“A large crystal… with a teenage girl inside…? What… is this…?” Everyone else stands in awe—Surprised by this sudden mystery. “Elisabeth… is that… you?” The crystal starts cracking. The cracks split the crystal into two and Elisabeth falls. I jump forward and catch her in my arms. This girl resembles Elisabeth. But she is not the child version or the adult version. Elisabeth opens her eyes. Blue, like both Elisabeths “Haruki…” she says. Her voice is like both Elisabeths'. “You finally saved me,” she says placing her hand on my cheek. “Are you… Elisabeth?” She nods her head. “Hey, Haruki, what’s going on?” asks Ivy, confused. I explain everything to them. “So, in this dream,” asks Selina, “a young Elisabeth was helping you out. But the evil Elisabeth was the one that had been terrorizing us. And you say this is also an Elisabeth? But not quite the same as either Elisabeths'?
“And that’s my story. Do you have any questions?” she asks, looking in my direction. Questions? I have wheelbarrows full. However… “The evil Elisabeth is coming. I can feel her presence getting closer,” I say. I look at Elisabeth and continue, “We will leave the questioning for after we reign victorious.” She smiles innocently. “So, do you have any idea how we can defeat the evil Elisabeth?” I ask her. “Well, she sealed most of my mana. I can’t do powerful spells to defend against her attacks. However, I have enough mana to protect your minds against Memory Magic.” “Protect our minds?” asks Selina. “Yes. Do you all know how to coat yourselves in mana?” she asks us. “Yes,” I say. “By concentrating, you can wrap your body in a layer of mana. This is called Mana Coat. Depending on the thickness of the coat, it can protect you from most mana attacks. However, physical attacks have a chance of seeping through if your mana coat is not properly applied.” “Yes, a mana coat can protect
East of the Monastery “So, why did you choose to fight me, Selina?” “What a stupid question. Jinx, you know I could never defeat Yukio and Emihiko, let alone Doll. Plus, I chose you because I know we cannot fight each other, or have you forgotten, Jinx?” “…” ************** Inside the Monastery We have been walking for a while. It’s awkward. “Hey, do you think…?” I turn around only to see the girl charging me with a knee to the face. I move my hand to catch her knee, but she pulls back, drops to the ground, and kicks my spleen. “GAHH!!!” I’m sent flying into a wall, spewing blood. This girl… is dangerous. Her kick felt like it pierced through my skin. My spleen feels heavily damaged, and I also have a few broken ribs. If I don’t treat this soon, I could end up dying. The girl walks closer to me. Her footsteps crack the ground beneath us. Is this girl even human? Despite her cute appearance she has strength equalling a dragon’s. I don’t know any race with such a feat of physic
“So, you have time to chat with your friends during our duel? How very rude of you.” “I see you’re not worried, despite every one of your servants being defeated.” “Well, I was never expecting much from that group of idiots. “ “Idiots?” “Yes, they were idiots. One was obsessed with me, two were just needy children and the other one was a titanic pain in the ass—pun intended.” “Guess someone is getting the award for boss of the year. You pay such close attention to those serving you.” “Not just those who serve me. I make it my hobby to know everything about everyone. However, knowing everything comes with its negatives as well. I’d like to tell you more about it, but it seems both of us are tired of speaking.” “Yes. Let’s converse through our fists.” As I was fighting against Elisabeth, I realised something. She is using magic other than Memory Magic. She has been using fire, water, and even rare magic like Spatial Magic. If I remember correctly, Elisabeth said something. What w
After defeating the evil Elisabeth, the citizens of Glabaskhan threw a huge banquet to celebrate their freedom and their saviours. Unfortunately, we, the guests of honour, could not attend the banquet. We had to disembark to the Sakura Kingdom and discuss future plans for Grand Order. "Hey, Haruki..." And we also need to appoint a new cross to take Louisa's place. "Hey, Haruki..." There is also the issue of... "HEY, HARUKI!!!" "Are you crazy!!!" I say covering my ears. "I can't help it, I'm bored." Elisabeth has been bored since we boarded the train. Unfortunately for her, we still have another two days until we reach the Sakura Kingdom. "Hey, why don't I just ride you?" she asks. "Ride… me? What do you mean?" I ask, flustered. "I mean hitch a ride in your dragon form," she says tilting her head in confusion. After thinking for a few seconds, she smirks and says cunningly, "What do you think I meant?" "N-nothing," I say, embarrassed. I’ve become overly self-conscious of El
"Welcome to my Kingdom," says the princess as she appears from behind the large castle doors. The blue lightning streak highlight in her midnight hair catches my attention. I feel like I've seen her before."I see we have more guests. Do not fret, we have enough room in the castle to house more partners. However, as the princess of the Sakura Kingdom, I have the duty to know who I am letting into the castle," she says as she stares into my eyes. Everyone, aside from me and Elisabeth, shudder. She has the presence of a monarch as she stands towered above us. This commanding presence reminds me of someone.Elisabeth steps forward. The princess loosens her sight on the others, easing their tenseness. "My name is Elisabeth Faith. Leader of the Illuminati.""What!? The Illuminati!?" asks Erika as she places her hand on her sword.Unlike Erika, the princess does not look fazed by Elisabeth's sudden revelation. Erika unsheathes her sword and attacks Elisabeth, but the princess calmly says, "E
