MYTH Branch Office in Newgate City. Mari was in her office looking at a monitor in front of her. On the monitor was footage of Miko’s battle against Bastian sometime back.

“Those moves….”

She was watching him tear apart Bastian’s army with swift and powerful attacks.

“It looks like they’re powered using his Divinity from his link with Tiamat.”

She saw him use smooth footwork to maneuver himself through his enemies.

“I can see that this martial art is inspired by water which in itself isn’t new…But it’s pretty lethal when he’s doing it while drawing power from the eldest water deity.”

She rewinded the footage to the beginning of the attack. More specifically, to the moment Miko destroyed Romix’s wall by touching the ground.

“This technique is the one that’s the most mysterious. He destroyed the ground with a single touch, so he must’ve poured his power into it, but the way he did it is a first for me.”

She fast-forwarded a bit and looked at the black glow that scanned the ground before it burst apart.

“What is this black light? Demon Magic? Demonic Vita? Or could it be a combination of both?....I can’t tell from footage alone. I would need to experience it for myself.”

She played the footage again.

“The way it destroys things are pretty subtle so I doubt it uses that much power. So it’s a matter of power control rather than raw power then?”

She frowned.

“If that’s the case, can I reproduce it?”

She shook her head.

“I don’t even know what’s the power source behind the attack. Maybe I’ll have Miko trade us it’s secrets for something else?”

She then moved on to a different footage. It was Miko fighting Bastian.

“I can see why Bastian lost. It must be hard to fight against techniques you’re unfamiliar with. Especially, that footwork that’s confusing to follow. He let his guard down and almost paid for it with his life.”

She slowed down Miko’s final attack which he used on Bastian.

“Flowing Serpent Strike, huh? He strengthens his fingertips and gathers his divine energy there before striking over and over again. The speed of the attack is deadly but the real killer is that each strike comes from an angle different from the last, but somehow still hits the same target.”

She paused the video and zoomed on Miko’s arms.

“The amount of tension in his muscles is incredible. I’m sure that this martial art of his is taxing on the body. If he makes a mistake he can end up destroying his own body. I don’t think just anyone can learn this. Just how many years would it take to create this martial art?”

She became a bit silent before talking again.

“Wait, this art is called Quinta-Dragon Martial Arts, right? He’s only shown the Azure Dragon Style that’s inspired by water and Tiamat then there should be four other styles. Are they based on different elements and people?”

Mari leaned back in her seat and thought about it for a bit.

“Ishmavael, Beleth, Augustus…These three are sources of Miko’s strength through either bloodline or contract, so three of the remaining four must be them. But what about the last one?”

She thought about it some more. That’s when the footage on her monitor changed.

“Yo.”

On the screen was a face, rather the bottom half of a face. However, that was enough for Mari to recognize who it was.

“Well, well. Isn’t this a surprise? I didn’t expect the Hero himself to call me so suddenly.”

Mari smiled.

“May I ask the reason for your call?”

“Can’t I call just to check up on you?”

“Oh, please. Let’s remove the fact that we aren’t close enough for you to just casually check up on me. You’re one of New Era’s Five Leaders while I’m just a part of a system created by another one of its Leaders, there’s no reason you would call to check up on me. So be honest, Lord Hero.”

“Hahaha. Whether it’s the original or one of her units you’re as blunt as ever, Marionette.”

The hero smiled.

“Well, I just returned from the Invisible World and heard that my archenemy is enjoying himself over there. I wanted to hear more about it. I met him in the Invisible World, by the way.”

“Archenemy? You mean Miko?”

The hero nodded.

“I’m an Aniket while he’s a Satan. We’re on the opposite spectrum of Irregularity and are enemies by fate.”

“I see. I learned something new about your kind…..Wait.”

Mari’s stood from her seat.

“If you went to the Invisible World does that mean that you were forced to rely excessively on your Irregularity?!”

“Yup!”

“No way…Who could push someone like you that far? Also, why didn’t I hear about it?”

