what he was about to do. It was a make-or-break situation. Lied focused the prana into his right hand while using the left to stabilize it. With the increase in the Spiritual Synchronization Level his proficiency in the Expandability property had also improved, which allowed him to perform the Unda faster. While the young man was busy preparing his move, two Animus ¨C one type B and one type C ¨C advanced towards Lied. Their wild roars reverberated throughout the floor. ¡°It¡¯s thanks to the foundations he left that I will be able to take this next step¡± the prince thought, referring to Zaccharias. The spiritual energy transformed as Lied was flooded with memories of past events and people, ranging from the talking crow to Luna and his parents. ¡°For myself and for all those who helped me get this far, I will not lose again¡± he thought before firing the Unda at the Animus. When it seemed that at least one of the creatures was going to dodge the attack, the wave curled over and broke three times, releasing most of its energy in a relatively violent impact as it swept up the Animus simultaneously. ¡°3-Kai Unda: Plunging Breaker¡± the teenager said. The remaining Animus ¨C one type B and two type C ¨C were startled by their prey¡¯s counterattack. The beasts roared before charging at Lied. ¡°Watch out!¡± Mare shouted as she saw the three enemies trying to catch the Adam¡¯s Heir off-guard. However, Lied smiled as he predicted their movements. The teenager slid his right foot three centimeters away and started making a new Unda on the spot, not stopping even with his opponents in front of him and dodging with Visibility. At last he aimed a low-slopping wave whose crest gradually disappeared until it broke four times at the Animus, causing a deadly impact. Bursts of spiritual energy erupted and made Mare¡¯s dress move as she closed her eyes. ¡°4-Kai Unda: Surging Breaker¡± Lied said. Lied¡¯s current SSL: 50% [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 35 – Re-Encounter This is a story that goes back to a time when the fruits of chaos are still being formed, the cruel fates yet to be revealed. In another volume of his journey through the Underworld, the ¡°Adam¡¯s Heir¡± will fight memorable battles and meet people who might have the answers he is looking for. Origins, convictions, and duties. Everything will be put to the test once more. In an incredible demonstration of evolution, Lied defeated the five Animus with his new variations of the Unda. Mare just stood there in amazed silence, her mouth agape, before joining him. She felt happy about the fact that his hard work had paid off. ¡°You really did it, Lied! What now?¡± the girl asked. ¡°Things are going to get even more dangerous from here on out. You¡¯d better stay in this floor and wait until I come back with Zaccharias¡± the Lost Prince said. ¡°I knew you would say that, but you will have to respect my wishes¡± Mare shook her head and smiled ¡°I¡¯m already dead, so you don¡¯t have to worry about me. Please¡± the lass asked as she made an irresistible cute face. For the first time in his life, Lied didn¡¯t have the courage to say no and resigned himself as he accepted Mare¡¯s unilateral decision. Being a spirit, the aztec fugitive was bound to face the trials if she was captured, so Mare wasn¡¯t safe anywhere in the Underworld. The Adam¡¯s Heir sighed and gazed at the horizon. ¡°Let¡¯s move!¡± he said. ?????? Underworld Level -5, Restricted Block, Prison While Lied fought the Animus, Susumu underwent intensive training that lasted nearly three hours. Zosimus, apparently satisfied with the results, collected his chains. ¡°Bravo! This training session took a lot of our time, but it was worth it¡± the shadow said as it approved the lad¡¯s efforts. ¡°Agreed¡± the detective nodded and looked at the Progressus Justitiae in his right hand ¡°Next time, it won¡¯t be so easy¡­¡± Susumu muttered as he lowkey wished for a rematch against Martyr. Since they didn¡¯t know which way the snake and his Illuminatus peers went, the boy and his shadow decided to follow their intuition and go up to the Level -4 floor. ?????? Underworld Level -2, Restricted Block Lied and Mare headed towards Level -4, the floor where the talking crow still was supposed to be, bitter memories kept lingering in the boy¡¯s mind. ¡°I wonder how Zaccharias is doing¡­¡± Mare said worriedly, assuming that even someone as strong as the crow would have a hard time against Ajax, another Full Spirit Mode user. Lied remained silent. One of his wishes was indeed to reunite with Zaccharias, but there was also the score to settle with Pantera, who thoroughly humiliated him, and he wanted to get back at the hunter. The prince wasn¡¯t the same as before, both spiritually and mentally. Lied and Mare passed through Level -3. They increased their pace as they approached the battlefield where various spiritual energies converged, namely the talking crow¡¯s prana. ?????? Underworld Level -5, Restricted Block, Prison Because of his injuries, Susumu was still wearing the chain armor, but the Chains Man did not stay his hand as the detective continued down on his current path. Susumu sensed multiple presences, including some particularly powerful auras, at Level -4, and quickened his pace. The turning point for their adventures in Mictlan was nigh. ¡°There¡¯s people fighting?!¡± the teenager wondered. ¡°Apparently, yes. Let¡¯s hurry up!¡± Zosimus said. ?????? The gears of destiny began to turn again as Susumu plus the pair Lied and Mare simultaneously entered the Level -4 of the Restricted Block. ¡°One, no, two pranas just a few meters away from us¡­?¡± Lied used Sensitivity and said. ¡°Could one of them be Zaccharias?¡± Mare asked. ¡°No. Stay close to me!¡± the Lost Prince said with a serious tone as he feared a new threat. Susumu shifted his focus away from the auras on the battlefield when he felt two people moving towards him. ¡°Two new presences and coming from an opposite direction!¡± the detective said and prepared for an imminent fight. ¡°Hold on, this prana is¡­¡± the Chains Man realized that the spiritual energy belonged to Lied and said a few seconds before both parties crossed paths. Lied and Susumu activated their Spirit Modes at the same time as the black-haired prince wielded his sword and the blue-haired detective his pistol. The humans eyeballed one another, their mouths agape, equally astonished by the appearance of someone they hadn¡¯t seen in a while. ¡°¡­Lied?¡± the detective said. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°¡­Susumu?¡± the prince said. Lied did remember Pantera mentioning ¡°another kid¡±; so he was talking about Susumu. ¡°A friend of Lied?¡± Mare wondered aloud, breaking the ice. ¡°No, he¡¯s not my frien¡­¡± the Lost Prince was saying before Mare glued herself to the detective. ¡°Hello, my name is Mare!¡± without further ado, the smiling aztec introduced herself. ¡°A spirit of Mictlan? She¡¯s so young¡± Susumu thought as he looked her up and down. ¡°M-My name is Susumu. Susumu Shinichi¡± the blue-haired young man said as he didn¡¯t know how to react to the fact that he was practically being hugged by a stranger, then the detective stared at his shadow ¡°And this is Zosimus. Our relationship is¡­ complicated¡± he said, putting the emphasis on the last word. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you¡± Zosimus greeted her by waving his dancing chains at the girl. ¡°The shadow spoke!