Back in the Mortal Realm, moments before a strange hum rang out all over the world.

Kara was adjusting to life in the world she left behind. She stood in the Fortress Garden and started up at the empty sky with only a Red Moon in sight. Ira's city was an odd place full of people who upheld strange practices. She found it to be a fitting place for Ira to call home.

“Just how far will you go?” She asked.

Suddenly, she had the urge to turn around and when she did, there was a black-haired girl standing behind her.

“Oh...Liliara, right?” She looked at one of Ira’s youngest daughters who simply stood there with a slightly interested expression.

The time Ira promised to return was soon approaching and yet there was no sign of the world being changed. It caused worry but no one gave in to the idea that he may have died or failed.

Liliara and Nephele had grown immensely in the time of a year and it wouldn’t be too odd to see them walking around the Fortress.

Liliara’s dark red eyes seemed to stir as she looked at Kara without reservation.

“...Where is your mother?” Kara asked, feeling slightly put off by the child.

Kara learned that all of Ira’s children had certain quirks but Liliara was the strangest so far. She seemed to view most people as lesser forms of life, barely worth her acknowledgment. It was strange to say, but that’s what her gaze usually conveyed to those who met her eyes. Her cold demeanor became especially apparent when considering her sister, Nephele, was very extremely cheerful.

Liliara didn’t answer Kara’s question, in fact, she seemed to have grown bored of the latter. She turned on heels and walked away, disappearing into the corridors of the Fortress.

“There’s something regal about you.” Kara gave a dry laugh before looking toward the Red Moon.

And that’s when the air began to hum. It was barely noticeable at first, but pitch rose and there was no mistaking it.

“...Ira.” Kara narrowed her eyes, feeling an ominous premonition.

…

The Tainted Lands of the Divine Realm remained still. Lying deep within were two individuals, Ira, and Xandes who was quickly withering away but his death seemed to be forcefully prolonged.

“You’re not going to die that fast.” Ira weakly climbed to his feet and stumbled over to Xandes.

“Stay...away!” Xandes dug his hands into the black soil and began to crawl away. “You should’ve died, Avarus!”

“I think dying once was enough,” Ira said with a laugh, arriving in front of Xandes. The wounds incurred by the origin blade began to heal with increasing speed.

“Your power should’ve been mine!” Xandes screamed as Ira pressed a palm against his head.

“Oh? You want my power that badly?” Ira smiled cruelly as he tightened his grip around Xandes’ skull. Black flames rose at the tips of fingers and began to dance wildly. “Then have it, as much as you want.”

The black flames burrowed into Xandes’ mind and an ear-piercing shriek emerged from his mouth. An incoherent plea of mercy could be found deep within the cry of agony but Ira wouldn’t listen.

“I’ve never wanted to kill someone so badly before,” Ira spoke over Xandes’ screams. “If I had time, I would spend as long as I could peeling away everything until there was only the faintest trace of you was left. And then, I would let you watch as I erase every single memory or trace of you in this realm. But I wouldn’t kill you just then, I would keep you alive for decades and only when I feel some slight satisfaction would I finally end it.”

Ira moved closer to Xandes’ ear and whispered, “Fortunately for you, this will have to suffice. I have something far stronger than you to kill, you see.”

Xandes’ painful howls came to an end as black flame burst out from his eyes and soon began to consume his entire body.

Ira drew a deep breath and closed his eyes before exhaling out of a sense of sheer relief that was nearly tangible. Then, his eyes gradually opened and he stared at the slowly expanding borders of the Tainted Land. Just outside, there stood a human-like silhouette made of radiant light that quietly observed Ira.

“I’ve deemed your actions to be enough. You’ll stop here. Remove your influence from the Divine Realm.” The Entity ordered Ira.

“Oh? You came all this way to tell me that?” Ira appeared in at the very edge of the border of the Tainted Lands but wisely stayed within it.

“Do not test me, child.” The Entity warned.

“I get it, I get it...I just have one question that I’d like you to answer before that.” Ira smiled calmly.

The Entity remained silent, his faceless form made it impossible to tell what thoughts it might’ve held but he continued anyway.

“What happens to me after this is over? Because you never really explained that much. As of right now, I’m stronger than any God. I also plan on returning to the Mortal Realm after this.”

“That realm cannot hold you as you are now.” The Entity said in reply. “No matter how much you seal yourself, the Realm will crumble away until it’s destroyed.”

“Then I’ll alter it so that it does.”

“I will not allow it, child. Now, remove this darkness from the realm or I’ll be forced to act.”

“You still didn’t answer my first question.” Ira shook his head.

“You defy the laws of reality and existence itself, therefore I will eliminate you. You should have already understood this.”

“I did, but it feels great to hear you say it,” Ira replied. “You should also understand that I don’t plan on sacrificing myself for your goals.”

“...Then I will have to destroy what’s important to you until you realize the truth.” The Entity raised its hand as it finished speaking and Kara in its grasp. She was frozen in time so she wouldn’t have even noticed what was going on. If she was killed, she wouldn’t have even realized what caused her death. “I will start with her and move on to all of those who bear relation to you. Give up your life and I will spare them.”

“I don’t believe that you would stop with just me.” Ira shook his head. “And besides...Where would be the fun in giving up when I’ve came so far?”

“Consider carefully as this is your last opportunity, child. I will destroy this woman so that there is no chance of resurrection. Even your power cannot bring her back when I'm finished.”

"Well, that’s too bad, isn’t Kara?" Ira asked, raising his hand in a foreboding manner.

The Entity watched on but suddenly felt that Kara’s divinity was drastically different than it should’ve been. “What have you done to her-”

Just as the Entity began to realize it wasn’t really Kara it held but a lifeless puppet, Ira snapped his finger and the black palm print on the puppet’s shoulder exploded. A wall of black fire covered the arm of the entity and the entire realm roared in response.

“YOU!” A deafening shout filled the air and produced a shock uprooted everything as far as the eye could see. Even the voice of the Entity had an immensely destructive capability that would kill Gods without any effort.

“I offer you mercy and this is how you respond?!” The Entity began glowing even brighter than a star as the black flame greedily consumed its hand. “I will end your ungrateful and meaningless life, child! Even if this realm is left half destroyed, it will be worth it!”

It flew into the sky and the very foundation of the Divine Realm began to split open. A rupture the size of a continent began to spread around the Tainted Land.

Ira ignored the apocalyptic level of destruction being created and began to absorb the Void’s influence inside of the Tainted Land. Waves of black fire and mist were funneled into his body causing his body to change.

“I won’t die. Not now...Not here.” Ira’s voice began to get lost as he brought out more of the Void’s influence.

As the Void’s power was condensed, his form became one of solidified darkness, drawing a stark contrast to the radiant entity floating above.

He cleared his mind of everything and only focused on destroying the ageless being that boasted of nearly infinite power.

“Not here,” Ira repeated to himself.

He stepped out of the Tainted Lands with black fire trailing behind him and looked toward the Entity.