As Leoric continued his call and more and more souls began to arise.

The sudden rush of soldiers who wanted to open the stone gates that protected them from total annihilation created massive panic.

Soldiers began to kill each other, and the potent Mist that caused fear and horror covered the entire mine. Even those secret members of the Serpentari began to kill and attack each other in confusion.

The swords and screams could be heard from the outside of the gate.

Leoric continued to speak and call out to his knights. Some were beginning to turn into madness and would shout to give glory to Leoric.

Dyne was busy balancing the power of darkness that was rushing inside and was purging it with Brimstone.

The entire chamber of Jedo was now filled with malevolent energy. The other souls that Jedo had already captured began to attack and devour the helpless souls inside.

The Afarit was also growing stronger. But, surprisingly, Dyne allowed a small part of the Mist to seep in and recover its power.

Jedo, himself was allowing the Mist to enter his soul. But then, the slain's fear, sadness, and terror began. He saw the tortured souls of The process of merging with Yami was incomplete. And now, this darkness and vileness were being used to prepare for his turning.

“It is said that you in the game became the first Sim-Ra-Seru. But it corrupted you. Can you do this?”

“I don’t know. The Mist is too weak here. I thought that the presence of actual souls would help, but… they are too few. You can sense them, right, Master Dyne? The other souls that have been tortured. They have not moved out.”

“Yes. We have to go there, and I might have to do the chant to awaken it. The Serpentari has been busy! How many souls have they tortured and killed here? And it’s not just humans, but animals and strange creatures. It seems that they have been attacking and bringing in more people not just from Martsirt or the small desolate towns nearby, but also found some people on the other side, near Merkley.” Dyne concluded as he sensed the souls that were rising from the Mist. Through his Eye of Destiny, he could see the strange Fates of some that didn’t fit the context and environment in Merkley.

“This Mist contains only a small portion of its true terrors. If those other souls rise, it will make it as formidable as the Mist in Legaia.” Strafe added.

Soon, ghosts and wisps of souls began to wander about in the Mist as the darkness now covering the area awakened them. Some drew closer because of Jedo. Leoric was calling others.

Emera was in charge of fending off the wild ghost that was approaching. However, she and her wights continued to devour the spirits.

“Dyne observed. I wonder… Leoric is a skilled summoner that managed to command all these people by an Oath. But what about the other dead? Could they be called?” Dyne pondered.

“The artifact in his hand increases his ability to communicate with the dead. And the heart of darkness allows Leoric to harness Dark Element. If he uses the two, it should be possible. Remember how the Dark element can be used in Legaia.” Strafe reminded.

“Sound! Of course!” Dyne remembered how the Nighto could confuse an enemy and even kill it with its Hell Music. Dyne turned to observe Jaden.

Jaden sat down and battled with the souls and even the madness created from the Mist.

His expressions kept changing. As the Mist was gathering near Dyne, he could feel a concentrated form of it. Jaden himself was not escaping the Mist but bathing in it.

“Hm… I want to see if Leoric can call the rest of the souls, but Jaden may not handle it.” Dyne began to consider as he looked carefully at Jaden.

“I guess I should help…” Dyne then used the Imaginarium Bond. He used the Mist to see the pain of the people who died and reflect on it.

Jaden was already in pain. He could not understand what he was feeling. But it was making him sad, exhausted, angry, and scared.

“Open your eyes, Jaden.” Dyne ordered.

When Jaden did, he saw strange scenes.

He could see how the soldiers who were here soon discovered the trap. But they were captured and brought into the torture chamber was they were perfect to become the evil angry spirits that fueled the wicked and dark magic that the Serpentari kept doing.

All of a sudden, the pain was now clear. The emotions now made sense. With a glimpse of the visual, it was as if all the pain and terror were given a picture. Jaden now saw the pain that the soldiers had experienced.

“Bear the pain, the sadness, and suffering. If you fall now, no one will lift the souls of these people up. As long as that Afarit lives, more will suffer. Your own half-brother will experience something much worse as his body will be used to contain the Afarit’s soul.” Dyne added.

Jaden began to tremble and clutch his heart. His expressions kept changing and changing.

“Jaden. Show some more resolve. I have a way of increasing the terror. You would see more painful things and could have grown stronger, but you are too weak! So I won’t do it. Is this the extent of your powers?” Dyne prodded.

Jaden was awakened from all that.

