Illusionary Beast Valley. Krow was looking at Miko with suspicion in his eyes. The kid in front of him was far different from what he remembered over a year ago. It wasn’t just his demeanor, even his presence was different. It was like he was a completely different being. Even so-

“Alright. You’ve gotten my attention.”

Krow only felt excitement from this new Miko. He jumped down from the skeleton he was standing on and landed in front of Miko.

“So Miko, What did you want to talk about?”

“That’s a good question. What should we talk about?”

“Hey, hey. Don’t tell me you came here without a topic or question in your head.”

“Oh, I have a lot of questions but only a few that I believe that you can answer. However, there is something that piques my interest concerning you.”

“What is it?”

“Your connection to the New Era.”

“New Era? What’s that?”

Miko became silent for a bit before saying-

“I was recruited by them, so there’s no need to act coy.”

“I’m not acting, I don’t know what this New Era is.”

“I see.”

Miko showed a smile.

“If you don’t know then you don’t know.”

He walked past Krow and sat on a rock that was nearby.

“So this is the Illusionary Beast Valley.”

He started looking around.

“I heard that if you stay in here long enough you’ll see illusions that strikes at your weak points. I heard that these illusions are far more deadly than the actual beasts in here, because they can easily break your spirit. In some cases, people commit suicide in here.”

“The illusions that I’ve seen aren’t enough to break my spirit, but I can’t speak for others.”

Krow answered cooly. Miko nodded.

“I wonder what kind of illusions would it show me if I stayed here long enough.”

“You wouldn’t find out. The beasts here would eat you alive before you did. Also, it goes without saying but I won’t protect you from anything that comes at you while you’re in here.”

“I didn’t expect you to, but the thought is appreciated. Also, I don’t need protection.”

Miko continued looking around in silence before saying-

“The next time you hear from Klick, tell him to wash his hands of Hina, Ace, and Sora.”

Miko stopped looking around and stared at him with his smiling face.

“Or are you going to say that you don’t know him either?”

“….I know him.”

“Of course you do. You ordered Layla to tell the trio that Klick was killed by Nebulous’ hands. Despite inheriting Darius’ memories, I have no recollection of such an event. Yet, the trio believes that to be the case. Why?”

Krow didn’t answer. He knew that Miko already had his hands on all the information he needed to determine whether Klick was dead or not; so there was no use trying to deny or hide the truth.

“You also had a feud with Nami. I don’t know the initial cause of the feud but it’s safe to assume that you killed her so that Klick could get his hands on Hina.”

Miko’s eyes looked especially blue like they were glowing.

“I’ll say it again. Tell Klick or whatever his name is to leave the trio alone. His decision will be what determines my relationship with New Era.”

(Is he implying that he’s considered joining New Era?)

Krow was a bit surprised but he didn’t let it show on his face.

“Then, that was the main reason why you came here?”

He didn’t give Krow an answer and simply push what he said aside.

“No. The thought only just popped up in my head. My motives for coming here are solely to interact with you.”

Miko crossed his legs and leaned over with a grin.

“So, tell me about yourself.”

“…….”

Everything from his question to his posture creeped Krow out. Miko was either oblivious of Krow’s feelings or simply ignoring it. Either way, he continued the conversation.

“So that’s Vastator? The legendary blade wielded by Augustus.”

Krow’s glare instantly became hostile when his father’s sword was mentioned. He placed his hand on the golden sword that was on his waist.

“The origins of that sword is pretty interesting. I heard that it was made from a mixture of Augustus’ own blood, the blood of various Higher Beings, Phoenix blood, and a golden meteorite. I also heard that it was made by Hephaestus himself because he wanted Augustus to kill Zeus. I don’t think that there’s a sword with greater origins than it.”

The more Miko spoke about the sword the more hostile Krow looked.

“Relax. I’m not gunning for your sword. I have two perfect swords of my own. I’m just intrigued by its origin.”

Miko gestured Krow to relax. He could tell that Vastator meant a lot to him.

“Vastator is the greatest sword to ever exist. Your swords can’t compare. Just like how you can’t compare to my father.”

“Then, can you compare to him?”

“No.”

“An immediate response.”

Miko chuckled.

“I know what you’re gonna say. You’re curious as to why I’m so confident that I can accomplished what my father couldn’t despite being very inferior to him, right?”

Miko nodded. Krow finally showed a smile.

“It’s because despite all the odds against me, I’ll win in the end. It’s that simple.”

Miko wanted to ask him where his confidence was coming from but he shut his mouth when he saw the terrifying conviction in Krow’s eye.

(He really believes that he’ll win.)

Miko had an amused expression on his face.

“You’re inferior to your father but you’re confident that you’ll surpass him. Interesting.”

Miko had a quick scan of the world again before speaking.

“The fact that you came here for almost two years now means that you’re determined to make your ambitions a reality, but it also indicates that you’re aware that it’ll take a lot to make them happen and that you won’t be able to do it unless you go through extreme measures.”

“Your point?”

“I’m saying that your actions indicates that you don’t have an abnormal amount of confidence in yourself, and yet you’re convinced of your eventual victory. I find this all amusing but at the same time terrifying.”

Miko’s face became serious.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t want you as an enemy if possible.”

