The Day Before the Decisive Battle

Part 1

Five men were on a closed room. There were machines from all kinds; some of them had a look that made it hard to call them computers.

The five men constantly watched at those machines, specifically, at the radars on them. All of them showed only a green grid, no signals being detected.

Who were these men? They were the greatest research force of the Underworld: Lucifer's Bishop Nebiros, Cadre of Grigori Sahariel, and the Three Magician Kings.

They were looking for the single most elusive force in this world: The Greatest Evil. They were a father and son duo who bears the Beliaruin surname, possessing blood of both Devils and Fallen Angels on them, and having learned magic from its creator, Merlin Ambrosius himself.

Around 20 days ago, the son, Mal Beliaruin, assaulted the Three Magician Kings and destroyed their Magician Association with the help of his father, Beliaruin, fighting against Cadres of Grigori like Baraqiel and Azazel and the [Great Satan] Lucifer.

Ever since then, they have been the second most wanted criminals by the Christian Faction, only surpassed by The Seven Deadly Sins. These five men have used all kind of methods to find them; so far, they were nowhere to be found.

However, in that moment, something strange happened. A red point appeared on the screen being observed by Caspar Valeribe, one of the Three Magician Kings. He turned around and asked to his comrades.

"Guys, a red point means we found Beliaruin, doesn't it?"

"Yes, just like you said. But there hasn't been a single signal like that since we started doing this around three weeks-"

"Well, I found him."

Once Balthazar's words were interrupted, everyone on the room focused their eyes on Caspar's screen.

"Where does that signal come from?"

"Let me see, Nebiros. Going by the landscape and our corresponding map of the human world, it's on Japan."

"But what part of Japan, Sahariel?"

"Looking closely, it must be…"

In the moment they noticed where it came from, everyone on the room alarmed.

Melchior created a communication magic circle and spoke to the man who asked them to look for The Greatest Evil.

"Lucifer! We have detected a member of The Greatest Evil! He's close to Ram Phenex's house!"

Part 2

… Who is knocking the door this late at night? As I, Rito Yuma, am awakened up by someone knocking my bedroom's door, I look at my alarm clock.

It's 3:27 AM. Why is someone knocking my door at such hour?! Even when I'm a Devil, I have to sleep, you know?!

I got up on my pyjamas and barefoot. I don't have the energy to dress up properly.

As I open the door, I see a man in front of it. He has black eyes, long black hair and a high-necked grey outfit.

"Hello, Yuma. It's good to see you again."

It's Mal Beliaruin. Ok, there can only be one logical explanation to this.

"Wow, this nightmare is really weird…"

"You aren't dreaming. I'm actually in front of you… I'll sit down over your bed while I wait."

He goes and sits down on my bed, closing my door using what appears to be telekinesis. Wait, did he say this isn't a dream and he's actually in front of me?!

"Yes, I did. You're slow at understanding such simple notion, Yuma."

He's even reading my mind again! It's the actual Mal Beliaruin who is in front of me! I try to open the door, but I'm unable to!

"You're really reckless, Yuma. You won't go out of here until you talk with me."

I'll just do as he wishes; I want to keep my life.

"Thank you."

I go to my bed and sit on it, being close to Beliaruin. …I'm so close to him, my archenemy who killed my parents, and yet, I'm unable to do anything against him. This is so frustrating.

"I'll go straight to the point. I came here to ask you a pretty important question, Yuma."

"Ehh, sure, what is it?"

"What does "evil" mean?"

Eh? Is he asking me what does evil mean? Why would he like to know that?

"I'll like to know because, if you answer me, I'll give you the key to defeat the Seven Sins."

"To defeat them? Weren't you working with them?"

"My deal with that Devil bunch was because I needed to free my father and I needed someone to distract my opponents. However, now that my father is free, I don't need them anymore."

So Beliaruin and the Seven Sins aren't actually working together… that's something rather shocking to me.

"So, what's you answer to my first question."