¡± Mare was stunned by that, unlike Lied, who was no longer surprised by the supernatural. Silence reigned again as the humans gave each other an icy stare. Things weren¡¯t exactly amicable between Lied and Susumu and neither of them forgot what happened in the past, which wasn¡¯t that long ago, even though it seemed like an eternity. They both had flashbacks of this conversation: ¡°To be honest, I find it pathetic. The way they played you like a fiddle and how you tried to resume the case already too late¡­ a pretty foolish attempt to redeem yourselves.¡± ¡°Who do you think takes care of the people of this island in the shadows? You have no idea¡­ how hard it is to uphold justice. You don¡¯t understand our pain.¡± ¡°¡­Just to be clear, I don¡¯t take back what I said before¡± Lied asserted. ¡°¡­ I also have no intention of apologizing to you¡± Susumu answered back. The Adam¡¯s Heir clenched his fists, deactivated the Spirit Mode and faced the dark ground with a guileless expression on his face. ¡°Nevertheless, I met someone like you who made me rethink my opinion¡± Lied said as the image of Eduardus and the aztec policeman¡¯s words came to his mind ¡°What I want to say is¡­ well¡­ I think I understand you a little better now¡± he mumbled awkwardly. Susumu¡¯s spiritual form disappeared as he was caught off guard by his disarming frankness. The young detective closed his eyes and smiled gently. ¡°I see. At the end of the day we all learned something¡­¡± he said, reflecting on his own journey through the Underworld. Little Mare felt excited to meet new faces as she stood between Lied and Susumu and held their hands, leaving them equally embarrassed. ¡°Friends, then?¡± the girl asked as she stole a glance at Lied and then at Susumu. ¡°Friendship¡­¡± Susumu said in a low voice. ¡°I don¡¯t know about us being friends, but allies would be a good idea¡± Lied looked at him and said with conviction. ¡°What?¡± the upright member of the Ganeden police force said, he never stopped surprising him. ¡°You came to the Underworld because you want to defeat the Illuminatus¡­ Martyr, right?¡± the prince asked a rhetorical question as he hit the bullseye ¡°We are on common ground, so how about joining forces with me?¡± Lied said and invited him to shake hands. ¡°Mm. Alright, let¡¯s work together¡± Susumu accepted his proposal and shook his hand. The trust was reciprocal and the ultimate team was about to be born; thus Lied and Susumu partnered up with the mutual objective of overthrowing Martyr and therefore ruining the Illuminatus¡¯ plans. ¡°It¡¯s good to know that you¡¯re willing to cooperate with each other, but we have company¡± the Chains Man chipped in with a warning as he forefelt the arrival of old acquaintances. Dozens of figures split across the entire perimeter of the floor and cornered Lied, Susumu and Mare. The three gathered in a circle with their backs turned towards each other. ¡°Animus!¡± Lied activated his Spirit Mode and exclaimed. ¡°They¡¯re already here¡­!¡± Susumu gritted his teeth and did the same. ¡°There¡¯s too many of them¡­ it doesn¡¯t seem like we can escape from here¡± Zosimus said. ¡°Yes, by my count about twenty enemies¡± the detective determined the number of beasts, ten type B and another ten type C. ¡°You¡¯re wounded, aren¡¯t you? Are you sure you can fight?¡± the Lost Prince asked as he observed the armor protecting his companion¡¯s upper body. ¡°It¡¯s not a problem, the bleeding has already stopped¡± Susumu reassured him. ¡°That¡¯s great to hear. I want you to follow my instructions. Efficiency is the watchword in the sense that we can¡¯t afford to spend all our energy here. Mare, stay close to us¡± Lied said as he cast a glance at the lass. ¡°Okay¡± the child nodded and said. ¡°Do you have a plan?¡± the detective asked Lied. ¡°The variations of the Unda, right, Lied?¡± the optimistic Mare barged in on the convo between the two fighters and pretty much replied for the prince. ¡°¡¯Unda¡¯¡±? Susumu said, confused. ¡°Listen carefully¡­¡± Lied said and then explained succinctly how the Unda and its variations worked. After that, the Adam¡¯s Heir sketched out the strategy which involved a combination of their attacks in order to cut down the enemies in one fell swoop. It was a plan that required impeccable coordination between the teenagers, perhaps the only way to get them out of a pinch. ¡°Interesting. Susumu, we should do as he says¡± Zosimus agreed with his proposal, curious to see how their team would fare. The detective consented. It was indeed a perfect strategy if well executed. ?????? Everyone was on standby. Zosimus¡¯ role was to protect Mare while Susumu and Lied fought a deadly battle with a handicap: they had to conserve as much stamina as possible so they could be ready for the ¡®big¡¯ upcoming fights. It was time to showcase their teamwork. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± the Adam¡¯s Heir loudly announced the start of the operation as the humans dashed towards the guards of the Restricted Block. Susumu summoned the Progressus Justitiae and fired at the creatures without a specific target as he looked to buy some time for Lied to make the first Unda. The Animus defended themselves from the shots. The detective immediately directed his gaze towards the Lost Prince, who was holding three fingers up on his left hand. ¡°3-Kai!¡± Susumu thought as he interpreted the hand sign. Lied aimed the plunging breaker at the monsters as his first targets were one type B and two type C Animus. The wave brought the type B and one type C down, leaving the detective responsible for eliminating the remaining beast with a headshot. 17 Animus were left. The Adam¡¯s Heir once again signaled a new attack against the guards of the Restricted Block, this time raising only two fingers up. ¡°2-Kai¡± Susumu thought. Lied blew one type B Animus away with the spilling breaker. At the same time, his companion took one type C Animus down. 15 Animus were left. Everything was going as planned. The chemistry between the two young men couldn¡¯t be better and at this rate they would dispatch the horde of beasts with their stamina levels high. ¡°4-Kai¡± Susumu thought as he interpreted Lied¡¯s hand gesture of holding up four fingers. The prince hit two type B Animus with the surging breaker. Susumu had to deal with the other three type C Animus and the blue-eyed lad did not disappoint, overwhelming them with his pistol and martial arts. Lied was grateful to have such a competent mate, strong in both long and short-range combat. 10 Animus were left. Rivulets of sweat dripped down Lied and Susumu¡¯s faces as they were starting to get tired. Nevertheless, none of them were feeling the pressure and that was admirable. The boys formed a small circle and took the opportunity to make wisecracks, at one point they had started to compete between themselves to see who could last longer. ¡°Hey, need a break?¡± Lied asked as a cheeky smile crossed his mug. ¡°Hehe, who do you think you¡¯re talking to?¡± Susumu, panting slightly, replied. The Lost Prince shot a 4-Kai Unda at two type B Animus, as for the student council president he once again showed off his skills at melee combat by defeating two type C Animus. 