The fight that occurred in the Imperial City spread far and wide in just a few days. Many people recorded the fight and it got passed down to countless hands. The strange black tiger that slaughtered five God Monarchs became known by everyone on Green-Leaf. Lots of people of High-Realms started investigated the origin of this strange monster but the results were disappointing.

It came out of nowhere and no matter how much resources they poured, they couldn't find anything about it. The Holy Dominion stated that it'll do everything in its power to catch the evil cultivator.

They didn't call it a tiger but a cultivator which shocked many people. Moreover, there was an even more shocking piece of news, it's the return of the Dark Magic.

The one and only user of Dark Magic after Zodiak. All of the old man's enemies started moving, even his allies started searching for Arthur, who seemed to have disappeared into nothingness.

"I've heard a few things about Zodiak from my grandfather."

Clara, the pink-haired girl played with her curly hair while talking about Zodiak. Artid was carefully listening to her, the nonchalant expression he had was nowhere to be seen.

As for the Crown Prince of the Five Phoenix Kingdom, he was busier than them after the death of his father. The sect was thrown into chaos as even the old ancestor woke up.

"It is said that he the thorn of the Holy Dominion. There was a time when he barged into their planet and killed countless people. His Dark Magic is dangerous and even if a tiny bit enters your body, you'll be dead within days. Despite using their Holy Magic, they couldn't kill him thus he escaped unscathed. Grandfather also told me that Zodiak fought the Joker and although he lost, he wasn't killed."

After pausing for a few seconds, the girl leaned closer to the young man and whispered with a very low voice.

"There's also a rumor going around."

With a hand massaging his temples, Artid glared at her, demanding she continues.

"Zodiak is a close friend of the Whisperer King."

Artid inhaled a breath of fresh yet cold air and closed his eyes, pondering about something.

"It seems our trip here is more interesting than I thought."

The girl giggled and nodded her head.

**********

"Grandfather, is it really him?"

Shu Ru, who was accompanying her grandfather, curiously asked the calm old man. Despite the miserable and cruel death of Athard, the sect wasn't in chaos like the Five Phoenix Kingdom. Though Athard's position as a Patriarch was solid and no one dared to protest, that doesn't mean there are no candidates to replace him.

Moreover, Athard acted alone and caused his demise by joining hands with the Holy Dominion. His son's tragedy was a big thing but it greatly affected him and made him act without investigating the enemy.

The old man chuckled as he stroked his beard

"Who could it be if it isn't him?"

Confused, the girl tilted her head and asked again

"But aren't you angry that the Patriarch was killed?"

As he looked at the golden stone in front of him, the Grand Elder shook his head and answered

"Not at all, I've already warned him. Moreover, Athard had no right to attack even if his son was killed by him, after all, without 'him', there wouldn't have been a Mirage Era Hall."

**********

In a remote villa that was bought by Arthur, the couple was enjoying their free time without a care in the world. Although he caused a commotion, it's impossible to find him thanks to Claud, who began helping him create a certain item.

Currently, Lucy was standing behind a seated Arthur, carefully cutting his hair, which grew too long. In twenty or so minutes, he long hair became much shorter but this new look suited him better, or so said Lucy.

After taking caring of that, they went to the basement, where Arthur and Lucy sat facing each other. Lucy was pouring large quantities of Mana into Arthur, who was meticulously creating something.

His hand no longer the same as it was enveloped by the ARK, which no longer was cube but a weird gauntlet.

It had countless numbers engraved on it and it would change shape with but a thought.

He has been creating this for the past five days and today is the day it's finished. The item was a bracelet, though a bit shabby as it was made from wood. However, what was inside the wood was another matter.

This item changes his appearance without having to rely on his racial abilities. Though it'll decrease his cultivation by a tiny bit, his stats would remain the same.

Thanks to this bracelet, even if the Holy Dominion uses their strange object, they won't be able to find him, or so stated Claud in total confidence.

From now on, he'll be Lucy's little brother as he became shorter and looked rather innocent with short dark hair. The only problem was his scarred eye, which was covered by an eye-patch.

