*Thud!*

“Miko!”

The falling of Miko’s body was followed by the scream of Momo. She and the others watched as blood flowed from the large holes in Miko’s torso. They all had horrified expressions on their faces.

“Ah, the sniper is still at large! Watch out!”

Jin was the first to break out of his daze.

“…….”

Momo didn’t respond and stood in a daze. Soon, her eyes became bloodshot and she started grinding her teeth.

“How dare you…”

She spoke with a low growl before turning towards the direction Miko was sniped from.

“How dare you shoot, my Miko?!”

A magic circle opened up under her feet and she flew up into the air and raised one arm overhead. There everyone saw a huge fiery red magic circle appeared some distance away from them.

“Burn to an oblivion!”

A gigantic fireball started emerging from the circle. The sight of the fireball made jin and the others speechless. Momo clenched her teeth and swung her arm down.

“Solar Wrath!”

The fireball fell from the sky and descended onto the earth. It was as if a miniature sun was thrown from the heavens. The collision caused the entire district to tremble and waves of hot air reached even where Momo and the others were despite being at least two miles away.

“A-Amazing….”

Everyone silently nodded in agreement to Sapphire’s mumbling.

“So this is Momo’s true power when she removes all restrictions that she subconsciously placed on herself...”

Tia mumbled. She saw Momo descend from the sky and landed next to Miko.

“We need to save him!”

“It’s fine, Momo.”

Tia tried to calm her down.

“Fine? His heart was obliterated!”

“But I’m still here aren’t I? So is Ishma and Regis. That means that Miko isn’t dead.”

“He isn’t dead with these wounds? Is he immortal or something?”

Kaido was astonished.

“No, but it is indeed strange. If he survived he should be healing himself yet there’s no signs of that.”

“Then!”

Tia stopped Momo.

“However, his life force hasn’t changed that much from the moment he was shot. With a wound like this his life should be draining away at terrifying pace….And, yet it’s stagnant. I’m honestly puzzled.”

“He’s not healing but he’s not dying either? Then what’s happening?”

*********

Meanwhile, inside Miko’s soul. Miko was standing in front of the five gates that held his power as a Satan and an Irregular behind them. He had a bitter smile on his face.

“Ah~. I fucked up.”

He held his face in his hand.

“I was able to sense the sneak attack because of my Nana training me to automatically sense danger, but my body moved before I could think. I pushed Hana out of the way and erected a barrier of Vita and magic to stop the bullet but I didn’t expect for them to have someone who knew how to properly use an Anti-Proxy Rifle. There’s no way I could’ve stopped that bullet much less the second one.”

He sighed.

“Well, at least I was able to send my consciousness here in the last second. I just need to open the second gate, Chaos and I’ll be able to recreate my destroyed organs.”

He walked to the gate and started pushing it.

“Huh?”

But it wouldn’t budge.

“No way…”

He started pushing even harder.

“No, no, no.”

He shook his head with a dry laugh and started pushing even harder. After sometime he stopped and looked at the gate with vacant eyes.

“Y-You’re kidding me, right? Why can’t I open the gate?”

He stood in silence.

“No!”

He held his head and screamed.

“Is this how I die?! By being shot from a far?!”

He started kicking the gate.

“Hell no! I won’t accept such a lame death! I’m supposed to go out in a Bang! You know, like slaughtering all my enemies before dying standing up! Or dying in a bed filled with beautiful women! At least give me a Whitebeard moment dammit! This is some bullshit!”

“Hahaha. I see that you’re as lively as ever.”

Miko turned around after hearing a familiar voice.

“I see. So you’re the reason why I can’t open the gate, Samael?!”

“Yo.”

A large black snake with red dots appeared in front of Miko. It was the original Satan, Samael.

“It’s been a while, brat. It looks like you’re finally growing into a fine Satan. I’m proud.”

“Cut the crap. I’m about to die if I don’t open the second gate.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve frozen your body to prevent you from dying. Also, time moves really slow here so there’s no rush. So let’s talk for a bit.”

(The place isn’t crumbling away so I guess I’m in the clear for now.)

“Alright. Then where have you been all this time?”

“Scheming and plotting. You know, Satan stuff.”

“Same here.”

“I know. I’ve been watching you.”

Miko saw the serpent smile.

“But I must say, Miko. I’ve seen what you’re planning and You’re quite the evil one.”

“……”

“I doubt you plan on telling your love ones what you’re really thinking though.”

“I won’t tell them, they’ll see for themselves.”

“Hahaha! By that time it’s already too late. The whole world will be your enemy, including them. I’m sure they’ll be furious when they find out what you had planned for them and how you’ve been manipulating them.”

“I haven’t manipulated anyone and everything I did and will do is for their own benefit.”