6 Animus were left. Lied held up one finger as he aimed a collapsing breaker on a type C Animus¡¯ abdomen and it broke with a loud bang. Consecutive Undas followed one another and took four more monsters down. Two minutes later, the green-eyed boy sliced the last beast with the Anima Sancta. Finally, what they couldn¡¯t have done alone, they did together. ¡°Not too shabby¡± Zosimus praised their performance. ¡°Wow! They are both amazing!!¡± Mare said and clapped as she was beaming with delight. ¡°You grew up so much, Lied. I wouldn¡¯t expect anything less from his son¡± the Chains Man thought as he acknowledged the prince. Lied didn¡¯t let his guard down as the Adam¡¯s Heir insisted on waiting for the opponent he cut with his blade to evanesce. Susumu stared at the unfaltering lad in whom he saw for a moment the broad shoulders that leaders have. ¡°Was he always this dependable?¡± Susumu thought, admiring him. [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 36 – The Mad Snake This is a story that goes back to a time when the fruits of chaos are still being formed, the cruel fates yet to be revealed. In another volume of his journey through the Underworld, the ¡°Adam¡¯s Heir¡± will fight memorable battles and meet people who might have the answers he is looking for. Origins, convictions, and duties. Everything will be put to the test once more. Lied and Susumu surmounted the obstacles that appeared before them with their excellent teamwork. Mare headed towards the humans as she walked past the Animus¡¯ corpses, their bodies melted away and finally disappeared into spiritual particles. ¡°No one would guess it was the first time you guys fought together!¡± the girl, flabbergasted, said, then she fixed her gaze on Susumu ¡°And you don¡¯t lose to Lied, Susu!¡± she praised the detective and gave him a new nickname. ¡°¡¯Susu¡¯¡­¡± the detective murmured as he was feeling somewhat embarrassed. ¡°Hey, Susu¡± Zosimus called him in a playful way. ¡°For you it¡¯s ¡®Susumu¡¯!¡± the upright member of the Ganeden police force immediately corrected his shadow about how he should call him, it sounded like one of those hilarious sketches. Susumu glanced at Lied as the detective swore he heard him laugh, but his companion had the typical bored expression on his face. Was he just imagining things? ¡°Since you no longer need my armor, I suggest we find something for you to wear instead of it. In the meantime, we could all rest for a few minutes. I assume you agree with me on this, Lied¡± the Chains Man addressed Susumu and then looked at the Lost Prince seeking for his approval. ¡°Yeah¡± Lied nodded and said. This last battle did take a lot out of them, especially of Lied, who continuously consumed spiritual energy to make the Undas. ¡°¡­ And how do you expect to find clothes here?¡± Susumu asked the aztec the obvious question. ¡°I told you, didn¡¯t I? The possibilities of the spirit are infinite!¡± a playful smile crept across Zosimus¡¯ face within Susumu¡¯s soul as the Chains Man exclaimed. ¡°Could it be that you too¡­ with Plasticity¡­?¡± the Lost Prince questioned his companion¡¯s shadow. ¡°Yeah, an old friend taught me¡± the Chains Man replied. Zosimus magically sewed Susumu¡¯s new outfit using the Plasticity property, just like Zaccharias did for Lied. The Chains Man was very pleased by how his costume turned out and even Mare approved it as she stared intently at the young man, dressed casually in a blue coat, black pants and white boots. A different but equally sensual style. ¡°Yes, you really don¡¯t lose to Lied, Susu!¡± the lass said, her eyes sparkled as she gave him a curious stare. ¡°It suits you well¡± the couturier Zosimus commented on his outfit. Lied let out a sigh of exasperation; for the teenager, clothes didn¡¯t have to be pretty, just practical, as there was also no one he wanted to impress. ?????? Lied, Susumu and Mare kept on walking after they took a rest. The group¡¯s destination was, evidently, the battlefield on which Zaccharias was fighting. They felt the slow approach of three powerful Spirit Mode users while wending their way towards the center of the commotion, meaning that confrontation was inevitable. Two of them were Pantera and Blasius, the Level -5 prisoners who managed to escape the pursuit of Chalmecacihuilt and Cihuacoatl, the Guardians of the Underworld. ¡°Look who we have here ¨C the sensations of Mictlan!¡± Pantera said to them in an ironic tone. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see the human police officer either. So you¡¯re friends?¡± Blasius asked a rhetorical question with a sly smile. ¡°You are¡­¡± Susumu said and activated his Spirit Mode right off the bat. ¡°¡­Pantera!¡± Lied blurted out as he was also enveloped by his spiritual aura. The cautious prince controlled his emotions and did not simply engage the enemy in a temper as he might have done in the past. Lied gave Mare the signal to keep a safe distance from them. The little girl nodded and backed away. Then, he summoned the Anima Sancta and waited with the sword in his hand for the hunter to make the first move. Pantera made a grimace of wry amusement. ¡°Heh, I never hunt the same prey. Instead of me, why don¡¯t you play with him?¡± the hunter said as the third, green hooded prisoner came forth. Lied and Susumu were surprised when the mysterious individual took off his hood, revealing a hideous appearance ¨C brown hair, snake scales were seen all over his body, from head to toe, his dark green eyes matching the robe. Despite looking older because of his skin, he was actually a young man the same age as Lied, about the same height too. ¡°What the hell?!¡± Lied said as the sight of the hooded man¡¯s body filled him with disgust. ¡°Normally he¡¯s quite reserved, but that changed when he saw you, little prince. Now we even call him ¡®Mad Snake¡¯!¡± Pantera introduced him, he noticed a resemblance between the prince and the freaky prisoner. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°His eyes¡­¡± Lied thought, feeling the same vibes from him which the Adam¡¯s Heir felt when he confronted Martyr, as if he was seeing himself in a mirror. ¡°Watch out, Lied!¡± Susumu shouted as his partner was spacing out, but it was too late. The boy was deeply immersed in his thoughts and didn¡¯t notice the enemy coming for him; the prisoner activated his Spirit Mode as a dark green aura enclosed him, then he summoned a spiritual snake reaching up to ten meters in length that violently squeezed Lied in midair with disconcerting speed. ¡°DEEVOOOUUR!¡± the Mad Snake uttered a bellow of rage as he was completely nuts, living up to his nickname. ¡°This guy controls snakes?!¡± Lied thought as he was having trouble breathing and struggling to break free from the constriction. Susumu aimed the Progressus Justitiae at the snake coiling itself around his companion¡¯s neck. The bullet ended up hitting another projectile that was fired at the time; the detective fixed his gaze on Blasius, who was surrounded by a brown aura and wielded a revolver. Meanwhile, Lied was able to save himself from choking to death by slicing the reptile with his blade. He joined the detective. ¡°Do you have business with me?¡± Susumu questioned the inmate. ¡°Fufufu¡­ by the way, I haven¡¯t introduced myself yet, have I? My name is Blasius Rannulfus. I used to be a cop like you¡± he said. ¡°An aztec police officer? But if you¡¯re imprisoned here, that means¡­¡± the human detective said. ¡°Sagacious. No wonder you¡¯re working for the police, despite being so young. Yes, it¡¯s evident that I committed a sin. Can you blame me? Everyone wants to move up the career ladder and given that the justice system is a fragile one, many will try to take advantage of it¡­¡± Blasius smirked and said. ¡°You corrupt weasel!