The atmosphere was thick with tension as Midoki, now in his base form and utterly exhausted, faced the imposing figure of Lucifer. He remembered the sinister smile of his opponent—a sight that made him tremble deep within. Beside him, Orpheus, in a desperate act, cried out for his "god." But without hesitation, Lucifer pierced Orpheus's chest with his index finger, absorbing him through his new perk: Power Absorb.
Lucifer raised his gaze, the shadow of a disdainful smile dancing across his face.
- Lucifer: "He's of no use anymore." — he declared, his voice as cold as the void itself.
Meanwhile, the Jewel of Valhalla, which had escaped Hera's grasp as her body was unmade, now lay on the ground, gleaming with ancient power. Midoki gazed at it but lacked the strength to act. Using his spiritual ability, Magnetism, Lucifer manipulated the magnetic field of the energy absorbed from Orpheus, launching it in a devastating wave toward Midoki. The assault was merciless, leaving the hero in what seemed an irrecoverable state.
Yet Lucifer's gaze did not linger long on Midoki. He flew toward the Jewel, seizing it with precision and feeling its resonance vibrate within him. The sacred orb seemed to recognize him, accepting him as its bearer. With that, Lucifer elevated his power to a level that defied all understanding. His aura became so intense that even the air around him seemed to hum with pressure.
He looked at Midoki with eyes blazing with superiority.
- Lucifer: "Do you know what irony is, Midoki?" — he taunted, his voice heavy with arrogance. — "Now, I have the power to defeat even death itself."
Lucifer's body glowed as he activated his new ability: Heavenly Death. This power rendered him nearly invincible—at the cost of his own longevity. He laughed, as if the sacrifice were no more than a minor inconvenience.
Midoki, on his knees, clenched his fists.
- Midoki: "How… could you?" — he whispered, voice trembling.
Lucifer leaned in slightly, drawing closer to Midoki.
- Lucifer: "Mourning your enemy? I told you—he was no longer needed. Oh, and before I forget..." — his eyes gleamed with malice — "I killed Lilya. The Fairy Queen tried to stop me… it was pointless."
The impact of the revelation was devastating. Midoki felt the ground vanish beneath him.
- Midoki: "You… killed Lilya?" — he whispered, his voice choked.
With a swift, lethal blow, Lucifer sliced Midoki in half. Silence reigned for a moment before Lucifer smiled in satisfaction.
- Lucifer (thinking): "Now, there's nothing standing between me and my destiny." — He took flight, leaving the Paradox area, as the Templars watched in horror.
Throk staggered toward Midoki's shredded body, eyes full of anguish.
- Throk: "How… how's he going to come back this time?" — he murmured in disbelief. — "This time, his body is completely destroyed."
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows behind one of Hera's temple pillars. Descending slowly down the steps to the House of Ophiuchus, the illusion dissolved—Belphegor was revealed. His Devil's Illusion technique had even deceived Lucifer.
- Midoki: "It was you…" — Midoki gasped, realizing he was unharmed. — "It felt so real… I even felt the blow strike me."
Belphegor gave an enigmatic smile.
- Belphegor: "Deception and spreading misery—that's my specialty. Lucifer may be powerful, but even he has blind spots."
Elyra watched Belphegor with suspicion, a single thought pulsing in her mind.
- Elyra (thinking): "Why would he help us?"
- Midoki: "Why are you here?" — Midoki asked, his voice laced with distrust.
Belphegor crossed his arms.
- Belphegor: "For the past ten years, Lucifer has been consumed by madness due to the nature of a Nephilim. He killed Lilith, who opposed him after Marcus's death. Now, he plans to destroy everything. Even several Infernal Generals have turned against his ideas. Sooner or later, he'll wipe us all out. The truth is—I want to save him. But I can't do it alone. That's why I propose an alliance."
Midoki shook his head.
- Midoki (thinking): "I can't trust you. You've killed people I love before… well, at least in another timeline."
Belphegor knelt—a rare gesture for someone like him.
- Belphegor: "I ask you to reconsider. Orpheus activated Armageddon before he died. Time is distorted here. We have to act quickly."
