Deep within the bowels of Hell, Mephisto sat in his private chambers. Before him floated the Mirror of Desire, a demonic artifact that pulsed with dark energy. With a flick of his wrist, the mirror shimmered, revealing the image of the cliffside battle.
Mephisto watched with a cruel smile as Piers declared himself the Evil Lord and fought against the three armies. "He has come so far," the demon lord whispered. "He will definitely make a worthy successor for my legacy."
As the battle shifted, Mephisto's eyes narrowed. He watched the clash with Kaiser and the moment Piers's hair began to fade back to blonde, marking the return of Rei.
"So, this is Rei," Mephisto mused. He tried to peer into the boy's mind, but he hit a wall. "I cannot read his thoughts... I sense the influence of the gods in there. It seems he has a conflict with the heavens themselves."
The demon lord leaned back, his smile returning. "However, it won't change anything. I will make sure Piers emerges again. Rei might be mighty, but he is not the one I want. He is not worthy of me."
Back in the dungeons of Astria, Eugene suddenly stopped walking. He looked toward the direction of the Principality, a small smile playing on his lips.
"So, he finally came back," Eugene muttered.
"What was that, Eugene?" Daina asked, looking over her shoulder.
"Nothing, don't worry about it."
Bart leaned in, whispering, "Rei is back, isn't he?"
"Yeah," Eugene replied quietly. "But he has a very long, difficult road ahead of him."
"Just keep giving me the updates," Bart grinned. "I love a good adventure story."
"You're just worried about him," Eugene teased.
Suddenly, Eugene's face went pale. He felt a massive surge of power nearby. "Something is coming! Everyone, spread out!"
The group dived in different directions just as a massive bolt of lightning struck the ground where they had been standing. Through the smoke, a boy stepped forward. He wore gleaming white armor and carried a golden spear. He looked like a high-ranking Paladin.
"Man, I missed?" the boy sighed, shaking his head. "You know how much time and mana I spent on that incantation. This won't do. No, this won't do at all." He looked directly at Eugene. "Master Eugene, I am here to take you back to the Mystic Church. It is where you were raised, and it is where you belong."
"I gave up my candidacy," Eugene said firmly. "That ends the ritual. My sister is now the head of the Church, and I am a pariah. I'm not going back."
The boy gave a wicked smile. "Oh, you are far too soft-hearted. You shouldn't let your sister win just to protect her from the burden. It's a waste of your talent."
"I won't join the Church even if you force me," Eugene snapped. "Stop wasting your time."
"We'll see about that!"
The Paladin vanished, appearing instantly in front of Daina. He lunged with his spear, but Daina was ready. Using her North Sword Style, Verse One, she used the wind to guide her blade, parrying the heavy spear with ease. The Paladin continued his assault, but Daina's skill kept him at bay.
Eugene didn't stay idle. Using his Holy Barrier concept, he created multiple glowing weapon projections. He combined them with the North Sword Style, Verse Two: Sword of the Wind, attacking at blinding speeds.
The Paladin was forced back, but suddenly, stone hands burst from the earth and grabbed his ankles.
"Don't go yet," Bart shouted. "You're our 'guest,' after all!"
A massive rock golem rose behind the Paladin. Daina, Eugene, and the golem all attacked at once from three sides. Sensing the danger, Eugene suddenly yelled for everyone to retreat. The golden blade of the Paladin's spear began to glow with a blinding light.
Daina leapt back just as the Paladin swung the spear, releasing a wide wave of thunder. Before it could hit the group, a wall of ice rose from the ground. Ava had used her wand to freeze the energy in its tracks.
"I never thought I'd be facing such tough opponents," the Paladin admitted, his voice growing cold. "Looks like I have to level up my game."
The top of his spear extended, releasing a flood of stored holy energy. He swung the weapon, sending a wave of power that Bart neutralized with a row of rock spikes. Then, the Paladin pointed the spear, firing a concentrated beam of lightning and sending it in an arc. Eugene stepped forward, manifesting a Holy Shield that absorbed the blast.
Ava retaliated with a barrage of flame lances, but the Paladin danced through them. He slammed his spear into the ground and the blade on top of the spear snapped in half releasing excess holy energy, creating a shimmering holy barrier that blocked all their attacks. Then, he began to chant:
"Beneath a sky clenched tight with storm and oath,
The Thunderlord rose, crown of clouded flame,
He spoke no prayer. The lightning knew his breath,
And coiled in silence when he called its name.
With one slow lift of hand, the heavens split,
A white decree engraved in rolling night,
The thunderbolt obeyed the will of grit,
And fell like judgment forged from living light.
Thunder Strike!"
The team hammered against his barrier, but they couldn't break it in time. His hands started radiating with lightning and sent a concentrated strike of thunder that light up the entire dungeon.
"Earth Spikes!" Bart roared. "Holy Wall!" Eugene shouted. "Ice Wall!" Ava added.
The three powers combined, meeting the massive thunderbolt in a deafening explosion. The ground shook, and the air smelled of ozone. When the light faded, the team was still standing, but they were exhausted.
Daina, standing among her powerful friends, felt a cold knot in her stomach. Sigil had only started her training he still had not trained him how to cut through magic or even neutralize it completely. "What can I even do in a fight like this?" she thought, looking at her sword. Against lightning, holy walls, and ice magic, her physical skills felt small.