5th Day of the 1st Fire Cycle[1], 2000 g.c.
While my own battle was abruptly drawn back to the Sycamore Tree, Alex's consciousness had been tossed into the metaphysical world of his mind-space, deep inside the heart of his Soul Core. Like mine and Luda's, his inner realm was a mirror of his true nature, a canvas painted with the desires he hadn't yet spoken aloud.
The sky burned with hues of azure, pink, and scarlet, glowing under the eternal rise of a white-and-blue star frozen at the horizon. A countryside sprawled beneath, where an impressive castle stood silhouetted against the dawn, unreachable yet ever-present. Fields of soft grass stretched endlessly, their rolling mounds blending into one another in perfect symmetry. The air was alive with the scent of spices and fresh-baked bread, while a breeze that carried the gentlest warmth brushed against Alex's ethereal form like a morning embrace.
This place gave him more peace in a single breath than he'd felt in month-cycles. It was as if his mind itself demanded a reprieve from the river of chaos he'd been swept along in.
"Not really sure where I am... Hello? Anybody out there?!" Alex's voice echoed across the rolling hills.
He scanned the landscape, eyes narrowing at the familiar yet unfamiliar. His thoughts flickered to the fight with Ikari, then to Ameera stepping between him and danger, her body struck by the Wolven's assault. His gut twisted, sparks of anger crackling around his shoulders in clusters of raw mana. They pulsed brighter for a moment before twisting into shame, the bitter sting gnawing at his pride.
"Damnit. That's the second time she's tried to protect me, like I'm some helpless child. And both times she ended up hurt because of it. Why?" His hand balled into a fist and slammed against his palm with a sharp clap. "Why am I still so weak when it counts? Why?!"
The weight of his own words dragged at him, his eyes stinging as tears blurred the radiant horizon. His body trembled with the sound of his insecurities.
Then, like silver threads weaving into his ears, a voice touched him—playful, airy, and everywhere at once.
"You shouldn't beat yourself up so much. Only lamenting on when you found defeat, and never celebrating victories, will make you only more of a stranger to peace."
Alex startled, rubbing at his tears, scanning the fields for someone—anyone. "Who's out there?"
"Just someone who prefers your smile."
"There's nothing to smile about," Alex said bitterly. "Even after all that training with Auntie Vee and Xiro, I'm still useless when it matters. Like when we almost died against that Trapper. If it weren't for Xi, shit would've ended ugly."
He paced, each word tumbling out faster than the last. "Or those times I lost myself in Rage Form. If Xiro hadn't been there, I could've done more harm than help. Hell, I'm gonna need him again to deal with that Wolven."
The realization hit him like a cold blade as the words left his mouth. His constant reliance on me, his constant need to invoke my name, was becoming a pattern he could no longer ignore. His hand went to his chest, his head hanging low, eyes locked on the grass beneath him. The fear that he was nothing more than a burden gnawed deeper than any scar.
"Yeah, I admire my big bro's power," he muttered, his voice quivering. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't dream of being just as unstoppable. To stand shoulder to shoulder with my nigga. But it feels like I'm only staring at his back as he gets further away."
His breath hitched, anger and despair swirling together. "Damnit. Every time someone protects me, they get hurt. And I—no matter the training, no matter the fights—feel powerless. Am I just a burden? Trash."
Silence swallowed him, stretching long enough that he almost collapsed under its weight. Then the voice returned, like a breeze steadying a candle flame.
"The desire to stand proud next to family is something I can relate to. I seek to match someone I admire, too. And since I like what I see in your soul, I'll help you reach that dream."
Alex's head snapped up, chest tight. "Help me?"
"Mmhmm. We'll be partners, you and I. So, remember, looking too hard at the shine of others steals the light from your own."
"Is that like… a proverb or whatever?"
The voice laughed, lilting and playful. "Hehehehe. That's a much better look on your face now."
"Damnit, I forgot to ask. Hey—who are you?! Where can I find you?"
But no answer came this time. Only the rush of invisible winds filled his ears, leaving him stranded in stillness and reflection. Seconds ticked by before scarlet motes began to rise from his body, tiny particles of spiritual energy evaporating into the aether of his realm. His consciousness slipped back toward his body, the mystery unresolved, but the impact undeniable.
