Author's Note: Just a little warning there is absolutely no dueling in this chapter. In addition this chapter contains plenty of explanations, so try and keep up.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Sympathy for the Devil

The ground cracked as Drake's body slammed into it hard. He coughed up blood as his body continued to slide backwards from the force of the blow. Finally he came to a stop a dozen feet from his impact point. 'Damn…still I can't seem to beat him. I can barely even lay a finger on him. I'm a good fighter and I'm strong, so how is the level of ability so great between us?'

Drake's father stood about twenty feet away, his legs spread in a powerful stance that kept him grounded at all times and allowed him to spring at the opponent at a moment's notice. One hand was behind his back while the other was extended in front of him, hand pointed up towards the sky in an almost inviting manner. "Come. If this is all you can muster then I'm disappointed to call you my son. All you're fighting me with is frustration and anger, and that cannot defeat me! If that is all you have to fight with, then stay down."

Masue frowned when he heard his son start to chuckle. Drake braced his hands against the ground and began to struggle to push himself back up. Inch by inch he forced himself to stand until he stood in a shaky stance, his legs nearly folding underneath him at every moment. Drake had his head down, his eyes out of view as he spoke. "There's a Japanese proverb I remember you teaching me. One of the few things I remember about you that has stuck with me throughout the years."

The older man raised an eyebrow, curious to know what his son was thinking. "Oh? And what might that proverb be?"

Drake jerked his head up, flashed his normal cocky grin, and then raised his fists into boxing positions. "Fall down seven times, stand up eight!"

At last Masue smiled and beckoned his son to attack. Drake let out a roar and charged towards him, fists at the ready. Masue moved his head to the left slightly to avoid the jab from the right, and then brought his knee up towards his son's stomach. Immediately Drake countered by lifting his own left leg and stopping the strike. "I'm fighting you with more than just anger and frustration old man! I'm fighting you with all the determination that I've got!"

Masue's eyes widened as Drake jerked his left leg down and between Masue's own feet and planted it firmly on the ground. Then he used that foot as a pivoting point, sliding his body around Masue completely. Then in the same movement he brought the elbow of his left arm into the back of Masue's head. 'He switched from a street style to karate in an instant!'

The older man caught his footing quickly but his head was ringing from the sharp blow. Using the momentum provided by the blow he spun himself around and prepared for a follow up. Drake saw his mistake and spat a glob of blood out onto the ground. 'Damn, I didn't compensate well enough to the change over and the speed of the blow and I missed the base of his spine. If I had hit that he might have been out, but instead it just hurt him.'

Masue smirked in a manner very reminiscent of his own son's and then returned to his normal stance. "Good. But you'll have to step it up if you really want to surpass me."

"Oi, old man! I always hit the ground running and now is no different. I'll surpass you even if it kills me!" Letting out another challenging shout he charged again, this time determined to beat his father into the dirt.

'Your determination is strong, but it won't be enough for what will come. You've gotten by on guts, determination, and raw talent in the past but it won't cut it any longer. All your skills must be honed to perfection and you must recover your passion and find the reason you fight! You must choose your own dream to fight for!'

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The mood was somber for everyone in Kyoto as they left the hotel. Or at least it was mostly somber since the discovery of Isis' death. Ihami was completely unaffected and was in fact whistling at that very moment in a corner of the room as the rest of them sat in a circle and discussed their next move.

It was apparent that there was no way of finding who had murdered Isis at the time being. Even Ihami, who they at first suspected, was proven to have an alibi. The people in the rooms next to Ihami's were able to vouch for her as they had heard her and some man having sex through most of the night.

The hotel manager, who was apparently in his late twenties and Ihami's choice for the night, had been absolutely horrified to discover a murder on the premises. Although finding out who had murdered Isis was important they chose to use magic to silence the manager, because if police got involved then all of them would be questioned and lose precious time.