¡± the irate Susumu called him out on it. ¡°When I was caught with my pants down, I had no other choice but to shed a little blood. They got me in the end and I was sentenced to prison¡± the sinner said. ¡°You killed your colleagues?!¡± the blue-haired lad concluded in a scandalized tone. Lied, who was following the conversation, looked at Blasius for a moment. The teenager remembered the backstory of one of the spirits with whom he went through the trials: ¡°I died while pursuing a fellow police officer who was engaging in acts of corruption. That man was a Spirit Mode user and my unit wasn¡¯t prepared.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard this story before. Was one of them a man named Eduardus?¡± Lied asked the sinner as he thought their stories matched up. ¡°Ah, you met him? It¡¯s a shame¡­ he would have lived if only he had stopped prying into my business¡± Blasius said. Susumu merely stared at the ground. The boy gripped his pistol firmly and raised his head. Both Zosimus and Lied could feel his aura getting bigger as he was guided by raw emotions, though not to the extent of losing control of himself. ¡°Lied, leave this one to me¡± the detective said earnestly. Words weren¡¯t necessary. The Adam¡¯s Heir respected his mate¡¯s wishes and nodded affirmatively. Then, Lied focused on his opponent and prepared for combat. The Mad Snake¡¯s insatiable bloodlust was unleashed as he charged at him. ¡°DEVOOOOOUUUUUR!¡± the inmate screamed wildly, as if blowing the whistle to start the duels. Lied faced the Mad Snake at one side of the floor, while Susumu went head-to-head against Blasius at the other. In the first fight, the snake carelessly engaged with the Lost Prince in hand to hand combat and the Adam¡¯s Heir took advantage of the prisoner¡¯s poor judgment to show his superiority in physical confrontation. Lied started the fight off on the right foot and came within a hair¡¯s breadth of hitting him with a 4-Kai Unda. Meanwhile, Lied noticed that his opponent was using the spiritual properties, namely Visibility and Sensitivity, thus a fierce fight between the two young men began as Pantera watched it with special interest. Lied and the Mad Snake temporarily fell back after a lengthy exchange of blows to assess the situation. The black-haired lad was finding it hard to dodge the snakes remotely controlled by its user. Lied knew he could die if he let his guard down. ¡°He¡¯s strong¡­¡± the prince gritted his teeth and said in a low voice. ¡°D-DEVOOOUUUR!¡± the snake let out a loud screech as he, too, was struggling. In the second duel, Susumu was exchanging gunfire with Blasius, the former aztec cop wielded his revolver as he demonstrated his sharpshooting, not losing to the human when it comes to firearm proficiency. Zosimus wasn¡¯t helping him with his chains at Susumu¡¯s own request; the teenager was unwavering in his convictions as he had to fight alone and prove Blasius wrong without a third party intervening, in the name of justice and standing for his principles. ¡°Justice will steer my spirit to victory!¡± the young man declared and fired several shots. ¡°What a joke¡± Blasius taunted Susumu and dodged the bullets coming towards him. Attention once again focused on the Lost Prince and the Mad Snake as their fight remained even, neither of them were getting the better of each other. The prisoner pressured Lied with his snakes, as for the human he used the Anima Sancta to reduce the duel to close range combat, where Lied had an advantage over the enemy. The Mad Snake started shaking from pain and put his hand on his scale-covered forehead as he felt a sudden headache that brought him to his knees. Lied found his behavior odd as he didn¡¯t do anything. The sinner seemed to be trying to recover his sanity, and to do so he had to overcome the madness that repressed his conscience. ¡°L-Lied¡­¡± the Mad Snake stuttered as he murmured his name. ¡°What?¡± the Lost Prince, perplexed by the current situation, said. ¡°Lied¡­!¡± the inmate called him again. ¡°Who are you?!¡± Lied asked as he was visibly agitated. The snake shot out at great speed towards the Adam¡¯s Heir as he caught Lied flat-footed and headbutted him, knocking them both off balance. It was at this moment that their spirits connected to each other, resonating powerfully with their inner being as remote memories awoken. ?????? Ganeden, Regenbogen Orphanage, eight years ago Little Lied sat alone in his corner, as usual. He was approached multiple times by three other orphaned children ¨C two boys named Hitoshi and Kenta, and a girl named Aki ¨C but Lied always ignored them. In one of these situations, the lass asked him if he wanted to play with them, however, the Adam¡¯s Heir hung pale-faced and indifferent until the end. This was the finale of a familiar memory, like a lever that you have to pull in order to move on. ¡°Hey, she¡¯s talking to you¡± Hitoshi said and grabbed the unresponsive Lied by the collar ¡°Pull yourself together. I know you lost your memories, but we all lost important things too. Aki lost her parents in an accident and Kenta was left without his mom who died of illness, yet they didn¡¯t give up on life. You¡¯re not the only one suffering and you don¡¯t need to suffer in silence!¡± he exclaimed. Lied wanted to reply, to say the things he truly feels, but at that time his heart was still tied with locks. Hitoshi dropped Lied and turned his back on him. ¡°Enough. Let¡¯s go, guys¡± the boy said coldly and walked off in a huff as his friends were speechless. ¡°Wait, Hito!¡± Aki called his name and went after him. ¡°H-Hito¡­¡± Kenta said softly and followed them. The group led by Hitoshi skedaddled and never returned. Hito was later adopted by the Yasahiro family; now, his name was Hitoshi Yasahiro. ?????? Lied and the Mad Snake distanced themselves from each other after their brutal and painful head clash. Blood oozed from the wound on the prince¡¯s forehead, the red liquid fell to the black pavement and the devouring darkness of Mictlan absorbed it. ¡°Why? Why are you here¡­ Hito?!¡± Lied gazed bewildered at the snake. [END OF CHAPTER] Lie 37 – The Tale of Hitoshi This is a story that goes back to a time when the fruits of chaos are still being formed, the cruel fates yet to be revealed. In another volume of his journey through the Underworld, the ¡°Adam¡¯s Heir¡± will fight memorable battles and meet people who might have the answers he is looking for. Origins, convictions, and duties. Everything will be put to the test once more. Memories of the past led Lied to uncover the identity of the Mad Snake: it was Hitoshi Yasahiro, an orphan who lived in the same orphanage as the Adam¡¯s Heir. ¡°¡¯Hito¡¯¡­¡± the prisoner mumbled. ¡°What happened to you?¡± the prince asked him. ¡°D-DEVOOOUUUR!¡± Hitoshi tried to think logically, but his subconscious quickly took over his mind. From a distance a swarm of snakes assaulted Lied as the Lost Prince found himself backed up against the wall, his limbs immobilized. Hitoshi was closing in on the prince in order to finish him off when the latter used the Expandability property and released the accumulation of prana of his body, thus destroying the snakes with an explosion just like in the second trial. The Mad Snake didn¡¯t want to let his prey escape and threw a punch that Lied blocked with the blade of the Anime Sancta. There was a power struggle between them. ¡°Stop! I don¡¯t want to fight you!!