The scarlet motes faded, carrying the weight of his doubts with them. Light stabbed his eyes as consciousness pulled him back, and the world of the Recovery Sphere returned too soon, too bright, too real. The chandeliers overhead glimmered with mana crystals, their intrusive glow making him squint as the Recovery Sphere dissolved around him. He stood, gripping the white-and-blue grimoire of his Bible instinctively under his arm, fingers of his other hand brushing through his dreadlocks to shake off the haze. He was whole again, but the sting of failure still burned at the back of his neck.
Before he could brood too long, a rush of warmth wrapped around him. Ameera pressed against him, her soft fur and trembling breath flooding him with relief that wasn't even his own.
"Thank the Goddess," she whispered into his ear, exhaling all the weight she'd been holding. "I was about to worry."
Alex froze, unsure of how to respond, but his body answered for him. His arms closed around her, embracing her relief, matching it with his own wordless gratitude until finally, they let go.
The fight between Sirius and me had been the highlight of the night on Floor 11. The room had combusted at the spectacle—two dominant alphas trading technique and temper like currency—and the crowd had fed on it. I watched bodies heave and pulse as back-to-back battles pushed the audience into a sexual frenzy. The thick musk of sweat and charged magitons that had lingered earlier was suddenly overrun by something raw and animal: the metallic tang of blood in the mouth, the hot, wet breath of desire, the copper-sweet scent of pheromones mixing with incense.
The special spatial coliseum folded itself away like a satisfied lover, returning the extra cages and leather furniture to their places. The pet-kink toys slid back under benches and behind velvet curtains where they belonged, reclaiming the room's ordinary depravity.
My crew was all back on their feet. Ameera finished recovery first. Alex followed more slowly. He wore a sulky look—sour and private—until Ameera dropped her arms around him. The hug flattened the lines from his face for a second; the smile he pasted afterward was practiced, not honest. I watched his jaw work. Losing to Sirius had been a tough pill to swallow. It weighed on him, and it made the night heavier in ways that had nothing to do with bruises.
Sirius of the Black Plague rose like he hadn't seen a single hit. He bit into an Arcanum Delight, chewed once, and the weariness left him as if some invisible hand had wiped it clean. He moved with that dangerous ease people got when they were fueled by more than adrenaline. He and Jack slotted through the parting bodies and walked over to us.
He held up the fruit between two fingers and grinned. "Yooooo, this fruit is fantastic. It tasted like a mixture of pineapples and oranges in every bite."
I shrugged and let my grin come out lazy. "If you fuck with the Healing Citrus, thank Alex for the plug."
He cocked his head, amused. "Hey, what happened to the weird red, blue, and purple thing you had going with your eyes? Now they're just grey and boring."
I rolled the hair from my face. "That was an Ultra Skill. When I use it, it changes my iris and shit."
The name had barely left my mouth when Dream Flower—who'd been watching from where she'd been lounging—turned, eyebrow cocked. She had that look that said she'd smelled gossip and liked the flavor.
"Sirius? I thought his name was Ikari," she said.
Sirius laughed, a rich, dangerous sound. "Ikari is a name I was called by someone important I lost. I sometimes use it during certain missions, like a secret identity."
I snorted and pushed a smile. "Like a mask at a masquerade, huh?"
He swept an arm theatrically as if bowing to an audience that existed only in his head. "I guess I should formally reintroduce myself. I am Sirius the Star Man. One half of Black Plague."
Jack, adjusting his glasses, shrugged. "I'm still Jack. No changes or anything. Nothing special like that over here."
Nicole tilted her head and shook it. "I can't say I'm any more familiar with the name Sirius than I was with Ikari."
Dream Flower smirked. "Agreed. But after today, I doubt I'll forget either."
Alex pushed a hand through his hair and kept his voice even. "Ikari or Sirius, it doesn't matter. The respect is still the same. Good fight, bro."
Ameera inclined her head toward the man who'd just walked off the mats. "Again, a pleasure to meet you."
I cleared my throat, ready to flip the mood back into business. "Well, now that we've got the reintroductions out of the way…"
Zawa, who'd been hovering like a small, eager shadow, fluttered forward and pouted, words tumbling out fast. "But—but I didn't get a chance to introduce myself, Master Xiro."
I rolled my eyes. "That's because you aren't important, Zawa."
Her pout deepened. "Ouchie. How could you say something so mean? We're on the same team now."
I smirked, not softening. "You're stupid if you think I trust you just because you sucked my dick."
She blinked, then flashed a bratty grin. "Foofy. What more can I do to prove my loyalty? I thought all men were simple to please."
