This is a story that goes back to a time when the fruits of chaos are still being formed, the cruel fates yet to be revealed.

In another volume of his journey through the Underworld, the “Adam’s Heir” will fight memorable battles and meet people who might have the answers he is looking for.

Origins, convictions, and duties. Everything will be put to the test once more.

Underworld Level -6, Restricted Block, Prison

Naomi set off on a lonely journey in search of Lied. She arrived, sword in hand, at Level -6 of the Restricted Block. There, the lass heard a voice coming from the second prison cell, from left to right. The burly old man was about two meters tall and had a long white beard down to the ground. In the adjacent prison cells were exactly two men and one woman who emanated powerful auras like the geezer, and they stared expectantly at the human girl.

“Are you… prisoners?” Naomi asked, feeling a little insecure.

“Yes, each of us has sinned during our lifetime. Here, in the depths of the Underworld, far from the other dead, we atone for those sins” the ancient said.

Naomi swallowed her saliva. Even though she was used to the smell of death, it was her first time encountering dead spirits in Mictlan. In this case, sinners in eternal atonement.

“I’m Elijah. Could you tell me your name, young lady?” the old man asked.

“N-Naomi” the human said hesitantly.

“Naomi, is it?” Elijah said and then looked at the Lumen Orbis “That sword…” the male opened his eyes wide as he gazed curiously at the glittering blade.

“Do you know what she is?” the teenager asked.

“Yes, it’s Eve’s sword” the man replied.

“Eve… the girl who was always with Adam” Naomi looked down and said.

“Indeed, the two of them were inseparable, or so we thought… until the ‘Tragedy of Eden’” Elijah said as he raised his voice at the end of the sentence.

“Are you referring to the First Spiritual War?” the young woman remembered the story Varius had told her and asked.

“That’s right. The brutal battle between Adam’s party and the Guardians of God” the geezer said.

“The Guardians of God…” the teenager murmured.

“After the war, Adam settled in the ‘Land of Adam’, the world with more water than land, while Eve went to live in the ‘Land of Eve’, the world with more land than water” Elijah said.

Those names fell out of use, but the “Land of Adam” was Tellus and the “Land of Eve” was Aqua.

“And Nachash was…” Naomi said as she knew the rest of the story.

“Imprisoned in Mictlan” Elijah said as he pointed his index finger at the empty prison cell at his right side.

Naomi landed her eyes on the first prison cell in the floor. She felt shivers run down her spine while picturing the Talking Serpent sitting there as it patiently waits for the right moment to escape.

“I almost forgot. You called me ‘Lilith’ just now, didn’t you?” the human asked.

“One of the first human beings, born through the power of the Adam’s Apple. A stubborn but supportive girl, until one day… she changed completely. It was after her brother’s death” the geezer guessed what the young woman wanted to know and said.

Elijah’s revelation unsettled her as a hush fell over the floor. Naomi tried hard to remember Lilith and her brother as she couldn’t brush off the strange feeling of familiarity, which did not go unnoticed by Elijah.

“Anyway, what is a young woman like you doing in this place, alone?” the man tried to cut the tension in the air with a question.

“Ah, I’m looking for a boy!” Naomi said.

“Hm…?” Elijah said as he got curious.

🐍🐍🐍

Underworld Level -7, Restricted Block, Dead Zone

“Stand up” – these words came out of Core’s mouth without her knowing why. Martyr and Nemo wondered why she just stood there, staring into space, a pause that lasted a few seconds.

“Why am I thinking about that girl now?” she thought as the image of Naomi came to her mind.

Core rewinded Eve’s memories of that day. Meanwhile, she remembered the time in Mictlan when her Spirit Mode activated on its own. Could it all be connected somehow? And almost as if trying to find the answer within herself, the aztec briefly visited her spacious and innocent soul.

Upon entering the dimension, the lass was greeted with an infectious smile of a turquoise-haired, greenish-blue-eyed lady. Perhaps the sudden appearance of someone Core hadn’t seen in years meant that nothing was a coincidence. A message from the past to the present.

“E-Eve!” the aztec exclaimed and stretched out her right hand towards her imaginary friend.

The lady disappeared soon after. Core returned to reality; her peers had stopped walking and grew restless as they waited for the lass.

“Oi! You have your head in the clouds!” Martyr got angry with her companion.

“Sorry… let’s keep going” the aztec nodded and the three continued on their way.

The Illuminatus trio quickened their pace, but the path to the lower floors was a long one. Nemo wasn’t feeling at ease with them after spending all that time with Susumu and even cooperating with the human; he knew that sooner or later his superiors would have his head.

“Hey, Core, it seems you were acquainted with that weird detective’s shadow. Who was it?” Martyr asked her a question that Nemo was also meaning to ask.