Still, Midoki refused, leaving Belphegor behind as he vanished using some form of shadow teleportation. Midoki gathered his strength, leading the group out of Mount Olympus. Throk used Sunrise – Sonne Segen to free Neptune from the ice. Kamuz's body had mysteriously disappeared. Meanwhile, Elliot carried Spink on a cloud crafted with his Breeze – Windes Segen ability. Exhausted, they arrived at the Celestial Citadel.
At the Tavern, they were warmly welcomed by Warley, who expressed relief at their survival and thanked them for defeating Orpheus.
While most celebrated, Midoki was taken to the Grand Hall of the Divine Guardians, where the imposing leader Valerius awaited him.
Valerius was a majestic figure with an aura of authority that commanded immediate respect. His golden eyes locked onto Midoki as he stepped into the hall's center.
- Valerius: "Midoki, your courage and sacrifice have brought momentary peace to this realm." — Valerius began in a deep, solemn tone. — "Most emissaries have been eliminated, and some have vanished… I also knew everything Orpheus had done, and yet I stood against Kentarou… That is why I will relinquish my post as a Guardian."
Midoki nodded, understanding the weight of the words. He gave a respectful bow before responding:
- Midoki: "We did what was necessary. Most of the Emissaries were defeated, but some vanished before we could stop them. We don't know if that means they're dead… or still a threat."
Valerius nodded, thoughtful.
- Valerius: "Without the appointment of a new representative chosen directly by Zeus, no new Emissary can arise. However, the Emissary Rings are complex. The only way to reset a ring's perk is through someone who has reached at least the level of Supreme (Grade A) or higher. Meaning—even if they've been stolen, the rings are nearly useless."
After this conversation, the group finally had a moment to rest. They gathered in the citadel's Tavern, where they could eat, drink, and let the fatigue fade away for a few hours. The environment was warm, and the air was filled with a sense of victory.
Yet, their farewell approached. Once recovered, Midoki, Throk, Neptune, Elyra, Spink, and Elliot prepared to depart. They boarded the ship, which remained intact, floating among the clouds. Elliot, who had never stood on a cloud before, stared at the white ground in awe and disbelief.
- Elliot: "How is this possible?" — he asked, touching the solid cloud beneath his feet. — "Aren't clouds supposed to be vapor?"
Neptune smiled, arms crossed as he observed the landscape.
- Neptune: "Probably the work of the Four Seraphim," — he explained. — "According to legend, these beings can shape celestial realms, making even the impossible real."
As the ship sailed, they all cast one last look at the citadel, carrying with them the hope that their mission had indeed brought some measure of peace—even if only temporary—to a world engulfed in chaos.
The journey was filled with moments of relief and laughter, but also the looming shadow of what was yet to come. As the ship rapidly descended from the skies, Elliot suddenly remembered something—and screamed in panic:
- Elliot:"Wait!? We're falling! We're going to die!"
Midoki just laughed, while Elyra clung to him and Throk scolded him.
- Midoki:"Elliot, activate your wings, you idiot!" — shouted Midoki, amused by his friend's desperation.
In the final moments of this leg of their journey, the group finally reached the Pukain Beach, where Namiros was eagerly waiting for them. The old man, now overtaken by nostalgia, smiled warmly as he saw Spink and the others approaching after so long. He rushed forward, embracing Spink with a mix of relief and joy.
- Namiros:"It's good to see you all again, after so much time!" — said Namiros, his voice filled with emotion. "I was starting to worry."
As Namiros helped the group organize their belongings, he looked over everyone's condition and suggested:
- Namiros:"To reach Lior, it'll be faster and less exhausting if you continue along the river by boat. You're still recovering, and hauling luggage and supplies down the road would be unnecessary effort."
Midoki, after a brief moment of thought, agreed with the suggestion.
- Midoki:"You're right, Namiros. We'll continue by river. That way, we'll have more time to rest as we head to the capital. Thank you so much!"
With the decision made, the group boarded the boat once again, bidding farewell to Namiros who remained on the beach, waving as they departed. They sailed gently along the calm river waters, with the first rays of sunlight illuminating the path toward the majestic capital of the Kingdom of Lior.