Spirit and body become one.

A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person’s inner strength.

Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode.

In order to quickly awaken the Spirit Mode, Lied together with Zaccharias joined a cluster of dead people seeking reincarnation by passing Mictlan’s trials.

After passing through the trials, the spirits will finally be able to reincarnate.

8th Underworld Level, Upper Block, Administrative Floors, Reincarnation Room

Lied and everyone else went through a portal, popping up inside a new room instantly as they noticed a container big enough to fit a person in its center. Meshulam walked towards the capsule and motioned them to enter one at a time.

Liana unexpectedly stepped forward. That shy woman managed to boost her low self-esteem without anyone even realizing it, and all thanks to their recent experiences.

“Thank you all so much! I promise I won’t lose hope again” Liana bowed her head.

The woman dematerialized into spiritual particles. The container was soon occupied by Hector.

“I won’t waste this second chance” Hector said as his body disappeared into thin air.

Eduardus sighed and headed for the capsule. The officer then focused his attention on Lied.

“Don’t you have family or friends worried about you?” Eduardus asked.

“My parents are dead” Lied answered as he stared at the floor.

“Oh… my condolences.”

“Friends? I have none.”

“Why?”

“Because I never needed them.”

“I see…”

“Hey, there’s this one detective about my age who told me I didn’t know how hard it is to uphold justice and that I would never understand him. What do you make of this?”

“A young man, on top of it… I died while pursuing a fellow police officer who was engaging in acts of corruption. That man was a Spirit Mode user and my unit wasn’t prepared” Eduardus paused momentarily “I know how he feels. Not wanting more innocent people to be hurt and justice prevailing… although it may seem utopian, that’s the world we wish to see.”

Both Susumu and Eduardus believed it was possible to build a fair and equal society.

“I’m ready to stand up once more for what I believe in” the cop said.

“What you believe in…” Lied said in a low voice.

“Lied, I pray that you find your own tenet” Eduardus said goodbye.

Luna was filled with determination as she entered the container. The memory of their first trial in which Lied dodged ten thousand knives came to her mind.

“What are you going to do next?” Luna stared at the human.

“Beats me” Lied answered, frustrated by the fact that he could not awaken the Spirit Mode “Are you pleased with the way everything turned out?” he changed the subject.

Luna nodded, and a smile spread across her face. The girl’s spiritual body began to fade away, followed by a brief silence.

“…You know, there are a lot of people out there that just need a hand to turn their lives around. Will you help them if you run into them?” Luna asked.

“Well… if I get something in return” Lied looked away.

Luna was taken aback by the sudden appearance of a red-haired man who materialized himself via Lied’s spirit. Since it was a connection strictly between Lied and Luna, Meshulam and Zaccharias could not see him.

“Sure” the male said.

Everything started to make sense to the aztec as tears streamed down her face in tiny droplets. Luna did also witness the talking crow’s human form. That was when she finally unraveled her past.

Ten years ago, Luna was walking along Adam’s statue when two children ran past her. The black-haired boy was Lied. Before she died, the girl read a message engraved on a tree, signed by Lied. Luna was thrilled after linking both memories.

“I really was part of your destiny!”

The lass held out her hand to him. Lied was reluctant but still grabbed it.

…

Lied found himself standing in a completely empty dimension shaped through the link betwixt the boy’s lost memories and the girl’s memories.

A blonde-haired, dark green-eyed kid stood at the end of an endless corridor. Lied’s impulse commanded him to run towards the lad, then the latter turned his back on him. The unexpected happened as snakes wrapped their long bodies around Lied’s arms and legs. The mysterious evil brought the fair-haired child to a halt in the same manner. Lied struggled to break loose from the reptiles, however he did not have the strength.

“Wait… Klaus!” Lied remembered his name.

The lad named Klaus smiled at him, his tragic smile hid unimaginable suffering. Overwhelming darkness engulfed them at last.

…

Lied returned to the Reincarnation Room. Luna was gone. Meanwhile, the teenager was shedding tears nonstop.

“Hey, Zaccharias… ahn… why… am I crying?” the male asked the crow sitting on his shoulder.

[END OF CHAPTER]