The must be talking about the question about the meaning of evil. Well, I have an answer to that.

"Evil is everything that isn't good or pleasant. It's everything that disturbs the order of the world. It's everything that goes against the wellbeing of people."

"And what if I tell you of all of that is a lie?"

How it can possibly be a lie?

"Because the definitions of good and evil are a lie. People will make you believe some acts are good and others are evil. However, who determines what is good and what is evil? Good and evil are subjective, what is good and what is evil is just a fabrication made by those who have power, a fabrication used to further their power."

I think I'll just let him speak about his philosophical stuff before saying anything.

"Hitler had followers, but would they follow him if they believed they were evil? To them, the Axis Forces were the good guys, while the Allies were the bad guys.

If good and evil were actually objective, such thing wouldn't happen. However, it did. And if it did, it means who was the good side and who was the evil was decided by the Allies, since they were the ones who won the war and wanted to secure their power.

If an overthrown tyrant said something is good, and he had followers who obeyed his orders, why would said thing not be good? The reason is because said tyrant was overthrown, and those who have the power now want to destroy his image. Who decided he was an actual tyrant to begin with? Maybe that is a lie made by the new rulers too.

I have lived for hundreds of years; I have seen the most important events of human history: wars, revolutions, coup d'états. The idea of what is good and what is evil have differed over the course of time to fit the concurrent ruler.

For that I decided it, if I'm called evil by you, then I'll act like your definition of evil. I'm the evilest being there is, or that is what they want you to believe. However, what if I and my father win? Everyone on the future will learn of us as martyrs who gave their all to dethrone the evil rulers of the era.

Good and evil, they can't be determined for real. For that, I'll ask it on more time: Yuma, what does "evil" mean?"

"… By this point I think this talk is just an overly exaggerated excuse for your acts."

Beliaruin leaks out a small laugh after I say that.

"I knew you would say something like that, Yuma. Someone like you, who obeys whatever his superiors tell him, obviously would deny my words."

Beliaruin stands up and looks at me.

"I, who is about to awaken, am the Heavenly Dragon that has stolen the principles of domination from God. I laugh at the "infinite", and I grieve at the "dream"… I shall become the Red Dragon of Domination… And I shall sink you to the depths of crimson purgatory!"

Beliaruin suddenly yells that curse like chant! What the hell was that?!

"That is activation chant of the ultimate state of the [Boosted Gear], [Juggernaut Drive]. Once he enters that state, he'll be able to use his terrain changing technique, [Longinus Smasher]. In that moment, you should use the triumphal power of your [Destiny Deck]. If you do that, you'll be able to win."

Beliaruin gets close to my door and looks at me one final time.

"This isn't the last time we'll met, Yuma. As my new Gerard A. Garmen, we'll face each other on the place guarding Mist Cypher. The Strongest Human in History, the First Fairy King, and many others has failed before you. However, not only your mind-set is the opposite of mine, but you also possess great potential to fight me. You're unique among them. And while by no means I'm saying you'll succeed in defeating me, I think you'll at least be my best opponent to date."

He creates a magic circle, and before disappearing, he says some final words.

"Goodbye Yuma, we'll meet again when the time comes; when he is born."

And like that, he disappeared. As soon as he left, the door was opened by Shemhazai-sama.

"Damn, he left the place already. Rito, are you fine?"

"Yes, I'm fine…"

I look at my clock again, and I'm shocked by what I see. It's 3:28 AM. I spent way more than a minute speaking with Beliaruin. Did he stop time to talk with me?

"Don't worry Rito, no matter where is he now, we'll find again."

Shemhazai-sama leaves the place after saying just those words. However, I'm really confused towards the words Beliaruin said at the end.

What is Mist Cypher? Why did he mention the First Fairy King? And who is going to be born?

I'll accept your challenge, Mal Beliaruin. No matter what, I'll find a way to defeat you; it doesn't matter that I'm unable to do it with my own power.

And with that weird night, our week of rest before the decisive battle came to an end.

Volume 8 – End