“I have to resist it! These horrors… should not affect me!” Jaden declared.

Dyne watched intently, and he could sense something happening in Jaden’s soul. There were so many things that made Jaden a rather peculiar person. He was a bastard and illegitimate child who was largely ignored by the rest. While he was the older son, he was still not the one to which the kingdom would be given.

He endured countless sufferings and was treated with unfair and even evil injustice by the people under Ciroel. But despite all this, Jaden became a loyal servant. It was as if all those things did not instill in him the desire to do harm, but he continued to follow the laws. He was the firstborn, but not with the queen. And he followed the rules of the kingdom. He was very by the book, and if it wasn’t for the super peculiar events that led to his near demise and how he was saved, there were many things about Dyne that Jaden would have despised.

And now, with the horrors appearing before him, his elemental temperament was starting to appear.

“Element of Metal.” Dyne sensed it.

“Hard and firm and as cold as ice.”

“You got it. Those of the steel or metal attribute are generally seen to be the best law enforcing people, for they are very apathetic to the emotional pleas of people. He is starting to develop it.” Strafe added.

Jaden kept his eyes open and watched the horrors. And it created the desire in him. He saw it and interpreted it and came to his own conclusion.

“I will get strong to ensure that the laws are abided by! No evil men will stand against my blade.” So Jaden decided in his heart.

“He is unmoved. Amazing…” Dyne smiled. Even he could not resist the madness of the Mist. And now, Jaden was unmoved by it!

“Then we can go with the other plans.” Dyne smiled.

“Leoric! Extend your call not just to all your knights. Call all the dead here!” Dyne expressed.

Leoric was concentrating but was jolted awake from Dyne’s call.

“You have that power thanks to the two items I gave you! If no oath binds you to the rest of the dead, then be the king to call them into a kingdom where there is justice, peace, and joy!”

An evil smile appeared on Leoric.

“So Tristram will be a Kingdom of the living and the dead! Interesting. But I think the dead are more loyal.” Leoric laughed.

“I call out to the Void! I call out the dead! I call out to you who have suffered and were slaughtered by these wicked men! You have died too early and have not tasted the joys of life! Come to my kingdom! Come and rise to serve! Let us relish in the blood of those who did you harm! Let us build a kingdom for my own! Let your dry bones take strength! Arise! Arise! Arise!” Leoric’s mad call resounded all over the mine.

A chilling sensation blew, and the ghost and spirits began to come out of the cave.

Their emotions of great sadness that sought joy appeared.

Their emotions of great pain and longed-for relief emerged.

Their emotions of great vengeance that raged to be paid erupted.

And all of it was moving towards Leoric.

“I guess this is how the Mist is commanded to move in Legaia,” Dyne observed.

More howls and screeches were heard.

“Lord Dyne. It seems there are wraiths here.” Emera reported.

“Devour them. They have suffered too much that their souls only know anger and wrath. We don’t need them. Make your wights stronger.”

“My pleasure.” Emera licked her lips in great desire. The souls that were being made here were very tasty.

The Mist was arriving.

“Jedo. Don’t fall into the madness of Yami.” Dyne warned.

“She died, but before that, she has been following Rogue, who rebelled against Tieg. Rogue’s Mist ought to be quite strong, and she must have absorbed a lot.”

“I know, Master Dyne. I saw her fight with Horn and knew she was turning evil.”

“Oh? Evil? The Ra-Seru Juggernaught…” Dyne smiled.

“Ye-yes. Wha-what are you thinking?” Strafe asked.

“So this is Evil? To think Darkness was not yet Evil. Well, it makes sense. If there is Dark Fire which is the evil side of Fire, and that sadistic Calamitus Slime was Dark but had a very righteous side… Then there is a true Darkness.”

“No! Don’t do that! Don’t underestimate Evil! Juggernaut can be acquired in Legaia as a late-game and even end-game item! So it’s not something you should try now!” Strafe shouted.

“Oh, Strafe, you were still holding out on me. Don’t worry! Fire is passion, Lightning is wrath, and Metal is apathy. I have long known what Brimstone was. Do you think Evil will get me? Come on. I can manage that! My elemental temperament is the direct opposite of darkness which is cruelty, or Evil, which is its true form!” Dyne laughed.

“Jedo. Change of plans. Try to share the madness of Yami with me. It’s been a while since I cultivated my soul.” Dyne laughed.