"Elisabeth, how powerful is Leviathan exactly?"Elisabeth looks up as if she’s trying to remember her interactions with the creature. As everyone waits in anticipation, her head falls to the glass of tea in her hand. "I fought against a demon who held a 'Sin' once before," she says. “It was a close fight; however, the battle ended in my victory.”“Sin? What do you mean?""The demon realm is divided into the North, South, East and West regions. Each region is ruled by a Cardinal King.""Cardinal King? Like Abaddon?""Yes, Abaddon is the King of the East." She pauses for a while and asks, "Have you met him before?""Yes, after I was summoned here. Why do you ask?""Abaddon," she says, tightening her grip on the cup’s ear, "is not a demon you should fight. Neither are the other kings. Do you understand?"I've never seen Elisabeth this worried. “Understood.”“Good,” she says, relaxing her grip. “Then let’s continue. As I was saying, there are Four Cardinal Kings of Netherworld. Cardinal Ki
After entering the castle, we walk until we reach the room with a menacing aura inside. Rai stands in front of the door, her heart pounding. She takes a few deep breaths and raises her trembling hand. She knocks on the door thrice, saying, "Father, it's Rai." "Enter," says an old man's voice from inside the room. We enter, and I see the man seated in his bed. This is Rai's father? The King of the Sakura Kingdom. The last time I saw a King was when I was summoned here ten months ago. However, despite being past his prime, this man has a presence greater than Rai's. Similar to Raizo's. "Father, we have formed teams to search for and convince Leviathan to join our side." "Good,” he says with heavy breaths. “If we gain Leviathan's power, that man will not be much of a threat to us." "I will be joining the search party," demands Rai. "Are you still...?" "However," she interrupts, "before that, I have a friend who wants answers. He is a dragon named Haruki." "Haruki?" asks the old ma
After Haruki walked through the black door, we go back to Ragnarök, a year and ten months ago. "HARUKKII!!" Emygdius' voice roars throughout the forest, sending dragons and phoenixes flying in terror as Haruki disappears from Ragnarök. After getting blown away, he wastes no time returning to the spot where Haruki disappeared. He glares up to the sky, "Alvis!! Why did you stop me!?"Alvis Ragnarök appears from the bright evening sky, hovering. He raises his wooden staff and says, "Emygdius, you will stand down."Although frustrated, Emygdius has pledged his loyalty to Alvis, so he dares not disobey his orders. However, when Haruki is involved... "With all due respect, Alvis. Haruki is my only grandson, so I will not allow even you to stop me from rescuing him.""Emygdius, you already know, don't you? That boy is no one's child.""Shut up, Alvis. Don't say another word.""That boy is...""Alvis...""He is a false dragon.""SHUT UP!!!""Step down, Emygdius." Despite Alvis' warning, Emygdi
Brother? Who is—"Ah, I never introduced myself, did I? My name is Lucifer Morningstar. The second-born True God and your elder brother.""Elder... brother?""Yes. You were born from a portion of the True Gods' bodies. That makes you our youngest brother." He smiles at me and before I can say anything, he continues, "I would love to get to speak to this version of you longer but we have no time for chatter. You have been in Netherworld for about an hour, no?""I... I think so... yes.""Well, that's a problem.""How so?"Lucifer glares at Satan, "Did you not tell him?" Satan shudders as Lucifer's mana grows colder. He shakes his head. "Sigh, well, what's done is done.""What is it? Why do you have that grim look on your face?""Haruki, I don't want you to freak out.""What's going on?" My mana spikes as I lose control of my emotions. "What is it that you're not telling me?"Lucifer looks at me with a cautious stare. "Haruki, time runs differently in here than it does in Leagard. You ma
As I lie on the ground, exhausted, someone claps their hands. I lift my head to find someone dressed from head to toe in diamond knight's armour. He continues to clap his hands as I lift myself from the ground."What a wonderful spectacle," he says. "You outperformed Satan in quite a unique way." Deep inside the abyss of his mask, red eyes glare at Satan. "Do you yield, Satan?"The ice around Satan starts melting. After a few seconds, cracks appear in various spots around him and he breaks free from the spell. He looks at me and smiles, "Yes, I yield.""Good. Then, we can start making our way to the castle.""I'm sorry," I say, confused. "Who are you?"His eyes move to me. "I am The Greedy Mammon—one of the seven mortal sins.""I see..." I scan his body. From head to toe, he's covered in diamond. "Why—""Why am I covered head to toe in diamond armour, you ask?""Well, yes but—""No need to concern yourself with such measly worries. I wear this armour because it is the most expensive a
