After some time, Lior unrolled a large map across the table, the parchment worn and old, filled with strange markings and routes. Everyone leaned in as he pointed to several key locations.
"This… this will be our journey route," Lior said, his finger tracing paths on the map. "Depri got a sense from her connection with that being. These are the places where fragments or clues might be found."
Michi crossed his arms. "Information… but about what? Like the deity? Or what exactly?"
Junia stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "According to our clan legends, there was once a door—many thousands of years ago—that could connect you with the cosmos deity."
The room fell quiet.
Junia continued, "For that door, a lot of fights broke out. Between clans… between continents. Everyone wanted to control the door."
Tieu added softly, "Finally, after so many wars… the clans decided to settle it. They broke the door into twenty pieces, and each clan took one of them."
She glanced over at Junia, her eyes soft. "Including my clan… and Junia onee-chan's clan. We were once enemies."
Junia nodded. "We still have our clan's parts. But we can't deliver them now—not yet. We need the other parts first to combine the door again. Our parts are safe in both of our clans."
Kael looked at Michi.
"Michi… the choice is yours. Say the word, and we'll start. I just need to inform Tiana about this journey. She's my girlfriend and, um…" He chuckled awkwardly. "I don't want to make her wait a lot. Haha."
Michi smiled. His expression grew soft, emotional. He thought of Airi.
Then—suddenly—Depri's eyes turned completely white.
Her body trembled, and she burst into manic laughter.
Everyone stepped back in shock.
In a voice not her own, Depri shouted, "SO YOU ARE BACK, MICHI! I TRUSTED YOU SO MUCH! I THOUGHT ONLY YOU COULD UNDERSTAND ME—BUT YOU BETRAYED ME!!"
Her tone turned dark and furious.
"AND NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND ME… TO STOP ME?! IS THIS YOUR LOVE?! OKAY, LET ME SEE IF YOU CAN REACH ME OR NOT!! I AM WAITING FOR YOU—AND THIS JOURNEY WILL NOT BE CALM…"
Her voice twisted, monstrous—
"IT WILL BE BLOODY!!"
Suddenly, Zaryon stepped forward, raising one hand. Green energy pulsed from his palm as thick vines emerged from the floor and wrapped around Depri's body, binding her tightly.
Depri's body slowly relaxed. The white faded from her eyes. Her expression softened—and then tears streamed down her face.
"I… I don't know what happened…"
Michi stepped forward.
He gently placed his hand on Depri's head.
"I accept your challenge. I will do anything to save this world…"
His eyes burned with resolve.
"Because this world… is my true home."