Dalin cast a pointed glance at the whistling Ihami who just grinned in response. "There is no point delaying any longer. Take us to the Puppeteer as you promised. There is no time to waste. To have killed one of our number under our noses means that the enemy, whoever he may be, is becoming restless and taking action."

Ihami flashed him a sultry smile and sauntered over. She placed her hands on his shoulders and leaned in close so that they were eye to eye. "Why Dalin, so forward! Trying to get the meeting with the Puppeteer out of the way so you can get into my pants faster eh?"

Dalin met her seductive gaze with his stone cold one, and Ihami sighed and moved away. "Sheesh, you're such a spoil sport sometimes Sumatin. Or rather, all of the time. Fine, I'll do as I promised and take you to the Puppeteer. It's easier if you know what to look for."

Alice let out a sigh of relief as soon as Ihami moved away from Dalin. "What do you have to look for? And why are you the person we had to come to in order to find the Puppeteer?"

The immortal Egyptian crossed the room in the blink of an eye and was suddenly sitting in Alice's lap, one arm wrapped around her neck. Alice yelped as Ihami grinned and tapped a finger on her nose. "You're eager to know my secrets is that it? You trying to get into my pants as well?"

"S-shut up and just tell us okay!" Ihami smirked, but didn't get up. She just moved in closer and laid her head against Alice's shoulder, staring up at the young woman with her big violet eyes. Across the room Hikari shuddered, feeling like she was watching herself cuddle up to Alice.

"It's simple. I'm immortal. I know it sounds too simple, but basically that's it. When I absorbed the lives of thousands of people and therefore achieved immortality I rose above the level of normal mortals and my existence changed. The type of life energy that flows through me from the universe is completely different from that which flows through mortals. Just like a mortal with training can feel the energy of another mortal I can feel the energy of beings like myself. And the Puppeteer is something I can sense at all times as it pervades much of the world. Plus I had sex with it one time."

Rishid spat out the water he was drinking, Alice and Hikari jerked back in horror, and even Dalin quirked an eyebrow. Unable to contain himself Rishid spoke up. "You…had sex with an immortal being responsible for the management of the Apocalypse?"

Ihami smirked and flashed him a thumbs. "Yep! Well, sort of. You guys have a weird view on the Puppeteer, but that'll be fixed soon. See, it wanted a little bit of information for it, so I exchanged information for sex. And you have no idea the tricks a being picks up after millennia of existence. I learned most of my best tricks from it."

Hikari dropped her head into her hands and began to rub at the bridge of her nose. She wished her ears didn't work right about then. "I'd say that's the most disturbing thing about sex I've ever heard, but I've been listening to you for a few hours so it might not even reach the top ten."

The other woman clapped her hands together and stood up, leaving a relieved Alice sitting alone in her chair. "Alright then! Let's get to work shall we!"

Ihami closed her eyes took a very deep breath. Everyone waited with baited breath as Ihami made whatever preparations she needed to get them to the Puppeteer. Finally Ihami's eyes snapped back open. At the top of her lungs Ihami began to shout. "OI! PUPPETEER! GET YOUR FUCKING ASS IN HERE! WE'VE GOT SOMETHING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOU RUDE ASSHOLE! NOW COME OUT!"

Everyone in the room but Dalin twitched and stared at her for several seconds like she was a lunatic. Finally Alice burst out of her chair and pointed a furious shaking finger at the immortal. "That's it! That's your idea of getting in touch with the Puppeteer! We could have freaking shouted at it too if we wanted to!"

Dalin narrowed his eyes and a chill fell over the room as the door creaked open and a tall man stepped through, rubbing a finger in his ear. His red hair hung wildly and his eyes were the color of a robin's egg. "Damn it Ihami, you didn't have to shout so loudly. You knew I was outside the door the whole time, you could have just opened it."

