And so the war in Oros came to an end with the victory fell into the hands of the rebellion force led by a mysterious demon. The dragon council, under the orders of their old leader Maragon, has been disbanded along with all members losing their status and privileges. Although there had been a few dissatisfaction and unwillingness in handing over their power to the new order, none of the members dared to actually do anything. Surprisingly, there were no trials or accusations toward the remaining members as now that everyone knew the entire conflict and the intervention to stop all negotiations have been orchestrated by Taragon and the organization he belonged to, Sanctus. That was not to say that the dragon council was totally blameless in their ways of handling affairs and ruling over the dragons. However, it would be ignorant to accuse them of everything, especially the recent events.

But most important of all was perhaps the election of a new ruler in Oros. While indeed the dragon council did not do what they were supposed to do, to serve the people, many acknowledged the need of a monarchy, a symbol of power to put things in order when needed. Freedom was a great thing but not when it became anarchy, especially when it had to deal with a powerful race like the dragons.

One would assume the leader of the rebellion movement to be the new king of Oros but unfortunately that was not the case. Following his promise, Kaiser has abandoned his post and gave the honor and title of King to his most trustworthy friend, the dragon lord Celdora. Of course, the decision was uncontestable and unanimous as no one had any reason to challenge Celdora's authority. After all, this has also been predicted and has been the talk of many for the last few days. To be fair, the announcement was a bit anticlimactic and mostly anticipated.

But alas, that what were the common people cared and knew about. However, like pretty much everything in this world, there was always a hidden side that not many could see. After all, why would they care about anything else now that they have accomplished what they wanted to do? A natural behavior but sometimes if not often dangerous! The strange circumstances behind Taragon's death, the portal little Syralth took to come in the middle of the battlefield while not remembering anything afterward and in the center of them all was the crown found near what was left of the young black dragon after it expunged from his carcass.

Also, someone has been missing after the end of the war in Oros. Well, rather than said to be missing, it was probably more accurate to say that he was simply gone, nowhere to be found: the white dragon Malick, also known to only Alastor as the Dragon God Amon. But it was not like he left without a trace nor did he just leave quietly either. Just before Alastor could retrieve the mysterious crown, Malick has appeared out of nowhere and took it before vanishing from the battlefield. However, as he disappeared, Amon has left a message to the young demon lord to seek him at a specific location three days after the end of the war.

.....

At the moment, at the highest point in Oros, on top of the central tower of Canaan which has been deserted after the war, two figures were standing against the wind with the cloths fluttering to the high breeze.

"You have come, Alastor." Said the dragon in his human form. "I apologize for the sudden disappearance a few days ago but there was no way around it."

"About time you tell me what is going on! Start with that crown! Why did you take it?" Alastor asked menacingly.

"I made a mistake. I thought the curse has been removed from the crown but after what happened, it is clear that it was not the case." Amon replied.

"Curse? What curse?"

"I cannot tell you. I am bound to an Oath that forbids me to reveal it. All I can tell you is that something evil lurks inside it so stay away from it, Alastor! Nothing good would come out of Tartarus." Amon said.

"You know that the more you forbid something, the more tempting it is right? If you don't tell me why, how am I supposed to know what is good or not?" Alastor spoke.

"What you do is up to you! I can only give advices but the one who will take the final decision is you and should only be you." the God conveyed. A thought rang in his mind. 'If that future is to be happening, there is nothing I can do to stop it. Still, I want to try....knowing how futile it might be.'

"You talk like you know what it is. Did you find out about it when you helped Vincent sealing Akroma? Is that why you took away the memories of Archna and the others involved?" inquired the boy.

"So you managed to meet Vincent...Just as Fate predicted!" Amon muttered silently. "What you said is correct. But instead of thinking about that, head my words, demon lord!

After leaving this place, go to the gate of Celestia! Everything you want to know, all the answers you seek, lie there. But do not linger around in Astora anymore! Your role here is done. The longer you stay idle, the more dangerous it will be!