"I can feel the old man secretly moving all around the city, he must have picked your scent."

Arthur said that while clicking his tongue though it looked extremely cute as he resembled a 14 or 15-year-old boy.

Even Lucy chuckled and pulled his cheeks, clearly teasing him. As she saw his worried looked, she tightly hugged him while saying

"There's nothing to worry about. Worst comes to worse, we'll call Master Losha."

The Fate Contract between them hasn't ended yet, there's still two weeks left, more or less.

…

Later that night, after removing the bracelet and returning to his original appearance, Arthur and Lucy a hot bath together which quickly turned into something else… omitted.

The man was peacefully sleeping on her lap as she was silently meditating, six beautiful lotuses were floating above her head with the seventh being transparent, almost noticeable.

Lucy, who was engrossed in circulating her Mana, suddenly opened her eyes and glared at one direction, where someone appeared.

This figure escaped her sense and was able to get so close yet she only noticed when he was so close.

She saw the dark cloak covering his body and two familiar sheathes, her pupils constricted as she could feel the ever-so-familiar Dark Magic emanating from the man.

He walked closed to her while taking off his hood, making her totally flabbergasted. Her mouth opened and closed several times, wanting to say something but unable to.

"It is great to see you, Lucy."

He smiled as he stopped three meters away, glancing at himself before returning his gaze to the silver-haired woman. Even after a minute passed, she couldn't understand what happened.

"Y-you time traveled?"

Her voice was soft and strange, completely different from the usual one. She noticed a few different things about this Arthur, his healed eyes, his missing arm, and rugged clothes.

"What I did is a bit different from time-travel… but you can think of it as so."

Lucy carefully moved the head of the sleeping Arthur and stood up before walking closer to guest. She was sure it was Arthur, the feeling, the Dark Magic, everything was right.

Moreover, the two black sheathes were another assurance.

"I know that you have a lot to ask but time is unforgiving. We only have a few minutes."

He walked ever-so-closer to her, with only he a few centimeters separating them, he stared deeply into her shaken eyes.

Seeing her anxious expression, he chuckled and replied to her thoughts

"Don't worry, although I'm indeed Arthur, I'm not this Arthur."

After a short silence, Arthur turned around and looked and the starry sky while sighing.

"Destiny is but a word and Fate is but an illusion. Something… despite being dangerous, must be done regardless of their consequences."

"Listen to me, Lucy, you and Arthur must go to the dragon's lair, no matter what."

Before Lucy could question him about the reason, he continued:

"Because if you don't, the fate you'll face is worse than you could imagine, much worse."

His tone sounded melancholic and regretful.

"How can you be so sure?"

Lucy's question caused him to tremble, he turned to face her and said

"Because that's what I did and I'm still regretting it."

"Arthur won't go even if I try to convince him. He knows we'll be exposed to many dangers there."

"Nevertheless, he will go. Let's say it's for the sake of the missing Saly."

Lucy's expression changed drastically upon hearing that

"Saly is missing?!"

He waved his hand as if to calm here and reassured

"Don't worry, she's in a much safer place than anyone in this universe. You don't have to worry about her."

Though still worried, Lucy still decided to believe in his words. If it's him then she would blindly trust him.

Soon, he put on his hood and stared at her one last time before putting his index in front of his mouth

"Shhh"

Then, just like he appeared, he vanished into the darkness, leaving a stupefied and confused Lucy. She spent hours staring at the sky, not knowing what to think or what to do.

Everything just happened so fast so he couldn't process his words properly.

'Does that mean… if we don't go, I'll die?'

'… But what if we go? Will it be him?'

*****

A distance away from the couple's residence, the cloaked Arthur stood on the peak of a short mountain and dazedly stared at the sky, he suddenly crouched and coughed large amounts of blood. Seeing the condition of his body, he clenched his fists and banged them on the bloody ground.

He gritted his teeth and mumbled

'Whatever it costs! I will forge a crossroad and pave the way for a different future. '