The red haired man raised a hand in greeting and promptly sat down on the bed. Everyone stared at him, and Ihami promptly sat down at his side and snuggled up against him. "Yo. My name is Ukito Yamagata, and I'm a consultant for a law firm based in Tokyo, I'm on a business trip here to Kyoto. Oh, and I'm also a receptacle of the being you call the Puppeteer. How do you do?"

The man calling himself Ukito bowed slightly, and only out of years of indoctrination in Japanese formality and tradition allowed Hikari to automatically bow in response. The others, who had no such indoctrination, simply stared at Ukito. Finally Alice got her voice back. "I'm sorry, I don't get it. I was expecting some sort of grand evil being or something. You're really the guy in charge of the Apocalypse? And what do you meant by receptacle?"

Ukito glanced at Ihami out of the corner of his big blue eyes, and she moved away. He let out a deep breath and suddenly his appearance changed, becoming that of a middle aged Japanese man with black hair with streaks of gray in it and dull brown eyes. Then seconds later he shifted back into the form he had first appeared in. "By receptacle I mean that the actual thing you call the Puppeteer is a being that exists not on a normal physical plane but rather as an astral one, and its consciousness expands between tens of thousands of people all around the world. Not to mention other beings in other realms."

Dalin nodded. "I see, so in reality the Puppeteer is not one being, but rather a collective of individuals sharing a consciousness as well as separate minds and bodies. That is why it is said that the Puppeteer cannot be killed. Because there is no real body to slay, just receptacles."

The red haired man nodded in return and flashed an almost feral smile at Dalin. "Yes, that's the case. I would like to add you to my consciousness, but unfortunately I can't do that with you. Of course I can with anyone who is willing to make an exchange with me. Something they want for becoming part of them. Or I make exchanges in order to get information, such as I did with Ihami and as I did with Hikari."

Hikari jumped to her feet and stumbled away from the man. "What are you talking about? I've never met you before! I didn't make any deal with you! I wouldn't make a deal with the devil!"

Ukito sighed and held out his right hand. A tiny image of a man identical to Ukito speaking to Hikari appeared above his palm. "Not me specifically, but a receptacle that resides in the Darkness Realm called Ichijigoku. In exchange for being able to see, hear, and experience whatever you do I used my power to remove the disease that was your bane from your family line forever. Then par our agreement you forgot all about it. That's why I had someone here waiting for you; I knew you were coming and that you were here. I've been waiting for this meeting for some time."

Hikari's eyes were filled with horror that she had made what amounted to a deal with the devil. Slowly she returned to her seat and Dalin took her place, standing so that he towered over the smaller Ukito. "You made no verbal response when you were called the grand evil in charge of the Apocalypse. However, your eyes and face said clearly 'You misunderstand me'. I wish to understand you."

Alice stared up at Dalin, her eyes wide with awe. Hikari and Rishid just watched him carefully, feeling chilled. 'Senpai…he can read a person's features so well! That must be why he's so great at everything. Those green eyes pierce through all layers of deception and unravel the truth!'

The red haired receptacle brushed hair away from his blue eyes and met Dalin's. "You're wise Sumatin, as wise as I would expect from one such as you. Yes, the truth is that I am not the one in charge of the Apocalypse. Rather…I will somehow be responsible for it. I have no idea how, but that is the case, that is where that belief came from. Most likely it is something I have already done that will cause the Apocalypse."

Ihami sidled up to Ukito's side and wrapped an arm around him, her violet eyes meeting Dalin's green ones. "Everyone misunderstands him, but in truth he's really just a collector of information. For as long as he's existed that has been what he's done, he has collected information. He is the greatest receptacle of information in the universe. Nobody knows more than he does."

Ukito patted her arm and smiled at her, but the smile was hiding a frown. "Yes, that has been my goal for as long as I have lived. Even before I became what people now call the Puppeteer. Back when this shape you see before you…was my real form."