“Yeah, keep tell yourself that. Maybe you come to believe it.”

The serpent shook its head.

“No, you already believe it.”

“….Say, Samael. You’ve seen it as well right? That era’s beginning and it’s end. You’ve also seen the direction this world is heading to.”

“Of course I’ve seen it. Why do you think I want to destroy everything?”

“Then..”

“Don’t get me wrong, Miko. I don’t support what you plan on doing. After all, if I did wouldn’t I have to forfeit my life to you? There’s no way I’m doing that.”

“Figures.”

Miko showed a bitter smile.

“That expression says it all. You’re fully aware of how messed up you are for thinking of such a plan.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“And yet, you plan on doing it.”

Miko became silent for a bit before speaking again.

“I’m currently in a strange country ran by a strange woman. In this country, everything is different from what I’m used. Down to the literature. Recently, I’ve found a book by a woman called Mary Shelley. In that book was a line that resonate with my heart and soul.”

Miko closed his eyes as he recited the line with emotion.

“No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks.”

“…..I see. That does indeed perfectly describe the current you.”

The serpent smiled.

“Despite knowing that what you’re doing and what you seek may be viewed as evil you see it as something that will grant you the happiness that you desire. Even if you have walk on the ashes of the world ,you’ll continue walking until you’ve reached your goal.”

He chuckled.

“If that isn’t the Satan thing to do then I don’t know what is.”

Miko laughed as well.

“I take it that you have your own plans in motion?”

“Of course. I can’t stay bound to you forever. I want to free myself from my prison and challenge the Supreme Being once more.”

Miko’s face became emotionless.

“Ah, Yes. The Supreme Being. That fucker is probably my biggest obstacle.”

“Oh? I never thought that you would come to hate him.”

“Of course. His negligence is the cause for everything. Not only his, but you and Devoro as well. You three brothers damned this world equally.”

“Hahaha! This world was damned from the start! Don’t throw all the blame on us. We actually had everything under control until those brats calling themselves Higher Beings came and tainted this world.”

“Well, they’re to blame as well. Everyone is.”

Miko’s eyes became sharp.

“That’s why I’m taking it upon myself to fix everything.”

“Fix huh? Don’t you mean end?”

Miko didn’t reply.

“But that’s fine. I too wanted to destroy everything. It’s in our nature as Satans after all. We hate the world and it hates us. A truly simple relationship.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Samael. I actually love this world as much as I hate it. After all, it’s where I met everyone.”

Miko smiled brightly.

“It’s just that everything about it makes me sick to my stomach.”

“Hahahaha!”

Samael suddenly burst out laughing.

“Do you even hear yourself? You’ve completely lost it!”

He continued laughing for a while before stopping.

“Well, I guess no one would come out of what you’ve seen in the Invisible World sane. It sure sucks to be an Irregular huh?”

“Tell me about it. You guys are a pretty huge thorn in my side as well.”

“I know what you mean.”

Samael became silent for a while before speaking.

“I’m leaving this soul after this. I was weaken when you turned into a full Satan a year ago and it seems that my time here is up.”

“I see. Then, thank you for everything.”

“Oh? I never expected a Thanks from you. It looks like you’ve really lost it.”

Samael laughed again before mellowing down.

“Currently, countless powers are aiming for the throne. Countless schemes to achieve that wish is in motion. If you can overcome all of them I’ll be waiting for you and those other brats at the Apex. Make sure you make it.”

“Don’t worry. Even if those guys don’t make it to that place, I definitely will.”

Miko thrust his fist out, Samael pushed his tail out to touch it as if to bump fists with him. The two spoke in unison.

“I’ll be the one to devour you and destroy everything in your honor!”

The two burst out laughing until Samael slowly faded away. Seeing that he was all alone Miko sighed and approached the second gate again and started pushing it. A creaking sound echoed through the world. With a smile on his face, Miko spoke-

“Until we meet again, you snake bastard.”

*********

*BAM!*

In the real world Miko’s body and exploded and an azure fog swept through the area.

“Wha?!”

Everyone was immediately pulled into a state of confusion.

“He really is alive!”

Kaido shouted. Soon, the fog disappeared as if it was sucked up by something. When they came to their senses they saw Miko standing there with holes in his shirt but his body was fully healed.

“Ah~.”

He placed his hand on chest.

“I thought that I was a goner.”

“Miko!”

Momo, Ishma, and Regis leaped onto him and pushed him to the ground.

“I thought you were dead! I’m so happy you’re okay!”

They started smothering him while he laid on the ground.

“Hahaha. I’m fine. I’m fine really.”

They ignored him and continued to smother him. This caused Miko to smile.

(See this, Samael. This is what I love about this world.)

The smile slowly vanished from his face.

(It’ll definitely be my greatest regret as well.)