I ignored her and the ridiculousness of the pose she'd struck. Instead, I watched Sirius shift his weight, eyes slipping to Alex and Ameera. He lowered his head in a small, precise bow—an apology written in motion.
He said, "I need to apologize for my actions during the duel. I struck with more force than I should have. I said harsh words to Alex to provoke him. For that, I'm sorry."
Alex's shoulders loosened fractionally. "It's cool. I should've been smarter and not taken the bait. Water under the bridge."
Ameera offered a forgiving look. "No grudges. Thank you for pulling your punches."
Jack turned his glasses back to me, the man holding questions behind polite restraint. He waited for me to go first. I pushed a dreadlock over my ear and tilted my head.
" So, what's crackin', Jack? I owe you a few answers, right?"
He paused, then adjusted his glasses with a small habit that made him look younger than he was. "Do you feel that? A soundless vibration ringing in the ear. It didn't start until I got near Alex over there. Then it became louder when you appeared."
I smiled because the noise could only mean one thing. "Yeah, that's your Sonata Core resonating with another like it. It does that the first time you get near another Sonata. It'll settle with a drink of water."
He frowned. "Sonata? What's that? You mentioned it before."
The group clustered closer, curiosity folding up like a physical thing. Jack leaned forward, hands in his pockets, a genuine question nudging his face.
"The best way to explain it," I told them, "is these are special souls crafted by the Aeon of Death to be weapons in her personal war. Each one can grow to universal levels in power while maturing faster than ordinary Soul Cores."
Jack's eyebrows climbed. "Seriously?"
Alex shrugged, voice soft with the new gravity of it. "So we're just built different, even before birth."
"Truer words," I said. "But that differentness puts a target on you from the Heaven Realms. Some Angels will try to harvest a Sonata Core for their evolution."
Sirius blinked, excitement flickering like a flame. "Angels? Aren't those the beings from Paradiso in children's stories with white wings?"
Alex's jaw tightened. "Wings, yes. Not always white, though. The one we fought had black wings."
Sirius whistled low. "You two have fought a real Angel?"
Jack, voice small, said, "…and survived? Even the children's stories paint them as terrifying."
Dream Flower's eyes sharpened. "So are the Trappers here on Gaia searching for people like you?"
Sirius's grin turned predatory. "Trappers? What's that?"
Alex answered. "It's what we call the Angels from the neighboring planet."
I added, "The Trappers are here because humans summoned them. Angels see mortal Soul Cores as nourishment. Nobody's safe from their livestock agenda—not even humans."
Nicole's face went pale at the thought. "Wow. To think the warriors of the Elohim would be so evil in ideology."
Jack kept a worried look, turning the implications over in his head. Sirius, for his part, lit up like a kid with a new toy.
"So you're telling me if I hang around Jack long enough, I get to fight one of these things?" he asked, giddy.
Alex snorted. "You and Xiro really have similar track minds."
"I'm sure you will," I warned. "But as a heads up, the Angel we fought was as strong as I am now. Don't underestimate him."
Jack swallowed. "Right. Especially with my life on the line."
Sirius slapped Jack on the back with a laugh so loud it made the glasses jingle. "Jack, brotha, this is going to be sooo shweet! I'm motivated to train now."
Jack glanced at his sleeve, thoughtful. "But you're always in the lab. Anyways, I'm going to speak with Dr. Kai back in Babylonia. This new information brings questions I need him to answer."
The name hit me like a sack of coins. Dr. Kai was a name I'd not expected to hear tonight.
"Dr. Kai?" I asked. "An old Light Elf with brown hair and a barcode on his wrist?"
Sirius's grin widened. "Yeah, that's him. You know the ol' fart?"
I let a memory tilt across my face. "You could say. We met on my birthday a long time ago."
While the chatter pivoted to Dr. Kai and the threads of Velonica and the Mikazuki Clan and what being a King meant, I watched the others absorb the Sonata explanation. Thoughts turned inward and made small storms behind eyes and smiles.
Nicole's posture softened; she listened like a scholar with a new hypothesis forming. Ameera's fingers flexed once, reverent and excited at the idea that Lord Alex and I both carried something so rare. The Lilituu at my back listened, tail flicking; Zawa's eyes glittered with scheming. I caught her licking her lips and stifled a plotting giggle.
Dream Flower's pout turned into a pointed finger aimed at Sirius. "Then if he's not a Sonata, what makes him so strong?"