Dalin was the only one of the group to not gasp in shock. Instead he nodded his head ever so slightly. "Just as I suspected from the moment I learned of you, having previously met Ihami. It is a matter of evolution isn't it? You were once human, but evolved to this state somehow."

"Correct. Of course even when I was still human I desired knowledge, I was curious even as a little boy. But nobody in my clan believed that there was any use for knowledge. For them simple inventions such as pointy sticks and the wonder of fire were enough for anyone. But I couldn't be satisfied…I had to know. And so I reached further and further…" Ukito's eyes had taken on a nostalgic look, and his tone was similarly nostalgic.

Rishid bit his lip, his memory bringing to mind the being that they had met in Egypt. 'He claimed to have at one point been just like us. Was he also someone who was once human but through great effort achieved a higher state? Like Ihami?'

Their unspoken leader raised his right hand, which was covered by the Icon of Osiris. Silver energy crackled around it, and suddenly it burst into blue flame, which surrounded his body. "The power that I have felt from you since the moment you entered this room and showed us your true face. It is similar to that which I feel at this very moment. It echoes that power. The power of a Heart of Man. Is that what you reached in your efforts?"

The blue fire died down and Ukito nibbled at his lip, as if making a decision. "In a manner of speaking, yes it is. Rather…the power that I reached was the base raw energy that flows through the universe and that only gods can touch. It filled me, made me as a god was. And my human flesh was obliterated by that power, making me as I am."

Hikari crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head to the side, her brows furrowed. "Something about that sounds familiar. Like I've heard it before somewhere. But the where and from who is the thing I can't quite remember."

Dalin glanced back at her, and then instantly returned his attention to Ukito. "Yes, it is something we've heard before. In other words you were the first human being to ever touch the power that would eventually be diluted into the form we know today as magic. You were the true Heart of Man. The one that in terms of today's believed history…was Adam, who ate from the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Life and Death and was expelled from Eden."

"Again you hit the nail on the head as usual. Truly Sumatin it is impossible to get anything past you. Yes, I was the true Heart of Man. And my own curiosity led me to expand my consciousness into other humans, and eventually some of them sired children. That ability to touch greater power was spread, and so came all those capable of using magic and those capable of using the Hearts of Man. It is with great regret that I understand that likely that one event is why I am responsible for the Apocalypse."

Hikari put a hand against her chest and leaned forwards, worry in her eyes. "What do you mean? Are you saying that just because you spread the ability to use magic you caused the eventual Apocalypse? How can it be possible that the magic that our blood can touch is such a horrible thing?"

Ukito lowered his head, his bangs falling across his eyes. "I'm afraid it's very complicated, and I can't really explain it all to you in simple terms. Would you like me to try and explain to you the nature of the power that I touched?"

Collectively the group nodded, eager and yet worried to hear what he had to say. Despite the implications that they were learning forbidden secrets they knew they couldn't stop now. No matter what happened they had to hear him out. Because it was human kind's curse, just as it had been his. Curiosity.

"Have you ever heard of Gaia Theory, or Daisy World?" When all Ukito got were blank stares he smiled and stood. With one finger he drew a circle in mid-air, and it revolved, becoming a floating sphere identical to the Earth.

"Imagine Earth as it exists to us. Earth is one planet of nine in our Solar System, not particularly large. Our star is one of two hundred billion in our galaxy, and our galaxy is one of hundreds of billions if not trillions of galaxies in the Universe. Individually every person in this room, even myself, is very small and insignificant. Your individual actions can no more harm the Universe than you could break the Earth apart with your rage." As he spoke the room was filled with stars and galaxies, expanding them seemingly forever outwards.

"Yet as insignificant as every living being is individually, as insignificant as Earth itself is in the grand scheme of things….together we have an effect on everything. You see, Gaia Theory proposes that Earth acts like a living organism, that it is constantly being balanced by the efforts of every living thing on it, from the largest tree to the smallest microbe. One person cannot harm or heal the Earth, but all together they can do so." The image refocused on the Earth, where thousands of points of light were shining off of it.