¡± the Adam¡¯s Heir appealed to him to pack it all in, but to no avail. ¡°RAAAAAH!¡± the snake roared. In the other fight that was happening simultaneously, Susumu and Blasius were dueling with their spiritual firearms. A true spectacle featuring two officers whose proficiency in this category of weapons was well above average. ¡°By defeating me, you intend to prove the legitimacy of your principles. However, such a ¡®noble¡¯ stance is nothing but a mirror image of your own arrogance¡± Blasius said assertively after a pause. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Susumu asked Blasius to explain himself. ¡°You see, more than proving those ideals of yours, you try to force them on others, rejecting different views and assuming your view is the only right one. That¡¯s exactly what you are doing right now¡± the former cop said. ¡°You¡¯re wrong!¡± the young man shouted. ¡°In that case, allow me to ask: what is ¡®justice¡¯?¡± the prisoner asked him. ¡°The meaning of justice¡­? It¡¯s obviously about doing the right thing, acting in accordance with the law¡± the teenager gave him an answer straight out of a textbook. ¡°Hypocrite, that¡¯s nothing more than your opinion, the meaning may vary from person to person. If the justice you defend is a practice that rejects freedom of speech, then you are what you despise, a corrupt narcissist, wrapped up in the bubble that is the human ego!¡± Blasius said vehemently as he didn¡¯t spare the words. ¡°Fallacies!! I am righteous!¡± the detective refuted the accusation raised against him as he was beginning to lose his mind. ¡°Ah, the harbinger of judgement, responsible for deciding what is right and what is wrong. Who do you think you are? God?!¡± the prisoner retorted with a strong argument. ¡°No, that¡¯s just¡­ my duty¡­¡± Susumu said in a low voice, without conviction. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to waste on pseudo vigilants¡± the inmate took a step forward and said. Blasius¡¯ words had the desired effect on Susumu as he went through a mental breakdown. The boy got closer to the man with the Progressus Justitiae in hand. ¡°You killed your own comrades! There¡¯s no way that¡¯s JUSTICE!!¡± the detective bellowed. ¡°I have never considered them my ¡®comrades¡¯¡± the aztec corrected him, unapologetic. ¡°You scum¡­!¡± the teenager had reached his saturation point as reason and an insurmountable anger conjugated. Seeing as how Susumu snapped at the enemy in the midst of the fight and fell for provocation, Zosimus concluded that defeat was imminent and thought about offering him his help. ¡°Stay out of it, Zosimus! This fight¡­ is MINE!!¡± the lad shook his head and promptly refused his assistance, for he wanted to prove his righteousness without relying on others. ¡°Susumu¡­¡± the Chains Man said quietly, sounding slightly surprised. The member of the old Illuminati understood that he couldn¡¯t talk him out of fighting alone and decided to leave everything in fate¡¯s hands. Meanwhile, Lied was dealing with the dilemma of either facing Hitoshi or toughing it out until he loses his stamina. The prince used his blade as a shield to block the hasty opponent¡¯s attacks. ¡°That¡¯s enough! Open your eyes, Hito!¡± Lied beseeched him to stop as he refused to fight back. ¡°L-Lied¡± the Mad Snake restored his conscience for a fraction of seconds and said. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me, Lied, from the Regenbogen orphanage!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°Lied¡­ AAAAAAAAAAH!!¡± the prisoner said before being plagued by headaches. The Mad Snake embraced his instincts again and was able to overcome the Adam¡¯s Heir defense. Lied dropped the Anima Sancta as it laid on the ground before fading away, leaving its wielder unshielded. Nevertheless, the Lost Prince managed to parry Hitoshi¡¯s punch with his fist. Their clash then sent them on a new and longer trip to the past, with Hitoshi Yasahiro as its protagonist. ?????? I¡¯m Hitoshi. Or at least that was the name on my citizen card when the social workers found me on the street, hungry and thirsty, abandoned by parents whose faces I have trouble remembering, at the age of four. For someone like me, without a home to return to, Regenbogen was a miracle of God. I considered myself to be a fortunate person as I couldn¡¯t have asked for a better family. All my ¡®brothers¡¯ thought the same thing¡­ except him. I¡¯m talking about Lied, an orphan of the same age as me. Even though we came from similar backgrounds, Lied always acted as if he had suffered more than any of us. In the orphanage they said he was like that because he lost his memories, but I still hated him. It was only for four years, but the time I spent with my brothers and friends, especially Aki and Kenta, was something I wouldn¡¯t trade for anything in this world. At the age of eight, I was adopted by the Yasahiro family. They were wonderful people, a new life awaited me. Unfortunately, the same fate that gave me so much robbed me of that opportunity. ?????? Aqua, Boverum, eight years ago Hitoshi woke up hours later, after someone or something sneakily abducted him while the child took a stroll with his parents. The kid felt like he was in someone else¡¯s torso as his arms were entirely covered with snake scales, but it was effectively his body, just genetically modified. Hitoshi looked around, he was mounted inside a cryogenic chamber, a tube-shaped device that the boy saw many times in sci-fi movies. In front of him stood a man in his mid-30s wearing a lab coat, with blue eyes and slicked-back brown hair, and next to this apparent scientist was a green hooded youth, a little older than Hitoshi. ¡°The spirit is chained to the body by the perispirit, and the pineal gland is the valve that binds them together. Must the original image of the vessel be preserved for a successful reconstruction? Or would it be possible to¡­?¡± the scientist maundered on endlessly as he wandered around the lab. ¡°Who are these people?¡± the child thought as he blinked in confusion. The man was visibly busy as he rummaged through the experimental reports spread out on a table. The green hooded lad looked at Hitoshi coldly as his chilling, snake eyes sent a shiver down the human¡¯s spine. The scientist realized that his experiment was awake. ¡°Oh good, you¡¯re awake. Human boy, from now on you will be called ¡®Experiment Zero Five¡¯. Welcome¡­ to the snakes¡¯ nest¡° the scientist stretched his arms wide and greeted him with a smile. Two green hooded men ¡ª one in his 30s and the other a teenager ¡ª and a young adult woman also wearing a hood entered the lab; it was almost as if they had agreed to appear at that particular point in time. The three of them took off their hoods: they shared a common phenotype, the dark green eyes, while their hair was of a different color. ¡°The pigs are dead, I devoured them ??