With his mind set, Kai decided to depart with Akane to where his grandmother should be. It was the place where he returned to the past and also the place he stayed after the Kuroshi Clan was destroyed. It wasn't a normal place that he could go to easily.

While it was true that he had rescued Amelia in the illusion world, it wasn't the place where he spent a few years training and living with her and his grandmother. Desolate Beast Mountain Range, a place devoid of any beasts and life in general. His grandmother wanted to live in isolation after the loss of her daughter and brought Kai there.

Being a Goddess, there was no limit as to what she could do so provisions were easily brought for Kai. If he had requested it himself, his grandmother likely would've let him do as he pleased even if he became a good for nothing who only knew how to leech off of others. Luckily, he managed to get back on his feet after a few months.

Bringing the somewhat recovered Akane with him, they teleported to a nearby place. While he wanted to teleport inside the place instead, he couldn't use spatial transfer when going to and from there. That's why he set up a teleportation circle someplace nearby, though it was at least a few days away by walking.

"Akane, can you fly yet?"

In response to Kai's question, Akane unfurled her wings and tried to flap them but they shuddered and retracted.

"Not yet... It might need a few more days."

"Alright, sit on this."

Kai created a chair with a cushion along with a flooring, it looked like half of a carriage. Once she sat down, Kai unfurled his own wings causing Akane to whistle. There were six in total, four feathered wings, two black and two white, and two bat-like wings. Though she had heard about it, it was her first time seeing it in person.

"It looks... strange."

"I guess so."

Having wings herself, Akane could see that Kai's wings were different. She ran her hands through the feathers causing Kai to twitch.

"Ah, right. Sorry."

"It's alright, I was just surprised."

Wings were sensitive if they weren't being used for battle. They could even be used to stimulate the wielder if they were to be touched enough. Since he let his guard down around Akane, her touch sent a shiver running through his spine momentarily.

Kai held Akane's seat and flapped his wings. He also used gravity and wind magic to make sure that the carriage stayed at a comfortable angle and so that there wouldn't be too much wind hitting Akane. It was unnecessary, considering she was S-class and had the body of an angel, but he did it anyways.

It didn't take long for them to arrive at a certain mountain peak. Kai stopped a little further away from the foot of the mountain and set down Akane. He walked towards the mountain and stretched out his left arm. His eye glowed, and a magic circle began rotating inside.

All of a sudden, a near transparent barrier fluctuated with light originating from Kai's hand. Akane looked up in surprise. There was a barrier covering the entire mountain range, had they just charged straight ahead, they would've crashed into it at full force. It didn't seem like one to break from that much power either.

After a few minutes of complete stillness and silence, Kai suddenly closed his palm. The barrier began to fade, starting from the point he touched. Even Akane could see that the barrier cast over the area had already disappeared.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, let's go."

Kai took ahold of Akane's seat once more and flew. It was just to the top of the mountain so it was a lot faster.

On the peak of the mountain, there was flat land and a cabin built there. There was a campfire surrounded by a few stumps outside of the cabin as well.

Seeing the familiar cabin, Kai felt nostalgic and began to descend right in front of it. He retracted his wings back into his body and ran up to the door. After a few knocks, the door opened and a woman so beautiful that Akane had to hold her breath in shock appeared.

It wasn't just the level of Erina and Amelia who could cause kingdoms to rage war over them, it was likely that if this woman ever set foot in the mortal world, the entire world would fight for a chance to see her.

"Kai, you're back."

The woman, the Goddess of Frost spoke. There wasn't much of a tone in her voice and her expression was as still as water, but he quickly invited Kai and Akane inside. The two of them sat on the table as she prepared some tea to pour for them.

"So, what have you come here for? And, with an angel with you."

The Goddess of Frost asked as she poured their tea into cups and set them in front of them.

"That's the thing, grandmother. This person isn't an angel, or rather, she is but at the same time, she isn't. This is my childhood friend, Akane."

The Goddess of Frost raised her brows at Kai's answer and looked at Akane more closely.

"...I see. Their souls have been fused together, there shouldn't be anyone capable of doing that in the mortal plane, however?"

"It was a man with an unknown origin. I don't have any clue about where he learned how to manipulate souls, but I managed to steal this power from him just recently."

Kai raised his hand. There wasn't any particular glow or movement that occurred but the Goddess of Frost saw through it.

"I see, you really have learned how to control souls... And, I take it that you want to know how to separate their souls again?"

"Yes, I've thought about it many times but I couldn't come up with anything that wouldn't endanger the other soul."

"..."

The Goddess of Frost fell silent while in deep thought.

"Because this isn't my jurisdiction, i don't know what you can do. However, I do know of a place where it's possible for you to do it."

As the Goddess of Frost opened her mouth, Kai spoke simultaneously.

""The Demon Continent.""

She nodded.

"Exactly. There's nobody on the mortal plane more knowledgeable about souls than demons. While they wouldn't be able to fuse souls like this, they should know how to separate one somehow."