"If we pollute the world then the other parts of the living organism of Gaia, or Earth, work together to fix the problem. Earth is an organism in much the same way that human beings and other microorganisms are. You see, a human being is made up of trillions of different working parts, including microscopic organisms that are necessary for the human body to function." The image became a human being lying flat, with thousands of little lines running through the body, making it work.

"Even those tiny little microscopic organisms are run by other tiny things, such as DNA and RNA. Even the tiniest of cellular structures is needed for an atom to function. Such an infinitely complex process just to keep a single atom functioning, and it is exponentially expanded as the complexity of the organism increases, as the size increases. So every time we rise outwards the process involved in keeping the structure function becomes infinitely more complex, so the process involved in keeping the Earth function is just as out of reach of understanding to the normal human as the overall functioning of a human is to a single bacteria cell."

Dalin was the only one who didn't look confused. He simply looked focused, hanging on every word that Ukito was speaking, analyzing it and coming to terms with it. Before Ukito could continue Dalin spoke up. "By your implication the Universe itself functions in the manner that Gaia Theory proposes Earth does. Every minor tiny aspect down to the smallest is involved in the upkeep of the Universe. So while individually human beings are of no consequence, together they do have some impact."

Ukito nodded solemnly and banished the image that had been hanging in the air. "Yes, the Universe is much like a living organism, only on a far larger scale than even I can possible comprehend. And at the top of the food chain, acting like the organs of a human being are the force of power that governs all even without thought that is conscious in the way that humans are."

The blonde haired giant turned away and walked to the window. He looked out at the city, watching as people scurried about, going through their business without a care in the world that they were merely tiny cells used to keep a much larger structure functioning. "The organs that run the Universe, those are what we have heard of. The Essences."

"Yes, that's correct again. The Essences are a raw force of thought and power that expand through everything without form, but always functioning. They oversee it all without thinking of it. They are the organs that run it all, they keep the power flowing that keeps the Universe active, keeps it from falling apart. Much like human organs supply energy and other necessary functions to the human." He raised his hand, and in it was a beating heart. When he closed his hand the heart was gone, nowhere to be seen.

Alice gulped, and gathered her courage to speak. She wanted to be part of this, wanted to know what the man she admired seemed to have already figured out. "Okay, if all of that's true and we just help keep the Universe functioning, then why was your birth and the spreading of your bloodline such a bad thing? How could that be responsible for the breakdown of the Universe?"

"An excellent question and one with a complicated answer. To do so I suppose I might have to explain the difference between people such as you, those like Ihami, and those like me, the gods, and so on. But really…I don't think I'm going to have to try and explain." He sighed and glanced at the door. Ihami crossed the room and pulled open the door, revealing someone to be on the other side.

Ihami stared down at the little boy who looked back at her calmly, although his eyes held a 'caught in the cookie jar' look to them. "So, you've been listening in have you? I thought you dropped off the face of the Earth, but it looks like you've gotten involved."

The little kid, who looked no more than ten years old, giggled and stuck a hand behind the back of his head. "Heh, looks like I got found out. I can't stay out of this forever, I'm as much a part of the Universe as you are old lady."

Ihami snorted and grabbed the kid by the collar, pushing him through the door. He chuckled and squirmed out from her grip, jumping up onto the bed where he immediately began to bounce up and down. "Brat, you're way older than I am, so don't insult me."

The kid giggled and flopped down on his stomach. He placed his chin in his hands and looked up at the group, grinning wider than should be possible. "Old lady you're really cranky, and so are the rest of you. I thought humans were about having fun, right?"

Dalin's eyes narrowed at he stared at the little child. Although it was concealed very well he could feel a trace of power from the boy, something he knew. "You are…."

"Wait, don't guess yet! I wanna give you guys a hint! Here, I've got this!" He snapped his fingers and an object popped out of thin air. He leapt up onto his feet and caught it before it could fall. Then he brandished it, giving them all a good look.