So please, go to Celestia! That's if you cherish your loved ones!"

"...The more you talk, the more I don't understand one bit of what you are saying. JUST WHAT IS GOING ON?" Alastor shouted in anger.

"I cannot say."

"Then I will make you talk!" Alastor drew Excalibur and pointed it at Amon's neck.

"Go ahead! You have already passed my test. I have no regrets." The dragon conveyed.

"Test? What test?"

"A test to see if you are worthy of carrying the will of Lord Eden. As for me, you are the reason this rebellion has succeeded. From now on, the dragons, my people will be able to pass to the next age. All thanks to you!

So go ahead! Cut me down!" Amon casually said as he put his neck near the blade.

"Carry the will of Eden? What is that supposed to mean? What do you Gods want from me?"

"...For you to kill Eden and replace him as the new God of Astora!" Amon revealed the shocking statement.

"What?"

"The throne of God cannot remain unseated for long! To find the one worthy of it, someone who will be Eden' successor, is our mission. And for it, we chose you, Alastor!" Amon said.

"...what if I say no? Currently, I am not interested on becoming a God or anything of the sort, especially when none of you is telling me what will it imply." Alastor raised his concern.

"One way or another, you will come! The only difference it will make is what you will do after that...but it doesn't matter right now. Seeing the current you, I have no doubt that you will do the right thing...."

"This is giving me a headache." Alastor scratched his head in confusion. "But how is this linked to the events ten years ago? Who killed my parents? From what I know, both Merkabah and Elemyr were present. Even more, they put something inside me...."

Amon spoke with a solemn expression on his face."...I wish I could tell you but...it might alter the course of destiny. That's why Fate made me do that Oath to her in the first place. You will have to speak with her about that."

"..... *sigh*" Alastor exhaled a long tired breath. He knew that it would not matter to press on these issues any longer. Amon would not spill a word, or rather could not because of his Oath. But at the very least, he knew the Gods' intention now, though not their reason or the circumstances behind it. "So what now?" asked Alastor.

"I guess it's time for me bid farewell to this world. Take up your sword, Alastor!" Amon spoke. "Let me have one final fight, just for the sake of it! Though the result is quite obvious by now." Smiled Amon.

"And still you want to fight me? Why?" questioned the demon lord.

"My soul is necessary for the Gate to Celestia to open its door. I have already prepared myself for this moment ever since I stepped out of that door. Does the answer satisfy your curiosity?"

"...Just a question before we begin...What did you do to the crown?"

"I tossed it in the sea. That way, you will never get your hands on it. Don't seek it, Alastor! For your own sake!"

"...What a pity! I wanted to discover the secret of Tartarus...But why only now did you do that? Kaiser told me that you had the crown for the whole time with him...why not just destroy or throw it away before I came here?" inquired the boy.

"I have wished that the crown can be put into a good use. In itself, it is not evil but it is the ghost haunting it that was the origin of its curse. After I saw what it did to Syralth and Taragon, I knew that I had to get rid of it, no matter how precious it might be."

A strong gale blew on the flat rooftop of the tower. The time for words has ended. Both of the people present here knew what was going to happen next, even though none of them wished so much there would another way.

"Is there really no other way?" asked Alastor.

"No...I wished there was but....Death comes to all, Alastor. Even the Gods. But I will not run from it." Exhaling a long breath, the dragon prepared his battle stance. "Let me present myself: I am Amon, the Sacred Virtuoso!

Demon Lord Alastor, it's time we end this! Come at me!"

Without uttering a word, the boy nodded in acknowledgement. Clenching his sword with poignancy in his heart, Alastor held the sword firmly with his hands, readying himself.

The wind blew strongly as the two stared down at each other. It would only take one strike to end it. Being both masters in their own league, there was no reason to prolong this meaningless battle.

