A string of ethereal images came into Vidio’s sight. It looked as though they were projected on a sheet of glass. Helial approached Vidio to get a better view of the open space that had just appeared.

A long patch of grass stretched out before their eyes. A bunch of people in circle was standing before a young boy who sat on a rock. He gave off a quite demoniac look.

What first stood up about him were the terrifying black wings that spread out from his back. They were as shiny as jade, and as black as the very depths of darkness itself. Two icy dark diamonds were set on his pale face. A single glance was enough for anyone’s blood to freeze. A tangled web of black veins framed his eyelids and temples. The Aura he was exuding wouldn’t surround merely his own body, but it also covered the area all about him. It was as majestic as that of a king. The mere presence of the youngster was enough to give off a regal halo which made the rock he sat on look like the greatest of thrones.

One of the young boy’s hands was lying on the silvery little head of a girl sitting beside him. She was gazing up at him, enraptured. Her big eyes were crystal-clear pools.

The young Devil gazed about himself with a pleased expression on his face. He examined how many people had gathered before him.

“This is but the first of a long series of meetings to come. Together, we’ll let our forces triumph over the hypocrisy of Life. If you’re here, it’s because I admire you. And I mean each of you. Equally. What we aim to is create one single force, which I hope you all agree on. If any problem arouses, please speak up before killing each other. Every betrayer will be signing their death warrant. We need to remain the bastion of sincerity in a world full of lies.”

Amongst the present, a woman stood out for the powerful Aura she gave off and her magnetic beauty. Her curves, her teeming mane, her creamy arms, her sparkling eyes… everything about her couldn’t but remind of a goddess. Above her crossed legs lay a huge arch. Her slender hands were touching it lightly as if to protect it. Helial made no exception among the people whose attention was drawn to her Aura, and her stunning beauty. Never in his life had he lain his eyes on such a beautiful and angelical woman. A mere glimpse of her was a balm to the soul.

“Stand up, Siche,” said the Devil as he approached the woman. She must hold a special position. Everyone stared at her in awe. She stood up and took a few steps forward as the Devil went on speaking: “Show your fellows here what you learnt after…”

The images’ flow got interrupted. The words died mid-sentence.

Siche?

Helial felt a shiver down his spine. Wasn’t “Siche” supposed to be a legendary being? She was only the heroine of one of Vidio’s useless tales, wasn’t she? Vidio’s stories though had also been about Kirin and Heavenly Star Tigers. And Helial did face Kirin and meet Snowflake. The old Master would appear to have rattled off more than floating clouds…

The images got back to flow. Now, the people gathered around the Devil were many more than before. Helial’s eyes immediately caught sight of the wonderful Siche. Beside her sat another female figure whose curves were covered in black clothes and drew just as much attention as those of the other.

“Jeanne?!” Helial’s mouth opened wide.

If that was Jeanne, it meant that the youngster in the middle of the group was… Helial gazed up at the young Devil and ran his eye keenly all over his facial features. Then he turned to gaze at the kid that stood beside him, impassive. A haughty glare was painted on his eyes. However, the kid didn’t seem to pay much attention to Helial’s eyes running from him to the flowing images and back.

“This can only mean that…” Helial whispered.

Beside him, the Devil kept strangely quiet. Helial chose not to ask. He resolved to keep staring at the members of that terrifying group instead.

Amongst them, one more woman caught Helial’s attention. She was wearing a shiny yoroi.

(A/N: yorois are Japanese samurais’ typical armor).

Helial though had no time to scrutinize the woman’s face. His gaze was drawn by a towering, mighty figure on one side. He made out the silhouette of a giant holding a pumpkin water bag. The giant was as tall as a ten-story building. He cast a shadow which was big enough to cover those sitting around him. The mere glance of his body size was enough to cause a shiver down the spine. His eyes, however, were incredibly sweet. They were the keepers of a youth that had now withered. The Soul shrapnel Vidio met inside the Dungeon looked much older than that.

“Glad to have you here again, Perion,” said the Devil as his eyes gazed at those of the giant, “try to pay the fullest attention then. My aim is to make it clear for all of you how much Life differs from Destruction.”

The Devil’s words had suddenly turned more profound. His voice sounded deeper. He raised his right arm as he slightly clenched his fist. All around him, the fabric of space and time began to twist. It seemed about to collapse. “Dominate yourselves. Bend time and space. Bend your destiny, if necessary.”

His words fixed firmly on the heart of each of them. In spite of how simple they might seem, everyone neatly perceived the majesty of the power they carried. If they mastered that power, their Dao of Mana would get the greatest benefits.

“I’ve lived on the run for many years now. I’ve sought refuge in many lands of Destruction. My Clan was wiped out and all those that I’ve loved, all of my family, I’ve left them behind lifeless. The Forces of Life, first and foremost Qinguang, want to deprive every single being in this universe of their free will.”

As the Devil talked, everyone before him sensed his Aura intensify. It turned as bleak as the coldest night. His tone was enough to get them goose pimples. At the same time though, it did give off an uncanny allure that enraptured their heart.

“Whether you were born a slave or a free person, whether you live as a hero or a beggar, you must always get to choose. It doesn’t make any difference whether you choose to do good or be evil. As long as the universe exists, Good and Evil will always be relative concepts. Is it bad to kill a man who’s about to lynch a mob? Is it good to wipe out an entire race just because they do eat human meat? Is there even a neat line between the word “evil” and the word “good”?”

The Devil paused and swept his gaze over his disciples. “I’ve made the most obnoxious cruelties, and I tried to act magnanimously too. But all’ve done follows one same principle. You must not take away free will from anyone. The day this freedom is lost it the day w-”

The images turned blurry. Vidio’s memory seemed to flash forward.

“Well, my little friend, the one you’ve just seen is my master,” the Soul fragment said.

Vidio was rooted to the spot. A wild flame was burning down his eyes. He seemed to have just received the greatest revelation in a lifetime. His brain seemed unable to process the whole of it. Within a few minutes, Vidio had received quite more Epiphanies on his Dao on Mana than he had ever had in his entire life.

He suddenly felt his Mana seethe through the Meridians.

Those tales and myths didn’t belong to books he loved reading, apparently. Vidio had just witnessed a legendary moment in the history of the world, this he realized. Without even knowing who those people were, he knew he had just taken part in a unique event in course of history.

Vidio glanced up at the giant with new eyes, wondering if what he had just seen was one of the moments that laid the foundations of the universe itself.