Spirit and body become one.

A miraculous phenomenon, the manifestation of a person’s inner strength.

Such union grants an extraordinary power, one that knows no bounds: the Spirit Mode.

Mare was amazed with the manifestation of the mystical eyes, which Zaccharias had witnessed before. The Animus felt slightly intimidated by him. The monster then rushed with an uncontrollable desire for bloodshed towards the helpless Lied at supersonic speed.

“Watch out!” Mare shouted.

Much to everyone’s surprise, a barrier automatically appeared around the motionless boy and protected him from the beast’s claws.

“Was it you, Zaccharias?” the aztec girl asked.

“No… I didn’t do anything” the talking crow replied.

The Animus let out a bellow of rage as it tried to break the shield.

…

Lied opened his eyes. He was standing inside the orphanage, a place that brought back bitter memories. At the end of the first hallway close to the entrance, Lied saw a lonely child huddled on the floor. Three other children walked to him.

“Lied, we’re going to play in the park. Do you want to come with us?” the only female in the trio asked him.

Little Lied merely turned his gaze away from her as he did not show emotions.

“Hey, she’s talking to you” one of the boys did not like his attitude and told him.

He ignored him and the lad grabbed him by the collar.

“I know you lost your memories, but we all lost important things too. You don’t need to suffer in silence!”

Words did not resonate in his icy heart. The kid dropped him and the three left. Little Lied inclined his head and muttered:

“…Why can’t I cry?”

When he noticed, the present Lied was sent to his soul.

“I was…” the human said.

“Yes, remembering the past” the red hooded figure popped up beside the basket with the apple and said.

“You… What about my fight?”

“More importantly, are you okay with that?”

“My life wouldn’t have radically changed even if I went to play with them.”

“No, not that” the guardian of the Adam’s Apple shook his head “That day, there were things you would have liked to say, but you were unable to.”

Within Lied existed a mix of emotions that he could no longer suppress. As a matter of fact, it was on the afternoon of the death of his parents and after his meeting with the mysterious woman that this inner padlock opened.

“I have more to do than mull over what happened. Also… I get it. I really regret many things now.”

The young man’s late parents came to his mind. Next to the red hooded male unexpectedly appeared his normal version that Lied met during the first trial as the two versions coexisted, both very serious.

“Lied, why do you think you couldn’t awake the Spirit Mode?” the normal version took a step forward and asked.

“Beats me. I thought I might be too worried…” the teenager replied.

“Here’s another question: what’s your main goal?” the normal version asked as he trod around him.

“Recover my lost memories.”

“Remembering the past to understand the present. There’s nothing wrong with that line of thought, but you’re neglecting something very important.”

“Something very important?”

“The spirit is made up of past and present memories. It’s essential that you restore your memory, but you should also value your new memories.”

Dozens of soap bubbles representing Lied’s remembrances began to float in the air.

“(…) don’t forget to come back home, okay?”

“Your name is Naomi.” “Eh? How do you know?”

“Who… is it…?”

“Are you going to let those tears blind you (…)?”

“Destiny is reserved… for those who are chosen.”

“What do you really want from me?!” “(…) the Adam’s Apple!”

“You have no idea… how hard it is to uphold justice. You don’t understand our pain.”

“That was a close call, huh?” “A… talking crow?”

“When in doubt, ask your spirit. It shall steer your way towards the answer.”

“If you can’t do it alone, why don’t you ask for help?”

“This is… the answer!”

“(…) My name is Meshulam.”

“(…) I promise I won’t lose hope again.”

“I won’t waste this second chance.”

“I’m ready to stand up once more for what I believe in.”

“I really was part of your destiny!”

“Remember, Lied: the biggest trial is yourself.”

Lied had his determination renewed after watching a film containing his memories. The normal version smiled a sweet smile. A door opened as if by magic near the Adam’s Apple. Meanwhile, little Lied showed up as an illusion created by the soul.

“Let’s go” the younger Lied told the older Lied.

