Resurrection Arc 10

The book is written in 'Enochian', a dead language. It's filled with metaphors and is hard to comprehend. People interpret it in many different ways. One can take years to figure out the content of the book and still don't understand its mysteries.

In the book, Axion's name is 'Aeron Darkoath', a Queen of darkness that leads the demons of the Underworld. She was a rightful heir to the throne of the demon lineage. She herself is a demon of vengeance. To some, she represents fairness. As the Queen of the underworld, she oversees the souls of the dead that pass through the river of the afterlife. This is why sometimes, many refer to her as the Queen of Death.

There aren't many things written in the book about her or what is her involvement with the Lord of death. But her identity as one of the underworld is enough to convince the Umbran that she's an ally.

On another page, the book spoke of the name of the Lord that the Umbrans worshipped. The name they dare not to speak. The name of the Lord is Alastor. A huge demon with black skin and a goat as a head. The book praises him in high regard which Kaizo thinks is 'overly dramatic'.

They begin to speculate things after they hear Kaizo's side of the story. About her work. About the dark planet. And about how she was killed by Valerius. Kaizo even showed them pictures of her, using one of her powerful magic. The Apostles are in awe hearing Kaizo's story.

"I've been trying to wear her crown since. But it won't let me."

"You tried on the crown?!"

Kaizo nodded.

"He said he saw a vision of her the last time he wore it," said Ardyn.

"Every time I wear the crown, my head hurts. It felt like the crown was squeezing my head."

"Perhaps, we can find a solution on how to help him wear the crown and get the Queen's message through him," said Ardyn.

The Apostles looked at each other.

"There is very little information that we know about the Queen," said Xeneth. "The book doesn't say much about the crown. Only that it was made with obsidian."

"Perhaps there's some sort of requirement to use the crown."

"But what would the requirement be?"

"Hmmm… we can try various things," said Adamalech.

"Like what?" Kaizo asked.

"There is a spell about enhancing one's body into a painless one. Maybe if we can use it on you, you won't feel pain and you can wear the crown longer," said Adamalech. "Here, let me show you."

Adamalech opens a page from the book. Kaizo looked at the spell closely.

"The spell can affect individuals to be unable to sense pain or temperature and unable to sweat. It will help you go through the effect of the crown," said Adamalech.

Adamalech's words sound suspicious. But Kaizo is resolved to see it through. Oh, what he wouldn't give to see her again.

"Do it," Kaizo firmly replied.

Adamalech returned the crown and took the book. He and Ardyn stepped out of the circle. The 7 Apostles take their positions, ready to cast the spell.

They all focused on Kaizo. Kaizo stays focused on everything he learned from his journey. The Apostles begin to mumble a spell.

Cold winds rush inside. The pentagram in the pool begins to glow dark blue as the night.

Kaizo took a big breath and slowly put on the crown. Wind circling him like a cyclone. Something tugged at him. Like a sudden force pulling his consciousness away and suddenly, he felt that he was no longer in the same room as the Apostles.

Like a vivid surreal dream, Kaizo looked around his surroundings. His vision is slightly cloudy, but he can see high walls. When he looked up, he didn't see the ceiling. He sees a gloomy grey sky. But he somewhat felt that it was not an endless sky he was seeing.

"This has never happened before," Kaizo thought to himself.

Where is he? Is this the true vision from the crown? Is this reality? Or is this just his mind playing tricks?

But none of those questions is important. What's important now is to find Axion. He's sure she's somewhere in here. No. He KNOWS she's here.

Kaizo runs through the alleys of high walls. He must move fast before the Apostles run out of magic. At the end of the alley, he stopped at a wider area. Kaizo squinted. Everything looked hazy to him. But he recognizes Axion's figure standing in front of a fountain that runs a dark liquid. Axion turned and looked at him.

Kaizo is filled with longing. Although he feels heavy like a force is trying to hold him from moving closer, he uses all his might to step closer.

"...cease…This…not….yours…," said Axion. Her voice came like waves. Distorting. Echoing ups and down and incomprehensible. "You…not…here."

Not here? What does she mean not here?

"I'm here… I'm finally here," said Kaizo.

He tried to step closer and tell her. Tell her that he's here. Tell her that he's with her now. But he was suddenly pulled back.

"...no… NOOOOOO…." Kaizo yelled.

Kaizo falls to his knees. Blood poured from his nose. He's back in the room with the Apostles. It's the limit of both the Apostle's magic and his physical body.

As the spell fades, the pain begins to seep up into Kaizo's body. But the only pain he knows is his broken heart.

Ardyn kneeled beside him. "How was it?"

"...not… enough…." he said as he gasped for air in between. "I need more… more time with the crown… more time inside…."

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Somewhere in the passage between the mortal realm and the Underworld….

Axion stood by the fountain, looking at the neverending flows of black water. Watching it splash sprinkles and make ripples. A man in a black suit stood beside her.

"Do you think he got the message?" he asked.

"Hardly," she replied. "He seemed confused."

"Confused? He's thrashed."

Axion chuckled.

"The last time you tried to raise the dead, the black plague roamed the world. Imagine what your boyfriend would do to resurrect you," said the man. "If he doesn't stop, the world would be in an uproar." He looked at her. "Aren't you going to stop him? You know you can."

Axion let out a long breath. "As the Angels and sort always say. Tis', not my calling. The heavenly court can take care of it. After all, as one who reigns over the dead, I have no jurisdiction over the living."

"Hm. They will still hold you responsible, you know?"

"Ha! As if heaven ever cares about responsibility upon mankind," Axion scoffed.

The man laughed. "Still, Alastor plays quite the game, using your masterpiece."

"Beelzebub be damned," said Axion. "That fly of a bug dared to steal from me and use my creation to mock me. It's because of him my formula of resurrection ends up becoming a plague. And to rub salt on the wound, Alastor dances around with it."

The man chuckled. "Well to be fair we all quite profited from their… way of using your work. Even death would not deny the coming soul regardless of how or whence they came, wouldn't he?"

Axion sighed. "No. We are all to embrace the souls."

"Wherever this play is going, I believe it'll be quite entertaining," said the man. He looks at her with a rather longing eye. "Come to me when you're bored with him."

"You do realize there was never anything between us?" said Axion.

"Maybe," he smirked. "But you can always come to have fun."

He turned and walked away.

"...Lucifer!" Axion called.

The man turned and looked at her.

"If I turn the world upside down… what would you do?"

Lucifer shrugs. "What I always do. Partying all night."