“Haha…Well, it was a spur of the moment thing.”

“Who did you fight?”

“….Fighting God, Rood.”

“You fought Heracles’ Proxy?! Who won?!”

“Let’s change the topic.”

“So you lost?”

“No, it was a draw.”

“Really?”

“Hey, what’s with that look? Would I lie?”

“Yes.”

“…..Just tell me what Miko’s up to.”

“Well, you came at a good time. I was just going over some footage of him. He got some new moves and I wanted to dissect them.”

“Moves? Send me them.”

“Are you sure? Don’t you prefer to have your opponent surprise you when you fight? What if you see them and if you do fight in the future it will be boring?”

“Don’t be stupid. The only way that would happen is if he stops evolving. We Irregulars constantly evolve, so….”

“Alright.”

Mari sent him the footage.

“Oh? These are some sharp movements.”

“Do you recognize them?”

“Nope. They’re most likely originals.”

The hero went through the footage and paused.

“Avatar Embodiment. So he can already use it? Not bad. His avatar seems pretty powerful too. Hey, did you know? The stronger your belief in your path as a warrior the more powerful your avatar will become. To achieve Avatar Embodiment you must become one with the path you’ve chosen, that means becoming your avatar itself.”

“So you’re saying that Miko became an Asura through and through?”

“Pretty much. His belief in the bloody path of destruction must be crazy strong.”

“So he’s a manifestation of violence huh? His recent actions sure say that.”

“Hm? Isn’t this Jin? Why did he take that beating? He should’ve used his Ecliptic Ability.”

“He can’t. The deal he made with us states that he can only use that power for our benefit. You know what happens if he breaks that promise.”

“Ah, I forgot about that. Then he can’t beat Miko then.”

Mari smirked.

“He couldn’t use it then but he can use it now.”

“What?”

“Earlier Jin came and officially requested permission to use everything against Miko.”

“And you allowed it?”

Mari shook her head.

“Only the Original can do that. I’m a simple unit, I don’t have the authority. But, Father does.”

“That Kaiser actually gave permission. He must really want to test Miko.”

“He also approved Jin’s request for the Parasitic Zodiac Suits.”

“What?!”

The hero suddenly shouted.

“Has he finally gone mad?! Giving Jin one of those suits is like giving a dragon another head! It’s overkill!”

Mari saw the hero clench his fists.

“That bastard is pushing it. If Tiana finds out she’ll kill him.”

“Calm down. Jin isn’t going to use the suits. He asked for them to give to his allies.”

“Really? Then it’s fine.”

(He immediately calmed down. Well, I don’t blame him. Jin is one of the few who can draw out the full potential of the suits. In theory, he should be able to kill Divine Level fighters wearing them.)

Mari thought.

“By the way, what generation suits did he received?”

“Second Generation.”

“Second, huh? Isn't that a bit too brutal for them? It’s better than the First Generation but they can still die pretty easily if they don’t know what they’re doing.”

“Jin chose them regardless. He’s that desperate. I’m sure his allies are too.”

“Hmm….Miko really gonna have a fight on his hands.”

“That’s the plan. The Pillars were given some great stuff to add to what they were building to level the battlefield.”

“I see. So what if Miko wins despite all of this?”

Mari smiled.

“Then he was worth the risk and investments.”

Newgate City.

Jin was sitting in a chair staring at five briefcases on a table in front of him. The briefcases were all wrapped in black chains and had various zodiac symbols on them.

“These are Parasitic Zodiac Suits alright. The sinister aura that’s leaking out is the real deal.”

He took up a case that was beside him and opened it. Inside it was a katana with a jet black blade and a white handle. The words Kusanagi X were written on it.

“I was given a chance to use everything I got. I won’t mess this up.”

He took up the blade.

“I will once again revert to a reaper if it means being able to protect everyone this time around.”

A dark-gray aura started leaking out of his body.

“This time, I will protect everyone even if it costs my life.”