Then the wind stopped. And they clashed.

.....

It was over in a second. With a shining flash in darkness, a figure fell down to his knees.

"Splen....did!"

"Why? Why didn't you dodge?" Alastor spoke in a trembling voice as he turned his head back at the falling figure who had stayed still even facing his attack.

" *panting* I told you...*panting* the result is as clear of crystal since the very beginning. Besides...*panting* this is what I want. This is *panting* the way it is supposed to be..."

"...." A feeling of guilt took over the boy's mind who could only watch in silence the dying God in his final moments.

"....Why do you have that look on your face?" Amon asked when he saw the sorrowful expression the boy wore.

"I don't know...why does this thing have to happen? You are a good guy right? At least that's how I see you...So then why?"

"Sometimes....it's just how it is...Others...someone has to do it. One day, very soon, you will face the same choice I did...When that time comes, you will understand what it means." Amon muttered with a stuttered painful voice. He was near his end. Looking at him, it was hard to believe that this person was once a God, perhaps still was...only, was this how a God died? Just like us mortals?

Putting his small arm behind the white dragon's neck as he placed him carefully on the ground for his final rest, Amon spoke in a low tone. "I am sorry..."

An apology, again! Why were the Gods behaving this way? They did not seem evil at all and killing them only made Alastor look like the bad guy here. Yet, they were also the ones who always apologized to the young demon lord...What did they mean by that? What were they apologizing for? Could it have to do with something about the death of Alastor's parents? But from the look of it, it did not seem like they were the ones responsible. So why?

'But with this...I win, Fallen One!' was his final thought as his consciousness slowly began to fade.

.....

'No, Amon! I WIN!'

A voice rang inside the mind of the Dragon God, shocking him to his very own core. This voice, this female voice...he knew it too well, much to his horror.

'How can you be here? I threw you away!!!' shouted Amon in his mind.

'And here I am back! You lost, Amon! But don't worry! I will take good care of him from now on.'

'No..no...I must...' Amon struggled hardly as he reached his hand to the boy who was confused by the dread Amon was showing. "Alastor...be..."

"What, Amon? What are you trying to say?" Alastor asked worriedly.

Grabbing the boy's head to his chest, Amon whispered softly in his ears as his body shined a white light and disintegrated into particles. What did he say to him? What could it be that rendered Alastor that pale upon hearing it? Now, only the boy would know...and perhaps, somewhere inside him, he has wished that he didn't.

An orb of light appeared in Alastor's hands where the white dragon once was before entering his chest along with his consciousness vanishing. Traversing the field of darkness, the orb arrived at a grand gate that stood regally in the middle of nowhere. In front of it, a lone figure was standing guard, holding the handle of his great sword that was plunging in the ground.

Coming closer to the knight, a voice echoed from the orb. "I am sorry...I failed again."

"...." The mysterious knight lowered his head, not out of disappointment but out of respect for the God.

"She is coming to get him...We...You must not let it happen..." Amon pled.

"...." The knight nodded again, this time putting his hand on his chest as a gesture of acknowledgment.

"The rest is up to you...Baldo!" Amon spoke as the orb disappeared into the gate.

"Four down! Two....one more!" the knight uttered.

* * *

"The final piece is here!"

"......"

"After so long, finally the Door of Celestia will open once again...and this time, I will succeed."

"....."

"Why so silent? Aren't you thrilled about now that our goal is so close to become reality?"

"I am. But if you think the current situation is enough for that to happen, you are more naïve I thought."

"I see what you mean. But the solution is obvious right? We just need a catalyst, one final drop of the already full cup of water. And we have many catalysts. You just need to pick one. It's your choice."

"How about....?"

"Hum...not a bad choice but why not pick the other one?"

"The other one....I want him to do it. It's more...dramatic that way."

"I see. Aren't you the evilest of all....That would devastate him. Not that I mind. May I ask why?"

"Because he is mine....and mine alone...!"