“But here we are. Enemies gunning for each other’s lives.”

Krow said. Miko nodded.

“I said earlier that I currently don’t kill out of emotions but out of necessity.”

Miko pointed at Krow.

“At the moment, your death is a necessity for my people to be safe.”

“What coincidence. Your and your people’s death is a necessity for my ambitions.”

The two started smiling.

“Then that simply means that there’s no avoiding war.”

“It’s been unavoidable from the start.”

Krow said. Miko stood up.

“Well, I guess it’s time for me to go.”

“Oh, leaving so soon? Don’t you wanna have a walk and see the world? Maybe even getting eaten in the process.”

“While that does sound fun, I need to go back and stop everyone from worrying. My mother must be trying to figure out a way into this place regardless of the means.”

“So she’s still overprotective?”

Krow laughed.

“To be honest I wanted to learn more about you and the reason why you hate the clan, but let’s leave that for another day.”

“We should. It’s not an amusing story anyway.”

“Is that so?”

Miko turned his back to him, looking like he was going to leave but suddenly halted.

“Ah, there’s one question that I’m sure there’s a 50/50 chance of you being able to answer.”

He turned around with a smile.

“It’s about the phoenixes.”

“Phoenix?”

Miko nodded.

“I know that they existed despite information about them being so scarce, but what happened to them? I heard that they all suddenly disappeared one day during the War for Supremacy.”

“What makes you think that I’ll know what happened to them?”

“Because you have Augustus’s inheritance.”

“So?”

“Don’t play dumb. Our clan is linked to the Phoenix race through Augustus. His sword has Phoenix blood in it, and his and the clan’s Crest has a dragon and a Phoenix entangling each other. My Crest has a Dragon and a Crow entangling together by the way. For both of us, the dragon represents Tia, for me the crow represents Ishma, but who is represented by the Phoenix?”

“Who knows? Maybe it was just a random thing he included?”

Krow had a sly smile on his face.

“Really? Then why was Augustus called the Phoenix Prince before he was called the Divine Conqueror?”

“……..”

“Are you surprised that I knew of his old alias? It’s information that not a lot of people knew after all.”

“Tiamat obviously told you. There’s no need to act mysterious.”

Miko didn’t deny or admitted to Krow’s words, he just kept his usual smile.

“I don’t know why my father was called that or whether he has a connection to the phoenixes disappearance.”

(That’s a lie.)

Miko remembered a conversation between Joesph and Samael. Samael mentioned a Phoenix and that they were the reason Augustus turned on him. That meant that Augustus had a close relationship with at least one Phoenix, and his title as Phoenix Prince stated that he had a close relationship with the race as a whole. No one truly knows what’s in Augustus’s inheritance but Miko was certain something relating to the Phoenix was there; Krow just didn’t want to say.

(Since he’s gonna be like that then I’ll mess with him a little.)

Miko grinned and then spoke.

“I see. That’s a shame.”

“I guess it is.”

Miko nodded.

“It’s almost as big as a shame of you not realizing how pointless trying to avenge your father is.”

“What?”

“Heh. Well, bye. Until we meet again.”

Before Krow could say anything, Miko disappeared from the Illusionary Beast Valley.

“What was he trying to say?”

Krow could sense that there was a deeper meaning in what Miko said. He could also tell that it was said solely to puzzle him.

“Should I take it as an attempt to get back at me?”

He thought about it for a while and a strange thought appeared in his head. He immediately shook it and dispel the thought.

“There’s no way that’s possible. Something like that can’t be true.”

He then started heading back to his training. However, Miko’s words would haunt him for the remainder of his time in this world.

******

Miko appeared in the royal palace yard with a smile on his face.

“So, how did it go?”

Immediately after appearing Miko was questioned by a man dressed in a blazer suit. He had black hair, golden slit eyes, a handsome face with a beauty mark under his right eye, an elegant smile on his face. It was one of the five guardians of the dragna clan and someone who had just as much authority and influence in the clan as Krow and the branch leaders , Raven.

“It went pretty much how I expected it to. Krow didn’t reveal any information about New Era but I got to learn more about him through our interaction.”

Raven nodded.

“So, do you still hate him?”

“He’s not my favorite person and I would enjoy witnessing his death, but I don’t hate him.”

(That sounds like hate to me…Or maybe he sees it differently.)

Raven thought to himself. Miko chuckled to himself.

“Krow is a pretty interesting character.”

“I believe that he’s thinking the same thing about you.”

Raven said.

“By the way, people are panicking because of the news of your meeting with Krow.”

“Both sides, I presume.”

Raven nodded.

“It seems that Krow’s lackeys feared that you were planning on taking your Satan form to battle Krow one on one without anyone being able to interfere.”

“Hahaha! Talk about jumping the gun. It’s too early for such developments. Besides, if I did that I would die along with Krow. The situation isn’t that drastic yet.”

“That’s how much they fear you, Miko. They can’t take any chances.”

“I guess I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Miko started walking away.

“So, what’s next on your agenda?”

“I’m thinking of going on a trip, but there’s some things that I need to handle first.”

“And what’s the goal of your trip?”

Miko stopped and showed Raven a childish smile.

“To have fun, of course.”