I answered, cautious and clinical. "After analyzing him, it seems Sirius is an anomaly the Prime Realm System created in response to a special event that happened in 1985."
Ameera's face clouded with pity. "An anomaly? Like a mistake?"
Sirius just shrugged. "Sirius jus is... And that's all that matters to me."
"I believe you, Big Blue." I leaned in and checked Jack. "Yo, Jack, y'all working with Zawa and the other witches?"
Jack shook his head. "You mean the Panty Raiders? No. We were asked to retrieve something for our client from the Sycamore Tree."
Sirius smirked. "I will say these witches can throw a decent gathering. A little something for everyone."
Jack tightened his jacket. "We're actually on our way out. There's a carriage waiting for us downstairs."
Perfect timing. I reached up and pulled two fingers together, felt the cold pulse of Omnis Mana under my skin, and with practised ease, I let tiny black sigils bloom on my fingertips. The sigils stretched into two thin business cards—black, trimmed in ultraviolet and white, a pale crescent moon stamped in the center with my name in clean type. They gleamed with that soft, hungry light mana takes when it wants notice.
I flicked the cards. They spun and caught in Jack's and Sirius's hands with quiet, satisfying snaps.
"Next time you two are between jobs, hit me up," I said. "I'll have a proposal for you."
Sirius turned the card over, eyes wide. "Neat looking card. How does this work?"
Jack held his up to his ear. "Looks like it has Arcane Threads on it. So I guess we send mana into it."
"Correct," I told him. "Hit it with a pulse of mana, and it will signal me to telepathically link with whoever's holding it."
Jack nodded once. "Convenient."
Sirius chuckled, humbled a fraction. "If I hadn't fought you, I'd say bullshit. But after seeing your magickal energy firsthand, I'm convinced."
Jack gathered his things. "Well, everyone, we've held up enough of your time and our clients. We must be going now."
"I feel that," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "We got our own shit to handle."
"Thank you, King Xiro," Jack said, sincerely.
"Anytime, my nigga," I told him.
Sirius waved and leaned in for a last, loud goodbye. "It's been fun. Until we meet again."
Alex called after them, voice steady. "Be easy. Be ready for our rematch, my nigga."
Sirius grinned and mangled the new word he'd clearly picked up. "Nigga. Nig-ga. Not bad. Rolls off the tongue pretty easily."
"Look at him, already adding it to his lexicon. May that super noun bless your lingo with a bit of the Mikazuki Culture." I commented, half laughing at the development.
Dream Flower lifted a hand. "Safe travels."
Black Plague melted back into the crowd, their good-byes swallowed by the room's renewed chorus of pleasures. For a second, I stood there with the warm press of the aftertaste of Omnis Mana on my tongue. The cards emitted an invisible mana pulse in my ears, sending tiny location signals from Jack and Sirius. The familiar hum reminded me: my Core had always been at the center of this crazy cosmic web, connected to many unfortunate souls. My Sonata Core had been the first created and the last completed. I'd always pictured myself like a circle—a zero. The image was heavy and dizzying: beginning and end wrapped around me like a chain.
I shoved the thought down into my pocket, where ideas went to sleep, and started scanning the river of bodies for the exit. The night still had teeth, and I had places to be.
The fight against Sirius, stacked on top of the one prior against Zero Tàiyáng, had left its mark on me in a way fists and blades never could. My spiritual frame was carrying bruises, faint but constant reminders of being dragged through the wringer. Each blow to my soul still echoed, buzzing through the shadowed recesses of my Soul Core. It was a tingling sort of pain, a phantom sting that never landed in the same spot twice, as if the damage shifted just to keep me guessing. My Core worked overtime to mend itself, always stitching shut a wound the moment it opened, only for another to rip itself across a different surface.
I didn't know if Soul Cores were designed to endure that kind of abuse. Probably not. But what choice did I have? This was the path I'd chosen, and I didn't plan on slowing down. The strange thing was, the sting of Divinity Mana was getting weaker with every strike. What once felt like molten daggers now burned more like warm needles. My body—and more importantly, my soul—was adapting to the one weakness that could have broken me.
A familiar voice broke into my thoughts.
"Master, we are experiencing this aftereffect due to the destruction of your pocket dimension," [Moon Sage: Tsukuyomi] explained from within me, his tone calm but laced with interest. "While it was only an empty copy of the [Midnight World], it was still tethered to your Soul Core."
