Present time. Unknown plane, unknown place.

A bell sound yet again filled up the same impressive hall as before.

And the only being present, who was, again sitting on a simple throne that looked misplaced for such a place stood up.

It was revealed for him to be a male, but the powerful aura around him still did make it impossible to discern any details, and so one could not even hope to understand his race or age.

"The first of the remaining three matches... Noa, it seems it's time for us to take a break" The figure's somehow tired voice flew into the silent darkness surrounding the throne that looked more like a simple chair, and then his presence disappeared.

Without a sound, the beautiful female Vampire, the one called Noa materialized in the room, proceeding to bow to the empty throne.

"Just three more fights and the Lord will obtain the right to inherit this palace, as well his freedom" She murmured lightly before straightening.

Time passed without anything happening, but with every moment, her beautiful pale face turned darker. At some point, either because she sensed, or she was somehow notified of something, her aura flared. Her normally golden-colored pupils suddenly turned crimson, of the same shade as her long hair, that wildly waved in the currents of qi she released.

"DAMN YOU LUEDUO, IS IT NOT ENOUGH TO FORCE HIM TO FIGHT? She shouted in a mix of fury and anguish.

***

"I heard you Noa, and I am grateful for you to be furious on my behalf. But, I am not so weak as to fall to such illusions" The figure said while dropping back on the throne. His voice was still weak, but he tried to say it in an even and calm manner.

Not that it managed to hide his absolute lack of strength, or how he could not even sit down normally, falling into the throne as if it was the last thing he could do.

"But Lord! You..."

"Noa, I accepted the rules as soon as I entered this place" Before she could say anything that could lead to the danger of being involved, the figure's voice interrupted.

"..."

"And you also are bound by the rules of this place, so please, just bear with them until I obtain the right to freedom. Mine... and everyone else"

"Yes, Lord. I am sorry for my outburst"

"Don't be sorry, it's refreshing to see that at least someone here worries for me" The figure rebuked before lightly chuckling. A chuckle that quickly turned into a cough.

"Lord?"

*Cough* *Cough*

"Lord?!"

"Hah, don't think much about it. Just the side effects of the devourer I fought today"

"Poison?" Noa worriedly asked while inching closer to the throne.

"Don't approach for even a single step more!"

"That's!!"

"Chaos Miasma, yes"

"Damn it!"

"Hah, it may be deadly for others, but the master of this place has been so kind to provide me with it for so long that I am accustomed. Not that it's easy to absorb such chaotic energy, hah" Having recovered slightly, albeit no one could call out the reason for such improvement, the figure said with a chuckle.

***

Sometime later, the figure again talked, this time in an even voice.

The tiredness was still noticeable, but even it seemed to have been alleviated slightly.

"Noa, let's continue"

"Lord, are you sure? I saw the illusions, and probably more will follow as you allow your memories to fill up this place"

"But you can neither stop recording nor I can not stop talking about them. Especially if I want this throne to work"

"..."

"Indeed, so where did we stop?"

"The Astral Gate of the 'Seven Islands Plane'. Still, Lord, if I may ask?"

"Go ahead?"

"Why do the memories appear to be missing, or skipping over the talks and events of that last days?"

"You will soon come to understand..."

BOOK TWO, 'Chen Guang', END.