¡± the light brown-haired woman, with a crooked canine tooth and wearing a neckband, was singing with rapture. ¡°We have returned, Doctor Anastius¡± the older, bulky man with dark gray hairdo and an intellectual air announced as he looked at the scientist. ¡°The three of us were supposed to kill one target each, but that whore Anguis had to go and steal my prey¡± the black-haired, olive-skinned teen wearing earrings lashed out at the woman as he was hopping mad. ¡°Kakaka, you were too slow and I couldn¡¯t let them escape¡± Anguis said in a provocative tone. ¡°You b*tch¡­ I swear, one day I¡¯m going to devour you¡± the lad responded with an apparent threat, the demon inside him woke up as the pupil in his eyes turned fiendish for a moment. ¡°Calm down, Naga. Mm, all that matters is that we completed our mission¡± the oldest man had a pedagogical philosophy as he hoped to nurture the younger fellow. The teen called Naga was surrounded by a tenebrous dark green aura as he turned to his much taller companion and loomed over him. But the man didn¡¯t even blink; his essence, too, was known as that of a snake. ¡°Lexus, how many times have I told you to stop talking to me like you¡¯re my superior? Just because you¡¯re the oldest among us doesn¡¯t mean sh*t, you ain¡¯t in charge of anything here. I was the first to join the cult, so don¡¯t order me around again, you f*cker¡± Naga answered in an angry way as he hurled obscenities at his colleague. The group continued to argue among themselves as it turned into a ding-dong. Hitoshi watched, confused and terrified. If this was a nightmare, he just wanted to wake up from it. ?????? Aqua, Boverum, two years later At some point, living inside the container in the laboratory, Hitoshi lost track of time. He was fighting the Talking Serpent¡¯s influence on his body as the invasive cells transplanted into him shaped his identity. In psychoanalysis, the little one¡¯s resistance was called ¡®repression¡¯, a defense mechanism that keeps unconscious material out of conscious awareness. His only hope was the police, but it seemed unlikely that they would find him. The child felt like he was living on the line between life and death in that freeze state. The cryogenic chamber suddenly opened and he fell to the ground. ¡°Congratulations, Zero Five. You¡¯ll finally see the light of day¡± the scientist named Anastius, who was always accompanied by the green hooded youth, said with a smile on his face and handed the human one of their coats. The three left the den of mischief. Hitoshi, dressing as one of them, was at last able to breathe fresh air. Wherever they were, judging by the forest encircling the hideout, it wasn¡¯t Ganeden. Hitoshi was taken to a grassy field near the lab. There, Anastius instructed the human and the hooded snake to stay 20 meters away from each other as he, too, moved to the sidelines. ¡°Go, Yarok¡± the gent stared at the hooded boy and said in a serious way. Yarok obeyed him and called upon his inner power as he was enveloped by a ghastly green aura not for the faint-hearted. A colossal spiritual snake sprouted from his back and targeted Hitoshi with the intention to kill. The reptile purposely missed its target and knocked down a tree instead. ¡°Eh¡­?¡± the kid said, perplexed by his current situation. ¡°If you want to survive, you will have to awaken the Spirit Mode¡± the smiling Anastius told Hitoshi. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. The hooded boy controlled multiple medium-sized snakes as they incessantly went after the human child. All Hitoshi did was run away from the predators; tears rolled down his cheeks as he longed for the nightmare to end. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die. I don¡¯t want to die. I don¡¯t want to die. Somebody¡­ somebody help me!¡± he thought desperately. ¡°In this tepid and factitious reality where the law of the strongest prevails, you either devour or you are devoured ¡ª that¡¯s the only way to go on living. There are those who embrace destiny and resign themselves to its inevitability, but they couldn¡¯t be more mistaken; even illusions can be devoured. Nachash, ¡®The Talking Serpent¡¯, is the living proof¡± the scientist said, gesturing with his hands as he spoke. Hitoshi tripped over a rock and found himself in serious trouble. He was gripped by fear, quaking in his boots, completely vulnerable on the ground. Yarok launched another swarm of snakes on him. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ want to be devoured!¡± the human kid thought right before being hit as he unleashed his wild instincts; the pupil in his eyes turned fiendish and he awakened the power of the spirit. Hitoshi was enveloped by the same dark green aura that enclosed Yarok¡¯s body, surprising both the hooded lad and Anastius. The kid instinctively created a shield made of snakes to protect himself from the attack. However, Yarok promptly deactivated his Spirit Mode and the reptiles that were targeting Hitoshi disappeared into spiritual particles. ¡°Once more, welcome to the Nachash Cult¡± the scientist walked up to the child, who was glancing over at the energy around his body, and said with satisfaction. ?????? Aqua, Boverum, one year later Hitoshi, more and more obedient and less independent, spent the last twelve months developing his Spirit Mode; his SSL had recently reached the 40% milestone. Anastius left Lexus, who already had educational experience through teaching, in charge of the youth¡¯s training sessions. At the present time, the initiate was doing physical exercises under the supervision of his personal trainer as he strictly followed the workout plan created by the latter. ¡°In order to use the Spirit Mode to its full potential, the body and the spirit must be at the same level. In other words, you need to gain muscle mass. Mm, without muscles you won¡¯t devour anyone¡± Lexus said as he stood with his arms crossed. ?????? Aqua, Boverum, four years later Hitoshi gradually began to get involved in the operations of the Nachash Cult, namely participating in assassinations where he accompanied Anguis or Naga, as his control over his ability improved. The targets of the cult were usually prominent figures in aztec society such as nobles and big bourgeoisie. For the completely submissive and emotionless youth, taking someone¡¯s life became an almost daily occurrence. He had lost all sense of humanity. Anastius and Lexus were at the hideout discussing Hitoshi¡¯s progress in his training, shortly after the Experiment 05 returned from one of their missions. There was only Yarok listening. ¡°It¡¯s been five years since Experiment Zero Five awakened the Spirit Mode and yet he hasn¡¯t even passed the sixty percent SSL mark. The worst thing is that the Fourth Stage seems to be the limit of his evolution¡± the scientist said. ¡°Mm, physically speaking, the child also fell short of expectations. I¡¯m afraid he won¡¯t be useful to us in the future¡± the muscular man said. ¡°What a fiasco¡­ I will never experiment on humans again!