"Who would've guessed that throwing Divinity Mana against Anti-Mana would rip a hole in reality? That shit was wild as fuck."
"During that brief collision, residual particles were left behind," Tsukuyomi continued. "They suggest the possibility of a new magickal energy. I believe it to be an Ascended Mana."
"A new type of magick? That caught my attention. If that's the case, run your analysis and let me know what you find."
"Already on it, Master."
I could feel the subtle shift in him when he said that. No matter how stoic [Moon Sage: Tsukuyomi] sounded, he couldn't hide the spark of excitement he felt when uncovering something new. It was like a glow at the edge of my consciousness, a quiet hum of joy. The more I evolved, the easier it became to sense those tiny cracks in his composure.
As the Wolfpak filed out through the back of the Velvet Kennel, the air carried the faint musk of incense and heat, heavy with sweat and perfume. Half-naked Imps lined the hallways, and more than once one dropped into a bow or fell to a knee as we passed. Their crimson eyes shimmered with reverence, and their bodies trembled just enough to betray the hunger beneath their respect. It wasn't personal—more like instinct. Infernian nature dictated they honor strength above all else, especially those of the feminine gender. In the Hells, might was law, and weakness was prey.
The reactions stirred a cocktail of emotions in my crew. Compliments and bows weighed shame across Alex's shoulders, his sulk obvious in the way he stared at the ground, pretending not to hear. Zawa, on the other hand, was soaking it up like it was fuel. The buzz of attention lit her libido, and soon her hungry gaze landed squarely on me.
"Sooooo, New Master Xiro," she purred, stretching the words out like honey, "you were looking real sexy the way you were controlling that freestyle battle."
"Save it, Zawa." My eyes cut to hers sharply. "You're not gettin' any dick from me. We got shit to do."
She pouted, pressing a finger to her lips as though that might soften my words. "Foofy, don't be like that! What do you expect a girl to do after watching two strong men punch and grab each other like that? I'm getting hot just thinking about it again."
"Girl, you sound like a sex addict," Dream Flower snapped without missing a step. "Keep it under control."
Zawa just smirked. "I mean, duuhh. I'm a Lilituu. I thought we went over this."
Dream rolled her eyes so hard, I thought they might stay stuck that way.
Nicole, however, cut in cold and sharp. "A cheap sex toy deserves to be put away, not taken outside for walks."
Before I could open my mouth, a sultry voice slid across the air—one I didn't expect to hear aloud.
"Not a bad idea," Omnia said. "She has no other uses for the moment."
Spiriton motes shimmered off my body like embers from a roaring fire. They swirled together in streams, ribbons of mana twisting upward, condensing into the shape of an hourglass figure.
A soft flurry of wings unfurled—fey-like, translucent, dusting the air with violet glimmers. Twin cat-like tails coiled and flicked as a woman emerged from the haze, stepping into the hall with the sway of a goddess who knew she was being worshipped. Omnia, my Guardian Armament—the Twilight Goddess and former Aeon of Death—stepped forward, her presence folding the air around her.
Dream's jaw nearly hit the floor. "Whoa, whoa, who the hell is that?"
"Yooo," Alex said, snapping out of his sulk, "Xiro, what's going on, bro?"
Before I could answer, Omnia turned her gaze on Zawa. The Lilituu froze, awe and fear locking her in place. With a single snap of Omnia's fingers, an ultraviolet circle flared open beneath Zawa. The ground yawned like a hungry void and swallowed her whole. The portal sealed shut in an instant, leaving behind only a faint shimmer. Zawa hadn't even had the chance to squeal.
Omnia smiled at me sweetly, as if she hadn't just banished a hoe to God knows where. All I could do was sigh.
"This is my Guardian Armament, Omnia," I said to the group, waving toward her. "The Twilight Goddess. My main bitch."
Omnia dipped her head with grace. "A pleasure to make the acquaintance of you all."
Dream clutched her chest. "Wooow. So this is the spirit that exists in your weapon? She's so dreamy."
Ameera nodded tightly. "She seems powerful."
Nicole's lips curved upward. "She's amazing."
"She used to be the Aeon of Death," I added with a shrug. "So I'll take that as a compliment."
"Do you not find death beautiful?" Omnia asked softly.
"Only when you're naked, baby."
"I wear no clothes now."
"Yeah, we need to fix that. My family and friends are here."
