Spink knelt before the barrier that rose at the exit of the House of Virgo, her gaze lost in the vibrant energy pulsing beyond. It was impossible to tell what was happening inside; the aura surrounding the barrier was intense—almost tangible.
- Spink: "Raiga…" - she murmured, pain flooding her heart. - "All of this happened because we were too weak. If only I could break free from that cursed Balance…"
- Throk: "Enough, Spink." - Throk interrupted firmly. - "Stop mourning the sacrifice of that hero. Even if he had survived his own power, he would have died from the wound he took from Equinox. And besides—who's to say others wouldn't have died if we hadn't been within the Balance?"
Spink fell silent, Throk's words echoing in her mind like a grim refrain. Frustration and helplessness filled her chest. Then, like a storm gathering, Neptune stepped forward, fury burning in his eyes.
- Neptune: "So you think he deserved to die, huh? You bastard…" - He threw a punch at Throk's face, the tension in the air almost tangible.
- Elyra: "Enough!" - Elyra shouted, grabbing Neptune's arms to restrain him. - "You said we didn't have time to argue. Let's make use of the chance Midoki and Raiga gave us — they sacrificed everything. We have to move on to the next Houses!"
Having watched in silence until then, Elliot stepped forward and spoke:
- Elliot: "You won't go, Elyra. They're after you. And at your current level, you can't fight by our side."
She nodded sadly, her eyes drifting back to the barrier.
- Elyra: "All right… I'll wait for Midoki."
- Elliot: "Then I'll destroy every Celestial Wanderer we encounter, to keep you safe." - Elliot declared with resolve.
- Spink: "Celestial Wanderers?" - Spink asked, both curious and afraid.
- Elliot: "They're creatures that share sight, hearing, and speech with Orpheus." - he explained.
Spink's eyes lit up with the memory of Raiga defeating an invisible creature in an act of pure heroism.
- Spink (thinking): "So that's why he acted so differently back then…"
Neptune steadied himself. With a motion of his hand, he invoked his spiritual ability — Tide — forming a shimmering water barrier beneath the glow of the Virgo dome.
- Neptune: "This shield will only open when an ally crosses its path."
An unspoken apology lingered in the air as Neptune turned back to Throk.
- Neptune: "Sorry, man. It's just… I deeply respect the memory of the ancient warriors."
Throk nodded, understanding—he was one of them.
- Throk: "Then let's honor them by moving forward."
And so, Elliot, Spink, Throk, and Neptune prepared for their journey toward the final Houses, each step filled with purpose and hope. Meanwhile, Elyra waited inside the dome of water, awaiting Midoki Lior's return.
The intense energy of Midoki's Berserker Mode pulsed violently, reverberating through the House of Virgo like the drums of an approaching war. The walls trembled under the force of his aura; the air was thick with tension and anticipation. He stared at Vagnos, the Virgo Envoy, with an unyielding gleam in his eyes.
- Vagnos: "Do you really believe the Zodiac Envoys have been fighting at full power so far?" - he asked, his voice deep and resonant.
A mysterious smile crossed Vagnos' face as he finally opened his eyes, releasing a devastating aura that surged upward, raising his power to unimaginable heights. It was clear he was done holding back. The chamber brimmed with the energy of two titanic warriors about to clash.
- Vagnos: "Most of them lost because of sheer arrogance. Now it's time to get serious," he declared, his words echoing like thunder across a clear sky.
Then, in a breathtaking display, Vagnos raised a single finger—and stopped Midoki's Stellar Devastation as if swatting a fly. The silence that followed was suffocating.
- Midoki: "You're strong." - he admitted, breathing deeply, his body surging with power. - "But it won't be enough to stop me."
Vagnos tilted his head slightly, curiosity and respect glinting in his eyes.
- Vagnos: "Then come. Show me what you're truly capable of."
The scene shifts to Orpheus, gazing into a fog-shrouded horizon, his expression resolute. He murmured to himself:
- Orpheus: "The original plan was to sacrifice myself and invoke Hera's blessing to cross the Gate of Valhalla. But now, with the Forbidden Fruit lost, I have no choice but to risk death to return from the grave."
In a tense sequence, he steadied himself, eyes fixed on his chest. With his right hand, he struck a devastating blow into his own body, activating Cellular Degradation. His body weakened, descending into a state of half-death. The corpse of the goddess Hera, whose power he had invoked, became his vital anchor—keeping his existence intact while his soul fought to break free.
