The boy, Zodiak, was injured due to the massive collateral damage done by both the dead bandit chief and the beheaded crocodile. This left him trapped in a sea of fire, unable to locate any safe route he could slip through. The trees were burning and falling all over the place and the magma river overflowed and started reaching everywhere. His young skin started showing a few sideburns while his body was soaking with sweat.

While covering his mouth with a small ripped piece of cloth, Zodiak breathed the air with great difficulty, barely able to remain conscious due to his dizzy mind. He didn't feel the pain from his fractured ribs or burnt skin, nonetheless, he could not force himself to remain conscious.

After a bitter and pretty pointless struggle, he fell on the ground, his hand reaching to the front, trying to drag the whole body farther from the creeping flames.

As the end was close and his death was nothing but imminent, Zodiak kept crawling on the ground, barely able to move his exhausted body. He wasn't a magic user and his body was weak and fragile so a small blow of the bandit chief would've killed him, moreso for an ultimate technique.

At some point, Zodiak raised his body and stared to the front, seeing nothing but high-reaching flames which dominated his sight. His emotionless eyes scanned the vicinities but there didn't seem to be any place he could crawl to. Just as he was about to lay on his back, he caught the sight of a black silhouette coming from within the flames.

The figure slowly approached him and extinguished a small part of the flames in its way, replacing the fire with ominous black flames. In a matter of seconds, the mysterious individual stood inches from the collapsed young Zodiak, staring down at him with a face drained with a gaunt of expressionlessness.

"As someone hated by both the Heavens and Fate, you should at least get the chance to fight back."

Though Zodiak clearly heard him, he had no strength to speak or turn his head to get a proper look at this man. And, magically… as if he heard the boy's thoughts, the man used his power to turn Zodiak's body upside down, making the kid's face directly face him.

Then, he crouched down and leaned his face very close to the panting Zodiak, his sky-blue eyes seemingly able to see through everything. Not even the permanent gloom filling Zodiak's eyes was able to block that man's gaze, which penetrated all the way to the boy's soul, scanning every 'inch' of it.

"Zodiak, do you want power?"

The man cut through the chase and asked the silent boy, his face demanding an immediate and clear answer. In fact, for a second, the abyssal eyes of Zodiak wavered when he heard the man's question. As he was really not able to talk, the boy slowly raised his shaky hand, trying to grasp the man.

"Your desire is apparent but, as a certain friend of mine always says, everything comes at a price. In your case, the price is by no means a small one."

Time passed and the fire stretched farther away but wasn't able to reach either the man or the injured boy laying next to him. Zodiak mustered all his strength and slowly opened his dried lips:

"I'- I w-will give my s..soul."

Hearing this, the man chuckled and retorted:

"Soul? Why would I need your soul? I'm not a devil, you know. Actually, the price you'll be paying isn't for me."

As he said that, the man stabbed his hand into Zodiak's chest and released a malevolent black energy which consumed the boy's whole body in a few brief seconds. Zodiak's body convulsed but he couldn't feel any pain, he just knew that his body wasn't faring too well.

The man, named Arthur MoonStar, stood up, stared at the struggling kid for some time before throwing an empty diary right next to his head.

"From now on, every night, record any important thing that you do. When the time comes, I'll come and demand you to pay the price so do not forget."

After saying that, Arthur vanished into a dissipating black mist, leaving Zodiak alone. The fire continued its course, approaching the convulsing Zodiak.

Apart from that young kid, no one knew what happened that day but, that forest had a drastic transformation and soon changed names, becoming a forbidden zones inhabited by mutated monsters. The scorched trees and corrupted ground returned to normal but became jet black in color, even the dead crocodile returned to life.

*****

There existed humans who are bad at magic, there also many who can't use it, however, a case like Zodiak's was truly unique. As someone born in a world filled with Mana, he should've been able to use spells, especially after acquiring Dark Magic, however, it was the total opposite. His body lacked any kind of energy, excluding Dark Mana, which Zodiak created for himself. Since he could not use normal Mana, he converted it with his powers into an energy he could use as a catalyst to enhance his Dark Magic spells.

Since the meeting between him and Arthur, Zodiak spent the next two years alone, roaming a zone devoid of any humans. He resolved himself to become stronger then go back to his city and eradicate all the filth. He didn't have any proper goal but he wanted to pay back all the nobles who mocked him and treated him like an animal. One of the reasons his mother died was because of their arrogance and twisted nature.

In these two years, Zodiak became a real killing machine, something that lacked emotions and only sought death. His manipulation of Dark Magic reached a very high-stage and he even invented new, formidable uses for it. He was able to control beasts, change the structure of his bones and fully protect his heart, which changed location.

Though he recorded his daily activities, he didn't mention his training and even when he acquired the system later on, he made sure not to register them.

When Zodiak left seclusion and headed back to his 'home', the city ruled by the nobles who oppressed the beggars and poor, he never thought that he'll meet another person whom he'll rely on in the future. It all began when he purposely let himself be captured by a famous slave trader right at the entrance of the city.

Seeing his fighting potential, the trader was joyous and promised him that some noble will certainly buy him and provide him with more than he could wish for, he just needs to fight and win in the Colosseum.

It didn't take long for the fifteen years old Zodiak to be bought by a pig-like noble lady. In addition to him, another boy, younger than him, was also bought. The boy had jet black hair and brown eyes, he had a horrifying scar on his neck all the way to his stomach and seemed physically fit for his age. His name? It was Forne.

******

"Greetings, Madam."

A man that emanated a truly dangerous aura stood before Lucy, bowing respectfully. His hair was jet black and his eyes were lowered, lacking any arrogance, a surprising thing for someone of his position.

The only reason Lucy didn't attack was because of the youth standing next to this man. He wore a grey robe and seemed innocent but, in reality, he was a skillfull assassin, the Green seat of Justice of Black Rose.

As for this man? He was the leader, the Black Seat of Death and also the man who almost killed her in the war. He was the one who attacked her and used a destructive energy which was barely stopped by the ARK and herself.

"You are?"

Though she nodded to Artid, who she was previously acquainted with but she didn't show the same level of respect to the tall man standing in front of her.

"My name is Forne. A half-vampire and the Black Seat of Death, pleased to make properly meet you, Madam MoonStar."

Lucy, arms crossed didn't reply, she only stared at him, her blue eye pulsating with light. Thanks to the eye gifted by Arthur, she was able to use Appraisal and get satisfactory information about this man, who was really strong, the strongest person she had ever met, excluding Timos and Arthur's brothers, of course.

He was also over 50,000 years old and had an insane amount of titles.

"Arthur isn't here yet, I wonder to what do we owe this visit of yours?"

Knowing that this Forne is the leader of Black Rose, or at least the strongest out of all the seats so his word held a significant amount of power, Lucy talked directly to him despite her unwillingness.

"Your husband has obtained the Red seat of Blood and as promised by Artid, the White seat is yours if you want."

The White seat had already betrayed them and joined forces with Xyktia so it was left vacant, and Lucy was the perfect fit for this position.

"I refuse, I've got more important matters to attend to than assassinating."

Forne bowed again and replied:

"We're aware that your circumstances are a bit… unique."

He glanced at the slightly large figure at the corner of the room. It was a blue wolf soundlessly sleeping, the tip of its three tails each let out differently-colored sparks of thunder, disturbing the air around them.

"Which is why we won't fault your husband for not coming to the HQ or performing the promised jobs. We believe that joining forces can be beneficial for all sides, especially in these times of turmoil."