It was a white mask with red in two different corners. It was a mask that Dalin, Hikari, and even Rishid recognized well. Dalin looked up from the mask and into the boy's eyes. "You are Eikyuu, just as I suspected."

The little boy, who somehow was none other than the God of Order Eikyuu, grinned and gave them the victory sign. "Bingo! You got it in one shot. Of course I could have returned to that old appearance, but this is the one I've had for nearly six years now. So it would be rude of me to just drop it. Of course with the end of all things coming I figured it would be best of me to put a hand in. After all, I'm a god of order, and I can't very well have chaos consume the Universe during my watch, can I?"

Hikari looked absolutely flabbergasted, and just barely managed to point a shocked finger at him. "You…so this is what happened to you? You disappeared and assumed the guise of a human boy? But…why?"

Eikyuu shrugged and dropped into a seated position with his legs crossed. "The words of mankind reached me and told me that at the time they didn't need my type of order. So I chose to try and make myself understand mankind in order to once again serve them appropriately. In addition, people still worship me, so I still exist."

"Because people worship you that means you exist? I'm not sure I follow." Eikyuu looked over at Alice, who appeared very confused. She hadn't been around during Eikyuu's brief reign over the planet, so didn't know anything that wasn't second or third hand about the god.

"That's what I'm here to explain. Well, I'm also here for other reasons, but that's first. You see, it works like this. I'm different than most gods in my origin. Originally I was merely a meteor with ambient energy absorbed from millions of years of travel through the stars. I wish worshiped and given form and consciousness by many people and all of that energy evolved, becoming what to humans is called a god. But most gods…they start as humans, or some other sentient race." Ihami stepped up at this point and put a hand on Eikyuu's head, ruffling his dark hair.

She used her right hand to point to herself with her thumb and smirked. "That's where I come in. A human that garners enough energy into themselves through whatever method, such as I did when I absorbed the lives of thousands of people, they are able to touch a different level of power and forcefully are evolved to a higher state that might be called that of an immortal or demi-god. Things like devas and angels generally are people like this. Demons and other such evil creatures generally were at one point evil humans who also achieved this state."

Eikyuu pouted and brushed her arm off his head, then proceeded to sit himself down in her lap. "I'm telling the story old lady."

"Shut up you ancient brat!" To their surprise she punched him on the top of the head, and he merely scowled up at her before returning to face them.

"So basically what happens after that step is the step that is generally called godhood. It is apotheosis, the process of becoming a god. In this state the powers of that being are drawn more directly from the universe than is possible. They are enormously powerful, and at first they do not require worship. Yet as time goes on and they draw on more and more power from the Universe they start to evolve further. But beyond this state…what exists besides the Essences? The first and all subsequent gods didn't know, and they were afraid." He raised his head to stare at the ceiling, and he looked surprisingly pensive for a ten year old.

"In their fear of taking that next step to the unknown they tried all sorts of methods of remaining where they were. At first they could absorb any type of energy other than the raw Universal energy in order to remain where they were. Although it weakened them slightly it seemed enough. But like a person who eats only the same food every day for years they found themselves unsatisfied, and that type of energy no longer could hold them bound in that state of evolution. They were once again at risk of losing the bonds of the physical realm and becoming something they couldn't comprehend." When they saw they look in his eyes, they all wondered if this was a fear he himself had. Of that unknowable place beyond godhood.

"The gods continued to try other types of energy, but bit by bit just as with the first attempts it would fail. Eventually they would discover a type of energy of enormous abundance that seemed to satiate them more than any other. The energy formed by worship. Eventually this too will cease to satisfy them and they will either be forced to face the great unknown, or become like Apep." At the mention of the dark god that had formed their feared enemy they all perked up, more interested now than they had been.