Orpheus closed his eyes and focused. Hera's blessing flowed through him, allowing his soul to cross the gate and remain in Valhalla. With renewed determination, he approached Zeus, drunken and surrounded by laughter and golden cups.
- Orpheus: "Zeus!" - he called out, his voice firm despite his weakened state. - "I'm here to reclaim the Sphere of Valhalla!"
Zeus flinched, turning his fogged gaze away from the wine. Orpheus lunged forward, snatching the Celestial Sphere of Valhalla from the altar in a flash. The sphere glowed intensely in his hand — a beacon of power and hope.
Then, a revelation struck him:
- Celestial Sphere: "The key to crossing the Gate of Valhalla is bound to the 13 Houses of Olympus. I am the key!"
A complex plan began to unfold in Orpheus's mind as he prepared for the next stage of his resurrection quest.
- Narrator: "Zeus, husband of Hera and God of Valhalla, while Hera serves as protector of the 13 Houses and guardian of the Gate of Valhalla — the only one able to open it to mortal souls. Meanwhile, Hades rules Helheim, where the Gate of Helheim can only be opened by Marcus, the Demon King of the Underworld. Yet, there exist other ways to reach these realms — such as Geminus's ability to send mortals in the flesh, the Dimensional Rifts that freed Mardhona, or Gyndera himself, who commands the entrances to Limbo, Helheim, and Valhalla."
Meanwhile, Mammon mobilized his forces across the Elven Realm, spreading through Britannia, while Lucifer advanced toward the Celestial Kingdom in search of the Sphere of Valhalla — now in Orpheus's hands. Upon awakening from his coma with the sphere's power, Orpheus stood before the sealed Gate of Valhalla in Hera's Sanctuary, prepared to face a new and perilous challenge.
Back in the House of Scorpio, Throk, Neptune, Spink, and Elliot prepared to confront the enigmatic Scorpio Envoy, a shadowy figure waiting in the dark.
Returning to Midoki, the aura surrounding him shifted once more. With Vagnos's power still raging, he focused deeply, recalling the voices of Gyndera and Pyndera echoing within his mind.
- Gyndera: "We must balance this surge of power." - Gyndera's weary voice said.
Midoki's aura spread through the 13 Houses, transforming Berserker Mode into Guardian Mode. Ethereal wings formed on his back; his features took on the likeness of a wolf, claws of pure energy extending from his hands.
- Midoki: "Now, Vagnos." - Midoki challenged - "You will witness the true power I carry!"
Vagnos readied himself. His Virgo's Rapid Strikes were unleashed, but none connected. Midoki activated the Law of the Cosmos – Absorption, pulling Vagnos toward him and striking once more with Stellar Devastation, tearing through the Envoy's skin.
- Vagnos: "Impressive!" - he exclaimed, admiring the technique. - "But let's see if you can handle this!"
Growing confident, Midoki invoked the Law of Manipulation – Space, teleporting behind Vagnos and unleashing Wolf Manifestation, a technique of the Wolfist fighting style. The explosion illuminated the room — a spectacle of raw power — yet Vagnos stood unscathed.
- Vagnos: "It's time for my final attack!" he declared, closing his eyes.
The atmosphere froze. The activation of The Eye of Destiny had begun. One by one, Midoki's senses were stripped away:
Sight: Darkness enveloped him.Hearing: Silence consumed him.Smell: Every scent vanished.Taste: All flavors dissolved into emptiness.Touch: Sensation faded — he floated in nothingness.
Finally, Vagnos reached the sixth sense — Spirit — leaving Midoki in total sensory deprivation. The Virgo Envoy seemed to hold the upper hand.
- Midoki: "I… I can't believe it… Not even Guardian Mode was enough to defeat you, Vagnos."
- Vagnos (mental state): "Don't be mistaken, Midoki. Haven't you noticed? Even after losing all your senses, your claws — your Wolf Claw technique — still pierced my heart."
- Midoki (mental state): "What…? How is that possible?"
- Vagnos (mental state): "You underestimated your own strength. Your Guardian Mode went beyond physical senses — it reached a spiritual level that transcends conventional perception."
- Midoki (mental state): "Then… I won?"
- Vagnos (mental state): "Yes, Midoki. You even surpassed my most powerful technique. Your power is extraordinary — and your journey is far from over. Believe in yourself, Knight of Lior."
The scene closed with Midoki finally realizing the true depth of his potential. Vagnos, content, vanished into the golden aura of the Virgo Barrier, leaving behind a trail of strength and hope. The battle had ended… yet the true challenge was only beginning.