¡± Anastius cried out in anger as he was outraged by the results of his efforts. ?????? Aqua, Boverum, one year later Hitoshi hadn¡¯t celebrated his birthdays since the day he was kidnapped, but he still knew he was about to turn 16. Eight years had passed since he last saw his parents, Aki, Kenta and Lied, who kept coming to his mind for some reason. The Nachash Cult gathered at the hideout today for an extraordinary meeting of sorts. Hitoshi and Yarok listened quietly while Anastius, Lexus, Anguis and Naga talked among themselves for 30 minutes about topics that the human child didn¡¯t fully understand. The mention of Lied¡¯s name several times caught his attention though. Hitoshi felt his conscience clear enough to connect some dots as he uncovered the truth behind the organization and how his fellow orphan was caught up in the midst of it all. ?????? Aqua, Duxis, just before Hitoshi went to the Underworld The Nachash Cult¡¯s assassination target for today was the Wegelius family, middle-ranking nobles trying to rise through the ranks of the aztec hierarchy. Almost all members of the cult were summoned for this mission, even Anastius was present. The reason for this particular gathering was because they were planning to test Hitoshi¡¯s abilities for one last time and ascertain whether or not the human would be useful to the Talking Serpent Cult hereafter. The group was in the vicinity of the Wegelius mansion, hiding in the bushes. ¡°Yep, there¡¯s nothing more fun than massacres¡± Naga said excitedly and glared at Anguis ¡°Don¡¯t get in my way or you¡¯re f*cked, you lunatic b*tch¡± the lad threatened her. ¡°Kakaka, provided that you don¡¯t turn into a crystal like ten years ago, when we had to save your ass!¡± Anguis laughed, referring to the attack on the Eve Cult. ¡°Grr¡­¡± Naga gritted his teeth as he remembered bad memories. ¡°Go¡± Anastius made a hand signal at Naga, Anguis and Hitoshi, then the three of them burst into the residence as the scientist, Lexus and Yarok stayed behind. That was when a military squad set up a perimeter around the house and blocked their way. Among the soldiers were some 2nd, 3rd and 4th Stage Spirit Mode users wielding macuahuitl swords imbued with spiritual energy, and commanding them was a sixty-something knight wearing an attire with an eagle badge. Apparently the army was expecting their attack. ¡°Kakakakaka, more piggies popped up!¡± Anguis said, feeling elated, and stopped on her tracks as she was enveloped by a dark green prana, then licked her lips. ¡°Your terror ends here, Talking Serpent Cult¡± the veteran knight said and activated his Spirit Mode as a powerful salmon pink aura enfolded him, then he drew a labrys ¡ª a double-bitted axe ¡ª from his back, imbuing it with prana. ¡°No, it has barely started¡± Naga slowed down his pace as he took a moment to assess the situation, then he smiled before his body was surrounded by a ridiculous amount of dark green spiritual energy ¡°Or do you REALLY think I¡¯m gonna pack up just because of a dozen bugs and a geezer? Yahaha!¡± he shrieked with laughter and summoned exactly thirty snakes that danced above him. ¡°Settle down, Snake Boy¡± the captain said and slammed his axe down as he increased the gravity of the area around Naga and Anguis, Full Spirit Mode users like him, causing them to be immobilized. Anastius was feeling apprehensive in the bushes behind them, overwhelmed by the current events as they clearly weren¡¯t in his plans for today. He gritted his teeth. ¡°Abort mission!¡± the scientist communicated telepathically with Naga using the Penetrability property. ¡°Ab¡­? Are you telling me to run away from these weaklings?!¡± the young man sent a telepathic message to him. ¡°We can¡¯t let them trace the location of our hideout, so shut up and do as I say!!¡± Anastius said as he was behaving like a cat on a hot tin roof. In the midst of chaos, the front door of the mansion opened as a well-dressed, 8-year-old little lass holding a doll came out of the house. Apparently she had forgotten her toy in her room and headed back home to retrieve it, even though the residents were told to evacuate. ¡°There was still someone inside?!¡± one of the soldiers asked rhetorically. Naga, unable to move because of the knight¡¯s ability, stole a glance at the girl and then glared at Hitoshi, the only one who wasn¡¯t conditioned by the increased gravity. The teenager couldn¡¯t help but shiver when their eyes met. ¡°We ain¡¯t leaving empty-handed. Devour her!¡± Naga told Hitoshi. The human followed his companion¡¯s order as he activated the Spirit Mode and rushed towards the bewildered lass at high speed. ¡°Captain Firminus!¡± one of the 4th Stage Spirit Mode users shouted as he was waiting for instructions from his superior. ¡°I¡¯ll leave that one with you¡± the knight named Firminus turned to the soldier and said. The entire patrol nodded and wasted no time in forming a circle around the girl, with the two 4th Stage users standing in front of this defensive formation. ¡°You¡¯re not getting past us, you scoundrel!!¡± one of them screamed at Hitoshi. ¡°DEVOOOOOUUUUUR!¡± the Experiment 05 growled and uttered his battle cry as he faced his enemies head-on. The 4th Stage users skillfully wielded their macuahuitl and were about equal to Hitoshi in terms of spiritual strength. Nevertheless, the Cult of Nachash member made good use of his versatile Spirit Mode by summoning two snakes that cleverly wrapped their long bodies around the soldiers¡¯ obsidian blades in midair, thereby rendering them useless. The Experiment 05 then kicked the men as they were sent flying and hit the columns that supported the roof of the mansion, the majestic house shaking after the impact. ¡°O-Oh no¡­!¡± one of the soldiers lying on the ground said as he coughed up blood. Hitoshi immediately attacked the remaining soldiers as they were easily outgunned by his brute strength and sheer power. At last there was no one left to protect his target, defenseless and petrified in the face of the monster that was about to devour her. ¡°Save me¡­ mommy, daddy¡­¡± she said, trembling, and squeezed her stuffed animal into her chest. The predator held out his hand like a cat stretching out its paw and claws towards a toy ball. That was when Experiment 05 came to a halt, or rather, he was forced to cease his movements by the humanity within him, which was thought to have been lost. ¡°He stopped?¡± the soldier that was bleeding said in disbelief. ¡°What are you waiting for, you idiot?! Kill her!¡± Naga ordered him to strike her as he protested against Hitoshi¡¯s inaction. The human fought against himself as he resisted his primal instinct. And, finally, Hitoshi Yasahiro returned from the abyss of his soul. ¡°I have to, no, I WILL go back to Aki, Kenta and¡­ apologize to Lied!¡± he stared in a fierce way at Naga, his eyes a parable about faith, and said from the bottom of his heart. ¡°Son of a b*tch¡­¡± Naga said as he was in a towering rage over the junior¡¯s insubordination. The lass took advantage of the fact that the monster had a change of heart and ran away. A Wegelius butler came to get her in the meantime, and they were never seen again. The soldiers capable of standing surrounded Hitoshi, whose next move was anyone¡¯s guess, and watched him rush out of there like a cannonball as he entered the forest instead of attacking them. Naga was determined not to let him escape after the audacity with which he talked to his senior, and there was also Anastius¡¯ absolute order. ¡°Y¡¯all drive me crazy¡­¡± Naga said, getting his knickers in a twist, then clenched his fists as he remembered the Crystal Manipulation user from the Moon Cult who humiliated him ten years ago. ¡°Hm?¡± Firminus said, he was monitoring the situation on the ground when he heard his enemy talking to himself. ¡°I SWEAR I WILL DEVOUR THIS WHOLE SH*TTY WORLD, EVEN IF IT¡¯S THE LAST THING I DO!!¡± Naga cried out in a loud voice and literally exploded as he nullified the gravitational force acting on his body by releasing a tremendous amount of spiritual energy. ¡°What an aura¡­! He was hiding all this power?!