"If a god take's Apep's path it instead consumes the living energy of souls and the energy of gods by consuming them in order to maintain its state. In this way such a god maintains their base power, not being weakened by being forced to feed on lesser forms of energy. Yet Apep is in a cycle, and it unsatisfied. It can find nothing else to satisfy it, no energy to keep it in its present state. So it instead, as you well know, chose to destroy the Universe rather than brave that great beyond. So it created the Hand of Apep, and the Avatar of Apep whom you know as the Dark Spirit. But what all the gods have failed to see before me, and I only see because of how different I am, is why the gods exist."

Rishid, who believed heavily in the Egyptian gods of old, found this view of gods hard to take in all at once. So he felt that he had to know more, had to know it all to come to terms with his own beliefs. "Why? Why do gods exist?"

"To be part of the system. Gods act as a way of channeling the raw energy of the Universe, focusing it. When more of it needs to be channeled a new god is born, thus keeping the Universe in a consistent state. But the gods are denying that natural cycle. By refusing to evolve they would have clogged up the Universe and absorbed too much of its energy, in which case the Universe would likely use gods like Apep and Fenrir to cull the herd. However…because they sought other forms of energy to maintain them, instead of just clogging up the Universe they aren't absorbing enough raw energy at all. That energy is like energy in a human being, it has to be used or else damage is done to the structure."

To their surprise it was Ukito who took up the explanation, as he plucked something from his pocket and held it up. It was a red rubbery object that as he put to his lips they recognized as a balloon. He blew it up, and then held it up to them. "Picture this as the Universe. It is full of air, or energy. It holds a dynamic in the amount of air within. Although it isn't obvious air slowly is released from tiny spaces in the rubber, much like how the Universe releases raw energy through the gods. But…"

Ukito put he balloon up to his lips and began to blow more air into it. It expanded and looked ready to pop at a moment's notice, so he pulled his lips away and blocked the end with his fingers. "Without the gods to release the energy the Universe becomes like this balloon, bloated with energy. It had to find a way to release some of that energy, and it attempted to in the form of me. I was a human that was forcibly accelerated into touching that raw power. They hoped to continue this, but I was mistake."

He waved his free hand at each of them and looked grim as he spoke. "I'm afraid that it was a costly mistake. Instead of acting like a release point as they wished I was permanently stuck in this state, not able to move farther. In addition I prevented the forces that govern the Universe from using other humans in this process by introducing my own power into the bloodstream. Magic was a diluted form of that raw energy, and did nothing to help. Those exposed to it could not be used, and my power bled throughout the dimensions. My existence prevented anything other than normal evolution into godhood. And so because of my mistake the Universe is nearly too bloated with energy, and that raw energy will shortly begin to tear down the barriers of the realms and destroy everything, including itself."

Dalin glanced down at his left hand and then clenched it into a fist. "There are patches of some form of energy, a dark energy, which I have felt bleeding into this reality. I believed that closing them might delay the end of all things, but it appears I was wrong. That is the sign that the Universe can no longer hold all of its energy."

Ukito glanced at Ihami and Eikyuu out of the corner of his eyes, and then sighed. "I'm afraid that's not entirely accurate. I'm terrible at this explanation, so I'll leave it be for the moment. That energy is being bled from a part of the Universe that is the Yin to this part of the Universe's Yang. Dark to light. It is the reverse of this side, the opposite side of the coin of the Universe. Technically the Universe should still have hundreds of billions of years left to find a solution to the problem of energy bloating, but a terrifying evil has and still is attempting to tear apart the barriers between all parts of the Universe. If this succeeds then the Universe will be destroyed, and as things stand that will happen. That is what you must stop, that ancient evil from breaking those barriers. The Universe itself cannot be saved by you, but its destruction can be delayed so that the Essences may find a new solution. That is your task."

Hikari raised a hand tentavily, feeling like the kid in the back of the class, speaking up in front of the much smarter students. Somehow she felt really out of place amongst wise and knowledgeable people like Dalin, Ihami, Eikyuu, and the Puppeteer. "What exactly is the evil? And how do we stop it?"