"What a twisted love!"

"Is this as twisted as the world? I don't think so."

"....I was right to choose you after all. Asgore is gone. There won't be any Hero coming. All the Gods have been eliminated with only two crippled left. Now all the chess pieces are in place. We just need for a final checkmate."

"......"

"Oh come on, smile a little!"

"I don't care about any of that. I need only him...."

"But will he accept you I wonder?"

"It's alright. I just have to kill him, just as I killed his father. Killing the one you love the most, keeping them to yourself, is the ultimate expression of love, don't you think?"

* * *

"Alastor! Alastor! Wake up!" a gentle voice rang out loud.

This voice was so familiar to him for it was the same voice that has woken him up on many occasions before. He could feel his body being shaken by someone, probably the owner of this gentle voice. Her hands were a bit rough and hard, not made out of flesh but somehow her touch felt soothing, like that of a mother caring for her child.

Opening his eyes slowly as a respond to the calling, Alastor woke up, only to find the doll by his side, staring at him with a worried look as she tried to wake him up. It took him a short moment before realizing where he was or how he ended up here. It happened again: he absorbed a God and passed out due to the shock.

"So Amon died..." Alastor clenched his fist. "So just what is going on?" He punched the floor below him in anger, making a crack. It was understandable for him to feel that way. So many things have happened and still nothing seemed to make sense so far. When he thought he would finally get some answers, the only thing he got was even more mysteries. Just when would this end?

It was then he felt something in his hand, a roundish stone of pure white color emitting a dim luminescence.

"What is this?" Alastor asked himself.

'Hehehe take a guess!' a voice in the boy's mind.

'Xenes? Why are you here again? .... Does it mean that this is what I think it is?'

'Exactly! This is the Scion of an ancient dragon. Should have guessed it since Amon was the first dragon, it's natural for him to have one. But never mind that! Consume it, Alastor, and my power shall be yours! Let the world have a taste of the power of the Great Xenes once again!'

'...'

'Oh yes you are still tired so take your time! But if you ever intend to use it, hum...how do I say this...remember to tell your friends to stay away...very far away! With that, goodbye again! Heheheehe!' the voice vanished.

"Alastor...." Stella uttered at the sight of her master in distress.

"Sorry Stella! How long have I been gone?" asked Alastor as he calmed himself down.

"For two days now. Though I have only found you here a few hours ago. Are you sure that you are alright? Do you want to rest for a bit more?" Stella asked out of concern with a slightly worried expression.

"No, I am fine, Stella. Besides, if I want to rest, I would rather not stay here. Let us go back to join Kaiser and the others!"

"What about that?" said Stella, turning her head to the peculiar object lying next to Alastor.

"What...." Alastor dropped his jaws upon seeing what has been right next to him the whole time: the crown. "How did it get here? Amon said he tossed it into the sea!" The boy uttered in shock.

"Were you not the one who found it?" inquired Stella.

"What do you mean?"

"When I found you here, the crown was already by your side so I thought that you went missing to look for it. Was it not the case?"

"......"

"Alastor? Something wrong?"

"This thing....everyone said it is cursed. Could it be that it is capable of coming here on its own? ....Can't be...right?" the boy muttered to himself. "Whatever the case, I must make sure that it is no longer capable of hurting anyone."

Standing up on his feet, Alastor focused his mana into his hands. "Let's just hope that I can still use it after this! "

By absorbing the mana inside the crown, Alastor intended to purify of all influences of magic. Even if a ghost was indeed haunting the crown, it would not escape the power of . After all, what was a soul if not a condensed clump of mana given a will of its own? Just to be safe, he would not actually absorb the supposed tainted mana into his own body but rather destroy everything mana-related found on the crown. That way, he would be able to escape all influences this spirit might have on him.

"This is...incredible! Such a powerful mana flow! Just what are you?" Alastor increased his own power level against it. "BE GONE!"