¡± the captain thought as he felt overwhelmed by the intensity of the prana that his opponent was emanating from his body. Firminus had no choice but to retreat and create distance since Naga was a ticking timebomb that could not be defused. Nonetheless, the snake decided to withdraw from the area and pursue the traitor who had gone awol as he went into the forest. Anguis, too, could have broken out of the knight¡¯s gravitational field sooner if she wished, and that was what the woman did now. Anguis met up with the other members of the Nachash Cult who were hiding in the bushes and together they ran after Naga. No one dared chase them down as they knew their lives were spared by the alleged Talking Serpent worshippers. Hitoshi ran like there was no tomorrow. His mind was once cloudy and now he felt it free and clear. The teen¡¯s only wish was to see his friends again, among them Lied, to whom he owed an apology; at one time, Hitoshi thought that pain could not be relativized and accused him of playing the victim, but he was wrong, Lied¡¯s suffering was truly unmatched. If the Nachash Cult were to achieve their goal, there would be no future for the Lost Prince. He needed to warn him of impending danger. Lied mustn¡¯t cross paths with Nachash, ¡®The Talking Serpent¡¯, or any of his followers, no matter the cost. ¡°They¡¯re here!¡± Experiment 05 looked back and thought as he felt Naga and the others closing on him. Hitoshi quickened his pace and summoned a large snake that knocked down the trees standing before him, in order to buy time. If this world and his hometown were connected like he read in Anastius¡¯ books, then the passage they crossed to enter Aqua must be somewhere. It would make sense for the portal to be in Boverum since that was where the Nachash Cult operated, but then again he was still a few miles away. Naga kept sweeping away the tree trunks flying in his direction as they were separated by just a few meters. The others caught up with him as he wasn¡¯t running at full speed. The same could actually be said of Anguis, Anastius, Lexus and Yarok. ¡°Hey, Anastius, your guinea pig has gone crazy, kakaka!¡± Anguis said as she was amused by the sudden turn of events. ¡°Mm, it¡¯s always sad to see a student stray from his path¡± Lexus groaned as he shed a tear. ¡°Tch, I should have gotten rid of him five years ago¡± Anastius grumbled. ¡°I can devour the punk, right?¡± Naga asked. ¡°Yes, do it fast before¡­¡± the scientist said, but he didn¡¯t finish his sentence. All members of the Nachash Cult felt the presence of the Superior looming in the distance at the same time. Hitoshi was the only one unable to sense the coming of terror incarnate, due to the fact that his Sensitivity wasn¡¯t at the same level as his former colleagues. ¡°Good, looks like they stopped following me. I have to take this chance to¡­¡± a bleak aura that gave the teenager the willies interrupted his thoughts as it was already too close to him. Hitoshi¡¯s eyes widened as he stared in shock at the green hooded figure, slightly taller and older than him, that walked towards Experiment 05. The young man had gone completely white and was shaking like a leaf, as if he were in the presence of Death. It was a similar feeling to when he fought Yarok, but the depths of this fear were unbounded. ¡°L-L-Lord Nachash!¡± Anastius said as the thought of being reprimanded by him for his failure made his hair stand on end. Yarok watched the leader of the organization with special interest. In the meantime, Nachash summoned a mystical sword adorned with snakes coiled around it, holding the blade in his right hand. The Talking Serpent raised his weapon. Hitoshi stood there motionless as he felt overpowered by fear. His soul had been shattered into a thousand pieces. ¡°You are not worthy of that power¡± Nachash said with contempt and cut him down in a single blow. ?????? The two boys returned to the present moment after their immersive experience of the past. Lied was shocked by what he saw, and as for Hitoshi, he had fully regained consciousness, albeit temporarily. ¡°Hito¡­ you¡­¡± Lied said, stunned. ¡°It was as you saw in my memories. I was kidnapped¡± the Mad Snake lowered his head and said. ¡°Did you not get adopted?¡± the Lost Prince asked him a question as he looked to learn more about Hitoshi¡¯s past. ¡°Yes, but what happened after that was something the orphanage could never tell you guys¡± Hitoshi said as sadness clouded his face. ¡°It¡¯s true that they kinda left us in the dark. Aki and Kenta missed you a lot. I heard they were adopted shortly after me¡± Lied told him. ¡°I see¡­ I hope they¡¯re doing we- AAAAAAAH!¡± all of a sudden, Experiment 05 screamed as his subconscious mind took over, an immense and uncontrollable wrath dragged him to the very edge of darkness. ¡°Hito!¡± the Adam¡¯s Heir exclaimed as he was worried about him. ¡°R-Run, Lied. I don¡¯t¡­ want to¡­ hurt my friend¡­¡± the Mad Snake stuttered and then went back to his savage mode. ¡®Friend¡¯ ¡ª it was the first time someone called him that. Despite the way Lied treated the other kids at the time, Hitoshi still considered him a friend and a brother, that was how he felt towards all the orphans from the Regenbogen orphanage. The prince clenched his fists and raised his head as he was overflowing with determination. ¡°Thank you. Just as you never gave up on me, I won¡¯t give up on you either¡± Lied said and assumed a fighting stance. The Mad Snake right off the bat looked to hinder his mobility as he opted for long and mid-range combat wherein Hitoshi had the advantage over the prince, due to the snakes that he was remotely controlling. Lied was inevitably forced to defend himself against his attacks. As the fight dragged on, the Lost Prince concluded that he needed to turn things around as quickly as possible if he wanted to have any chance of winning. Lied took a deep breath in and let it out, then he started using Sensitivity to predict the snakes¡¯ trajectory and Visibility to dodge them, so as to get closer to Hitoshi. ¡°I can see them. The attack pattern isn¡¯t unreadable. On the contrary, I¡¯m able to completely read their movements, as if they were familiar¡± the Adam¡¯s Heir thought as he read the reptiles¡¯ movements. Lied anticipated five snakes that were on the way at high speed exemplarily, and simply dodged them. The Mad Snake launched ten other reptiles thereafter, but the prince flipped away from the foe¡¯s attack by performing a flashy acrobatic leap. The continued use of the properties wore Lied out as he had gone through something similar during the first trial. Notwithstanding, nothing would stop him from approaching Experiment 05 and throwing an emotional punch to his face interspersed with scales. Lied¡¯s mind was filled with dozens of memories from his childhood spent in the orphanage, like a cinematic work. In all of those memories, Hitoshi tirelessly encouraged him to carry on living. ¡°I will save you¡­ FROM YOUR SUFFERING!¡± the Lost Prince said as his fist met the Mad Snake¡¯s mug. Meanwhile, Susumu was determined to end his fight as the bout with Blasius reached a stalemate. The former cop, however, was very calm and not feeling the pressure. ¡°Please tell me that¡¯s not all you¡¯ve got¡± the sinner said ironically. ¡°The next bullet¡­ will be the last¡± Susumu pointed the Progressus Justitiae at him and stated. [END OF CHAPTER]