His curiosity stopped Core dead in her tracks. The lass lowered her head as she showed a melancholic expression, remembering yet another dark chapter in her life.

“Mr. Zosimus was… a member of the old Illuminatus” she said.

🐍🐍🐍

Underworld Level -5, Restricted Block, Prison

While Susumu didn’t want to owe Zosimus any favors, the truth is that the chain armor made by the latter was proving to be essential in his recovery as it stopped the bleeding.

The priority was to defeat Martyr, and for that the detective was going to have to sweat a little more. The teenager thought twice about whether he should question the shadow about its relationship with the Illuminatus, the enemy organization that Zosimus seemed to be acquainted with. Nevertheless, Susumu decided to save the interrogation for later.

“It’s time to review the basics” the Chains Man said.

“The basics, so Visibility and Sensitivity?” Susumu asked while stretching.

“Yes, those are the fundamentals. And there’s also something else I want to work on… Before we continue, I’ll check your SSL again” the aztec said.

The last time the lad had his Spiritual Synchronization Level measured, before fighting Martyr, it was 30%.

Zosimus summoned a single chain that floated to the human’s chest. Finally, the shadow applied the Density property and registered a notable increase of 10% in relation to the previous reading.

“As I calculated, your spirit evolved by gaining new battle experience. 40% SSL means you have reached the Stage 3 of the Spirit Mode. I explained it to you, didn’t I?” the Chains Man asked a rhetorical question.

“If my memory serves me, there are seven stages” the detective said.

“Correct. ‘Stage 0’ is the initiation point; ‘Stage 1’, between 0 and 20% SSL; ‘Stage 2’, between 20% and 40% SSL; ‘Stage 3’, between 40% and 60% SSL; ‘Stage 4’, between 60% and 80% SSL; ‘Stage 5’, between 80% and 100% SSL; lastly ‘Stage 6’, 100% SSL, the final phase in which the user awakens the Full Spirit Mode” Zosimus used his chains to write in the air what he was saying.

Susumu rested for 45 minutes to give his body more time to heal. The fact that the detective’s endurance had increased considerably since he arrived in Mictlan is what allowed him to move at that moment, otherwise he wouldn’t be budging an inch. That’s how intense his last fight was.

“Zosimus, about the restriction of your strength…” the human said, but the Chains Man predicted his question.

“…It’s true that I can’t use my full power without a body to inhabit. Nevertheless, I can feel my chains becoming ‘freer’ as you get stronger. Proof of this is that armor I made for you” the shadow explained.

“I see…” Susumu said as he looked at the armor he was wearing.

“Don’t worry about me. Just focus on strengthening your own spirit” the aztec said.

The human nodded and the two started training.

🐍🐍🐍

Underworld Level -9, Restricted Block, Dead Zone

Iduma limped heavily as the boy moved towards the portal he had previously used to enter Mictlan. He came from Level -8, where he narrowly avoided death. The enemy, Yamir or Nachash, whoever it was, lost control as he prepared to pierce Iduma’s heart with his blade, thus giving the child an opportunity to escape.

🐍🐍🐍

Ganeden

It was a beautiful afternoon on the island located south of Honshu, but not everyone could allow themselves the luxury of enjoying the good weather. Xanthus was in front of Naomi’s house, one of several entrances to the Underworld in Ganeden, waiting patiently for his companion to arrive. The blonde man raised his eyebrows when a portal spawned and Iduma came out of it.

The lad smiled the moment their eyes locked with each other; Xanthus promptly helped him stand as Iduma could barely walk because of the injury.

“What happened?!” Xanthus asked.

“Hehe, we got a problem…” the red-headed kid said, he would have fallen to the side if it weren’t for Xanthus’ support.

Iduma gave an account of the events that transpired at the Restricted Block. Xanthus listened carefully, his intuition telling him that the conversation he had with Zechariah was a presage to these facts.

“Xanthus, I have to go back” Iduma clenched his fists and said.

“I will go with you” Xanthus said.

“No, go to Aqua and tell the others what’s going on” the red-headed kid shook his head and said.

“Iduma…” the man murmured.

“Please. She needs me” the child said very sincerely.

Xanthus had never seen Iduma so serious. The spark in his fiery red eyes convinced him that the boy’s mind was made up, along with his unwavering spirit.

“Alright. Take care of yourself and return in one piece” Xanthus put his hand on Iduma’s shoulder “I… don’t want any more victims” he finished his sentence with a heavy countenance.

“Heh, who do you think I am?” the lad turned his back and walked towards the portal that appeared out of nowhere “The great Iduma!” Iduma said as he crossed the passage that connected Ganeden to Mictlan, separated by time and space.

Meanwhile, a green hooded boy the same age as Iduma watched them from hundreds of meters away, all while hiding his prana.

[END OF CHAPTER]