387 The One Above Eleven

Akiel returned to Stygia to report back to his father. "I've returned."

Lucifer was sitting in his throne. "Welcome back, Akiel. Have you obtained the Seed of Life?"

Akiel smirked. "No. Someone got to it before I did. I let them go."

"Let them go, did you? Hm. I understand. Very well, you may go."

Akiel's expression changed from amusement to disappointment. He left the room in a huff.

—

Gida looked at his hands. "I'm… I'm alive…? What just happened?"

Haruna and Makoto were nearby, just as confused as he was.

"Weren't we all killed by those creatures?" Haruna asked.

Makoto scanned her surroundings. "It's like I just… woke up from a dream."

—

Around the world, all at the same time, those who died at the time of Tuoni's extermination were all revived in the very same position that they were killed in. Everyone remembered dying, but no one could understand how they were alive. This phenomenon would come to be known as the Great Paradox.

—