Lied nodded and the two held hands. Together they walked through the door into a new dimension betwixt the soul and reality. Lied stood there alone as he sighted his injured real body in the room where Xanthus left him for the first time. Spirit and physical body got in sync as a steady radiance of light descended upon the dimension.

Back in the Underworld, the static Lied kept being protected by his spiritual barrier. The shield ultimately cracked… That was when the young man and the Animus were engulfed in a powerful brief burst of bright light. The energy propulsion generated multiple prana blasts that bounced back after hitting the wall created by the crow.

Lied returned to the soul and saw a swinging white cross lying above the surface, the very same object that his arcane ally wore around the neck.

“Looks like you won’t need me anymore” the red hooded figure behind him said.

“Thank you” Lied turned to him and nodded.

“As long as you have that look on your face, I am sure you will be able to do what I couldn’t…” the guardian said in a sad way before disappearing into thin air.

Tears that did not belong to him flowed from Lied’s eyes. He grasped the cross.

…

9th Underworld Level, Upper Block, Administrative Floors

Mictlan promptly stood up from the chair. The reincarnation of Meshulam felt something similar when Naomi awakened the Spirit Mode…

…

Underworld Level -5, Restricted Block, Prison

Core and Martyr came face-to-face with Susumu and Nemo. Pantera and the other captives watched as the event unfolded.

“This prana now…!” Core sensed Iduma’s spiritual energy.

“Again!!” Martyr sensed a funny but different vibration once more.

“Long time no see, little Core” Zosimus said while staring at Core.

“It’s talking?” Martyr observed Susumu’s shadow.

“That voice… it couldn’t be…?” Core wondered.

…

Underworld Level -8, Restricted Block, Dead Zone

Naomi was saved by Iduma, the mysterious red-haired boy. Upon waking up, the girl instinctively called him “Adam”, the name of the red hooded man from her dream. However, the human chose not to quiz Iduma as she believed it was just the Underworld playing tricks on her. Naomi had a lot of questions, but she thought there were more important things at the moment, such as meeting up with Yamir.

The two went together to Level -7. Iduma made a point of training her during rest breaks. Iduma’s cross wavered as they simultaneously sensed Lied’s awakening in the middle of one of these training sessions.

“Haha, it was about time” Iduma commented as he put his hands behind his head.

“You felt this too?” Naomi asked.

“Lied finally awakened the Spirit Mode.”

“You know Lied?!”

“Kinda…”

“I see… you’re really here, Lied!” Naomi was pleased.

…

Underworld Level -7, Restricted Block, Dead Zone

Yamir ranged over the dark corridors by himself in search of Naomi. The snake felt a hostile yet familiar aura not far away from him.

“…An enemy?!” Yamir looked to the darkness behind him.

…

1st Underworld Level, Lower Block, Reception Area

Zechariah gave Varius a secret task which he was carrying out now. Varius also became aware of Lied’s awakening.

“That’s how it should be, Lied.”

…

Underworld Level -6, Restricted Block, Prison

A sturdy old man with a long white beard and two meters tall meditated in one of the single cells. He suddenly interrupted his meditation.

“Oh, it seems God was right. The ‘Adam’s Heir’, bearer of the Eden’s Apple, arrived at last” the geezer smirked.

…

Aqua

A blonde-haired, dark green-eyed teenager freely stared into the horizon at the top of a hill. A black cross popped up around his neck and a dark aura surrounded his body.

“Until the day we meet again, get stronger… Brother” he said.

…

The jet of highly compressed air bursted over the entire floor and only a minute later did the explosion end. Zaccharias’ barrier remained intact. Lied was in his real body, though still wearing his Mictlan outfit. He easily stopped the Animus’ claw with his right hand whilst wiping away the tears with his left hand. His eyes were completely white just like the mystical aura that enveloped him. He wore the holy cross on his right wrist as it moved to and fro with a swaying motion in response to its owner’s feelings.

“It’s payback time” Lied said.

Lied’s current SSL: 30%

[END OF CHAPTER]