SUDDEN

Zain withdrew, trying to heal his injured leg.

"This is consuming a lot of mana to heal.. I can't fully heal it easily!" He thought, evading Aurendor's attack from above.

"Supreme arts, lock."

Suddenly, Zain fell down on the ground with a loud sonic boom as what looked like a skeletal form donned in black and gold appeared, holding him down.

"What's this Zain? Are you not going to use your depuratus mana?" Aurendor asked sarcastically, squatting in front of him. 

With renewed anger, a silver aura burst around Zain, causing the skeletal figure to vanish. He put his sword down as two gold daggers appeared on his hands. With an assassin's precision, he attacked Aurendor, overwhelming him. Aurendor saw cut marks appear all over his body in an alarming rate, but he focused on the attacks, redirecting Zain's strikes sideways.

"Damn, he won't let me gain a distance advantage.. Anyway.."

In one quick move, Aurendor broke through Zain's attacks, punching him on his chest. As he did so, the armor started decaying away and a huge explosion followed, shaking the entire realm, sending debris flying.

After everything settled, Zain was seen breathing heavily, his armor breaking down,as if it were decaying.

"Damn it.... What the hell have you done to me...." He asked as he grunted.

"Well, that's just radiation, nothing much." Aurendor said as he rushed in to finish the fight.

Before he did, Herald appeared in between them, holding Aurendor's fist charged with polonium.

"That's enough.. You win, Aurendor." Herald said.

"Yes indeed, you have won..." Zain said, bowing his head slightly.

Even though Zain was a bit hot headed, he was a wise celestial being enough to know when to surrender. He wouldn't be in the Upper Celestial rankings if he was a very cocky bastard.

"Well then, I hope we're going to be on good terms from now on." Aurendor said as he stretched his hand out, wanting to greet Zain. As they shook hands, they both started healing.

"Now then.." one Upper Celestial said.

"We all know the rule, don't we?" Asked another.

"Yes... The winner gets to ask for something from the one who lost."

As Herald remembered that, he noticed Aurendor smiling for a split second.

"What is he planning?"

As Aurendor started speaking, Zain gulped, hoping that Aurendor would not ask for something he didn't want to give out.

"Not my wives please... Not my universe... Not my Void core..... Please please please...." He silently prayed.

"Zain," Aurendor called out.

"Yes? What is it that you want?"

"This is what I want.... "

Zain closed his eyes, expecting to hear some extreme request.

"In the future, can you train Mitsuki?"

"Huh?'

"After he grows a bit stronger when he survives the Pilgrimage, will you train Mitsuki?"

That request did not only surprise Zain,but also all the others.

"What is he thinking.... Won't this attract even more attention to Mitsuki?" Herald asked himself.

From where they were watching from, Mitsuki let out a sigh.

"Damn, I couldn't hear them talk as they fought, let alone see them.."He said, sighing again

"I'm so far from being powerful enough to defend myself against celestials, even Gabriel and the rest.." He mumbled. He looked at Herald, who was focused on Aurendor.

"If I may ask, is Zain's form more powerful than Aurendor's?"

"No, why do you ask?"

"Well, I'm just thinking that they might assume that since Aurendor-'

Suddenly, Herald jumped at him, lifting Mitsuki up like a child.

"What the hell are you doing?!!!! Let me go!!" Mitsuki yelled at the top of his voice.

"You're so bright kid! The uppers will assume that he's asking for that since Zain's form is weaker than Aurendor's, do he can't risk hurting you or something like that!!!! That way he'll get two benefits at the same time!!!"

"I'm glad that you've figured it out... Now can you please stop holding me up like a trophy and put me down?"

"Haha my bad."

********

Aqua's Mansion

Poki and Valeria sat beside each other in Miyuki's room, while Miyuki roamed around the room in circles.

"Um.. Miyuki??" Poki called out.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah I am, it's just that.. Something is bugging me."

"What is ?"

"Well, regarding what you two told me, Mitsuki was a bit distant wasn't he?"

"Well yeah, he looked like he was thinking about something and trying to hide it from us at the same time."

Miyuki rushed to the bookshelf in her room, pulling out a book with a red and gold cover.

"What's that?"

"Well, before you left, Aqua gave me this book, it entails the different forms that a transcended being can acquire... All the ones that he knows anyway."

The two girls moved gave Miyuki some space to sit between them, reading the pages as Miyuki perused past them.

"Woah, there are even illustrations..." Poki said, marvelling at the well detailed drawings of different beings on the pages.

"Wait a second." Valeria said, gaining their attention. "You said these are the ones Lord Aqua knows.. Does it mean.."

"I'm not sure if it means there are many more, but all in all, there is a high chance that there may be more," Miyuki said.

"By saying that you mean that you have not seen Mitsuki's form here right?" Poki asked.

"Yes, that is one. Not only my brother's form, but also, Aqua's or any form of the Celestior members, these belong to the other minor gods."

"Can you describe the distinct features that Mitsuki has?" Poki asked.

"Well... He doesn't have any other special feature that I have seen" Miyuki said as she flinched a bit.

"It's happening again... I feel some shift in the air.... There's something or somebody here.." She thought.

True indeed, hidden from plain sight, deep silver eyes stared at the three girls, listening intently to what they were speaking about.

"Who's there? What do they want? The timing is not a coincidence.. I sensed something when we started talking about Mitsuki.. That's why I kept quiet.... Calm down Miyuki ... Calm down.." she told herself.

"Miyuki!! Are you okay? Is there anything wrong?"

"N-no, not at all..." She said, trying to compose herself.

Suddenly, Valeria suddenly coughed up blood and fell on the ground, her hair becoming a lighter shade of purple.

"Valeria!!! Valeria!!!"

******