Their eyes, however, weren't on me. They were locked on her, the weight of my words crashing into them harder than her sudden arrival. Nicole trembled like her knees might buckle. Ameera murmured a hurried prayer, eyes wide and locked on Omnia. Dream pressed a hand to her forehead as if her thoughts couldn't settle. Alex stared at me, gears turning behind his eyes before he finally spoke.
"Wait. So, Xiro… is this the same person from the Goblin Cave? The Red Queen?"
"Yes and no."
"The Red Queen is only a fraction of me," Omnia answered in her calm, velvet voice. "Kyttin Luna is one of my three reflections, though she stands as her own woman as well."
"But she's the one who designed our Soul Cores?" Alex pressed.
"That would be her," I confirmed.
Omnia tilted her head, eyes softening. "I was surprised to see you born during this time, Sonata Fire: Grand, but I know who I can thank for that."
Dream threw her hands up. "My mind is blown. You're telling me Xiro has the literal embodiment of death as a weapon? Bruh, you're just edgy for the hell of it, huh?"
Nicole's voice quivered. "The Lady of Death is real? And standing before us? There's no way this night can surprise me anymore."
Ameera leaned close to Alex, her lips hidden by her hand. "Hey, Lord Alex, I'm not very familiar with the Death Goddess. Is she really that impressive?"
Alex nodded slowly, eyes narrowing. "From what I remember, she was once called the Creator. The books say she made the blueprint for the planet and the stars, and she ruled over the lower heavens. My clan always prayed to her… but I thought she was just a myth."
"I am quite real, Sonata Fire," Omnia said.
"Call him Alex, Omnia," I muttered. "Not everyone knows who you're talking to when you use Sonata numbers."
"So the Death Goddess and the Creator are the same person?" Ameera asked. "Why didn't I know this?"
"There have been multiple Creators," Omnia said evenly. "It is only a title, given to those who stand as active Elohims of Paradiso or Infernia. Mortals gave it weight because they cannot speak our true names."
Nicole's eyes narrowed. "I've read scripts describing the Lady Twilight as an evil spirit of darkness and hatred."
"You will get no argument here," Omnia replied with a faint smile.
"…Omnia." I dragged my palm across my face.
But Nicole's thoughts betrayed her. "Then why do I feel no malice from her? No… instead, she's glowing. Like a woman in love."
Ameera's tail stiffened before slowly relaxing again, her body trembling with anticipation. Hope burned fresh in her eyes, faith in my power spilling into belief that her father could still be saved.
"So what are we waiting for?" she asked, her voice sharp with urgency. "If King Xiro holds this kind of power, we should storm through with brute force."
Alex frowned. "What happened to the stealth plan you were pushing earlier?"
"That was before I understood the strength of the Demon Lord," Ameera said quickly. "I feared we might bite off more than we could chew. Clearly, that fear was misplaced."
"I guess I have been playing around," I admitted with a grin.
"With all due respect, Your Majesty," she pressed, "we don't have time to waste."
Omnia shifted her gaze to Alex. "Then tell him to summon forth the spirit in his Bible. Your personal hero lies beside you, not in my master."
"Omnia, that's enough."
"Yes, papi."
Alex blinked, looking down at the grimoire still in his hand. "Wait… what are you talking about? What spirit? You mean like the one Xiro summoned and battled?"
"I see what she means," I said, stepping forward. "If we turn your Spirit Weapon into a Guardian Armament, you should get a power boost."
It was a great suggestion. One I had overlooked due to being wrapped up in my own thoughts.
Omnia pointed at the grimoire, her cyan eyes flickering like firelight. "That Bible is called Royalty. It holds the anima of my youngest sister, the Aeon of War."
Dream's eyes widened in delight. "You mean I get to see a Guardian Armament creation? And another Inner God? Tonight is like a fever dream of awesome shit. Please don't wake me up."
Alex's grip tightened around the grimoire. "A spirit lives in this book? Then that voice I heard earlier… it must have been hers."
Ameera whispered softly, "Lord Alex…"
He exhaled, the doubt burning away in his gaze. "Then it's settled. Xi, show me how you drew that summoning circle."
Resolve burned in his eyes. I didn't need to know the full weight; I could feel it. He was my brother, and Mikazukis never quit. Running into Black Plague reminded me we weren't standing at the top of the mountain just yet. But we were climbing fast, and we sure as hell weren't trapped underground anymore.
So every bit of power we had available to us would be another stepping stone to the top.
[End of Chapter]
[1] April on Earth.