As a Goddess who fought against the Devils and demons, she shouldn't have any good feelings towards them.

"I take it, you have never been there before?"

"I have, but it was during war."

"I see, then you must have never encountered your... grandfather's people."

Kai frowned.

"...The Demon of Hell Flame?"

The Goddess of Frost closed her eyes and nodded. She didn't say anything else, as the Demon of Hell Flame was her archenemy. Though they had cooperated once to seal the powers of their children, there was nothing other than fighting for them.

"W-wait."

Akane cut in during their conversation. The two of them looked at her with questioning gazes.

"Kai, your grandmother is a Goddess... but, your grandfather was a Devil?"

Devils were the term used to call the opposites of the Gods. Angels were the opposites of the demons.

"I'll say this now to avoid any misunderstanding, I am his grandmother from his mother's side. The Demon of Hell Flame is his grandfather from his father's side."

"I-I see..."

Akane was still confused but seeing how offended the Goddess of Frost looked to lump the two of them together, it was best to just stop asking about it.

Seeing as Akane wouldn't talk anymore, the Goddess of Frost continued.

"While your parents were sealed by us, it wasn't because we loathed their decision. On the contrary, we supported them by sealing their powers so that they could have children. The Demon of Hell Flame may be my mortal enemy, but his son is my daughter's husband, not just some other demon. That man also thinks like me."

Kai was already privy to the reason as to why the angels and demons invaded during the war. Even he wasn't spared from their onslaught.

Simply put, like humanity, the angels and demons were split into factions. There were three major factions to speak of for either race, ones with hostile thoughts towards humanity, one who don't care about humanity so long as they aren't in danger, and ones who wish to coexist with humanity.

The ones with hostile thoughts won their respective wars and took control of their continents. That was why during the war with Harold and his subordinates, there was no unity among the defending forces.

Kai's goal this lifetime was simple—amass enough power to fight against the fallen hero's forces before they arrive. And, if possible, gain the cooperation of the angels and demons. He hated them enough to want to tear them apart limb from limb during the war but it was unavoidable.

Humanity wouldn't be able to drive back the fallen hero without their help. Luckily, the Gods and Devils were in a different plane and they couldn't interfere too much.

"I'd advise you to go the Demon Continent before the Angel Continent. Not only will you most likely find a way to save this girl, you could also take this time to foster a relationship with your grandfather's people. The angels will be way too obstinate to ally with you, so having at least one race on your side is enough."

Being a Goddess, one would think that she'd support the angels who were her descendants. However, the truth is, Gods and Devils couldn't care less about what happens to them. Even if the angels were completely wiped off the map, the Gods wouldn't be impacted in any big way.

"I will, grandmother."

The Goddess of Frost smiled. She walked behind Kai and Akane's seats and then placed her hands on their heads.

"May you two have a safe journey, along with everyone you hold dear."

After being sent off, Akane was grumbling in thought.

It was her first time meeting a Goddess and at first, she felt a sense of majesty. It was like looking at a true king, she had the urge to prostrate herself despite not being told by anyone to do so. Kai had even told her prior to the meeting that she could calm down.

Erina had also told her that Kai's grandmother wasn't strict, and you could even banter with her if you wanted to. Amelia had also told her something along those lines as well.

It helped her calm down and once they entered the house, the majestic feeling had disappeared. She just felt like a real grandmother, she had an aura about her that made Akane feel comfortable.

But, it wasn't just that.

The other half of her soul was telling her to worship the Goddess. While Azrael had never specifically made her go against her will ever since she woke up, this was the first time she felt like bending to that wish.

"Kai... I may be more influenced by Azrael than I thought."

Kai looked down at Akane who was sitting down on the seat he made.

"Was it telling you to worship grandmother?"

"...Yes, how did you know?"

"Though I don't look like it, I am part-angel."

"..."

Akane fell silent and took a deep breath before asking.

"Do you think... that the angels and demons would be able to go against the will of the ones they worship?"

Humans had religion, but they weren't forced to believe in one. Everyone had the freedom of choice about who to believe in.

"I think they can, but most of them probably aren't able to do so even if they wanted to. Being only part should make us a little more tolerable."

Though, it's your soul that's part of an angel, not your body. Kai added.

"Then, what are the odds that the demons and angels starting a war with humanity because of the Devils and Gods?"

"...Very high."

Kai had already thought about that possibility before, but what could he do? In the other timeline, he wasn't able to gain the angels' admiration because he was just a faux God. And, his grandmother couldn't move so freely in the mortal world to make the angels his ally.

Also, even if he knew that, would he able to kill Gods and Devils as he is now? That was a laughable thought, he could be killed with just a flick of their fingers.

Akane tensed up. As someone he couldn't share memories with, the idea of war was frightening. Not to mention that while she was conscious for the past few years, it was hazy. Inside, she was still like a kid. Kai didn't know what to say to comfort her so he just continued to stay silent until they teleported back home.