Ukito frowned and rubbed his chin, looking thoughtful. "Hmm…I'm not sure how to describe this evil, except to say that…well it is chained only through the will of many gods. It is considered to be the manifestation of the Essence of Destruction, which the gods chained billions of years ago. From what I know it is just like the gods, only it wasn't afraid."

Alice felt a chill run down her spine. Somehow she knew what he meant, and it terrified her. "You mean…this evil was a god that wasn't afraid of that great unknown? It's what a god could become?"

The red haired receptacle bobbed his head in the affirmative, and again a chill ran down Alice's spine. "Yes. When it came into existence I don't know, all I know is that now it exists both within and outside even my own conception of time and space. There exist three seals on it, maintained by three immortals. Unfortunately one seal is broken as the immortal is dead and no replacement exists. With the set incomplete I estimate just a month before the next seal is destroyed. When that happens the realms will begin to truly bleed together. If the final seal breaks, that evil will be fully unleashed and it will only be a matter of time before the end comes, before night consumes everything."

Now left behind in her knowledge, Ihami felt the need to contribute again. She hated being left behind. "So what needs to be done? How do we stop this from coming to pass?"

Ukito held up his right hand and three pillars of energy appeared above it. One was pitch black, another was white, and the second was emerald in color. "You must locate the Pillars of Existance and prepare them; I cannot tell you more than that about them. They represent what was, what is, and what might come to pass. Past, Present, and Future. Without them the Apocalypse cannot be prevented. In addition you must locate the five Seals of Death, which can be used to create temporary seals within humans to substitute a broken seal, but only if you can locate an immortal."

Eikyuu hopped off the bed and snapped his thumb and middle finger together. Instantly a map appeared in front of him and rotated about so they could see it. Five different points appeared on the map. "Each of these locations is where one of the five Seals of Death are located. You will find that they are being guarded by the five High Priests of my Order. They will not give them up easily, and I cannot change that. The Seals of Death must be won, they cannot be given."

Dalin motioned with his hand for the rest of them to stand, and they did so immediately. He walked to the door and pulled it open, then looked back at Ukito and Eikyuu. "I wish to discuss more with you in private. Then we will depart immediately."

Eikyuu held up a finger and grinned broadly. "One last thing before the rest of you depart. You'll need all the strong allies you can get. In particular you'll need the aid of the Knights of Wind and Earth in order to succeed. Of course, neither will easily give their help, especially to you."

Dalin nodded and ushered everyone else out. Then he shut the door and tapped on it twice, mentally creating a barrier that would hide sound. "I have recently come across information of great significance. I want to know more about it, and whatever you can tell me about my own past."

Ukito smirked, having known this would be coming. "But of course. Unfortunately since it doesn't threaten my own existence this one will cost you. Are you willing to give me something in return for the information I can provide?"

"Of course. Whatever you want, I am willing to give." Ukito and Eikyuu exchanged glances, and seconds later Eikyuu faded away.

The red haired man focused his deep blue eyes on Dalin once again and intertwined his fingers, then proceeded to rest his chin on those fingers. "I want something of great significance that I believe only you can get me. It will not be easy, but it is the price I demand. Nothing else will do."

"Name your price."

Ukito raised an eyebrow, pretending surprise at how easily Dalin accepted without even knowing his demand. Of course he was not truly surprised, because he knew more about Dalin than the man knew himself. "I think we can do business."

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Author's Notes: And the plot thickens.

Next Time: In order to deal with some of the threats that have gathered more aid is needed, and after a number of years a confrontation is brewing between two old opponents. In order to gain the aid of this foe Dalin must battle with his all or be destroyed by the hatred that remains within his opponent. Dalin must go toe to toe with the Dark Thief of the Desert once again!

See it all in, Nikolas' Vendetta!