"His name is Lucifer Morningstar—the second-born True God. Mother crafted him from the darkness of the empty universe. The greatest evil, that was his purpose. But he defied this prophetic fate and became the kindest of the six True Gods—even kinder than his twin brother, Venus Nirvana, who was born from the universe's light. Mother was at a loss for words. She'd created him for the sole purpose of balancing the universe's good and evil, yet here he was, the most distinguished good. Though elder brother was the first True God to create a realm, it was none other than Lucifer who proposed the idea. He wanted the honour of the first realm created to be his elder brothers, thus Ragnarök was born. Following this creation, the other realms were created: Nirvana, Aerlogard, Dwargo, Gigante, and finally, Netherworld. Lucifer marvelled at his siblings' creations because the realms they created were abundant in mana and life, something he could not create. He, the presider of all darkness in t
"How about we test it out here, then?""What? Are you serious?"He laughs. "Your mana is flaring again. Are you that excited?"Ever since I became an Acceelos, I had this gnawing feeling... "Are you sure you want to do this?" I ask him."Are you getting cold feet now, Haruki?""Cold feet? Are you joking?"... of wanting to fight someone powerful. "I'm hyped."Satan walks a long distance from me. "Well then, I think it's only appropriate that I take a proper form when I face you, don't you think?""A proper form?"Satan's mana leaks from his body like smoke. Red streaks? Red streaks of smoke rise from his pale, raisin skin."This pruned form is what the picture books in Leagard paint me as. It was also easier to move around in Leagard in this form. But that is far from what my true form is."His... true form...His body suddenly exudes smoke in excess. The smoke swirls around his body in a vicious storm—masking his body and presence. After a few seconds, a hole in the smoke storm hisse
His name is Saint Lucifer Morningstar—the second born True God. ALL crafted him from the darkness of the empty universe. The greatest evil, that was his purpose. But he defied this prophetic fate and became the kindest of the six True Gods—even kinder than his twin brother, Saint Venus Nirvana, who was born from the universe's light. ALL was at a loss for words. She'd created him for the sole purpose of balancing the universe's good and evil, yet here he was, the most distinguished good.Though Saint Alvis Ragnarök was the first True God to create a realm, it was none other than Saint Lucifer who proposed the idea. He wanted the honour of the first realm created to be his elder brothers, thus Ragnarök was born. Following this creation, the other realms were created: Nirvana, Aerlogard, Dwargo, Gigante, and finally, Netherworld. Saint Lucifer marvelled at his siblings creations because the realms they created were abundant in mana and life, something he could not create. He, the preside
'This feeling of bliss… It’s nostalgic.''This is the Path—a bridge between the realms. It induces serenity within your mind to distract you from your body being ripped to shreds and formed anew.''R-ripped to shreds?'‘Yes. It’s a gruesome process but the Path was designed to put your mind at ease through the transportation.’‘Wait? Won’t I be rejected from Netherworld like I was in Leagard? Am I going to disappear?’'Calm down, Haruki. You won’t disappear. There are two types of Paths: Legal and Illegal. You were forcefully sent to Leagard through an Illegal Path, which didn’t allow your body’s genetic code to integrate into the realm's network. This is a Legal Path. This gory process is a means for the realm to identify and integrate our genetic code.''I-I see.'Despite being ripped to shreds and restructured, Satan was right, I didn’t feel any pain or discomfort. The process went by in a flash. One second all I saw was an array of purple hues streaming before my eyes, the next I
This is Leviathan? She’s huge. “Haruki Ryu?” she repeats. “Hmm, rolls off the tongue much better than Code Name: Ryu, wouldn’t you say, Satan?” Satan? Her eyes fall on the demon. “So, you’re Satan?” He does not answer me. Instead, he says, “Leviathan, we want to enter Netherworld. Let us through.” “Of course, I’d be delighted to assist you. But are you here for that?” She looks at me. “Is that the only reason you came to meet me?” I shake my head, “No, I came to ask for your help.” “My help?” “There’s a man… Or, something that has taken over the Borneheimer Kingdom. We want your help in exterminating him.” “You want my help? You do know the power you possess right now is near-unrivalled. Whoever this mysterious being is, I doubt they could defeat you.” “So, that’s a no?” Leviathan remains silent. She thinks for a moment, then says, “I will help you. This man… No, this God is not someone you want to fight alone. Not when you’re still getting used to your newfound powers.” “G
After my fight with Behemoth, the demon and I took off to where he says Leviathan is. “You say that was a spur-of-the-moment spell?” he asks, surprised. “Yes,” I reply, thinking back on my studies in Ragnarök, “I did as you said and hit Behemoth with a spell more powerful than Judgement.” But then again, Judgement may have worked just as well. I definitely powered up. “You’re more of a monster than Lucifer said,” he whispers. “Lucifer? Come to think of it, who are you to Lucifer anyway? For him to send you must mean he trusts you quite a bit.” “Trust?” The demon snickers, “Trust, you say. Lucifer does not trust me. And I don’t trust him either. We’re at odds, you see.” “Then why would you take orders from him?” The demon remains silent. We fly for another minute before he responds, “Lucifer is the King. And as King, he has the final say.” I can’t feel any emotion in his words. His expression is tame. And I just noticed this, I can’t see his mana. My eyes sharpened with this new