Hello there. Been about 4 months since I've updated. Like I said in Chapter 76's ending notes, I don't know when I'll update and I'll only do it when I've got the motivation and time. So, here we are with Chapter 77.

Also, because I didn't say this last time, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who's stuck with my stories this long. I don't thank you all enough the encouragement and compliments. I try not to name people so that it doesn't feel like I favor people or ignore anyone. However, the reviewers that have my gratitude know who they are, especially the ones who've talked to me through the review expressing their thoughts almost every chapter.

Now, enough of my chatting. I hope you enjoy the new chapter.

Chapter 77: Some Semblance of Normal

Issei and the others flew as far and as fast as they could. Once again, they were on the run. Issei tried to come up with some sort of plan but he was still in the rush of the situation. He'd sent the Bastion away to a hidden location but he had no idea who's eyes were watching him. There was so much uncertainty.

He looked below as Sairaorg stirred awake.

"Whoa!" He jumped with a fright as he realized he was in midair. He looked up and his mouth fell agape.

"Issei!" Sairaorg couldn't help but laugh at the sudden familiar face.

"So, while I'm trying to figure everything out, wanna tell me what you guys were doing at Enki's base?"

"Turns out that Vali's family is alive and well. We formed a plan to get evidence on Enki to clear everyone's names. Enki was expecting us and captured everyone. Guess you three threw a wrench into that plan." Sairaorg patted his clothes and sneered. All the evidence they'd obtained was taken.

"Don't worry. I've got it all recorded." Sona touched her glasses.

"Why didn't they take those?" Rias had also lost all the evidence she'd pocketed.

"They did. I keep spares hidden. You should know I always have backups." Sona pointed at her shoes.

"So, tell us about your end." Sairaorg returned the attention to trio carrying them all.

"Got captured while on the Moon. We got knocked out, got brought to Enki. I rampaged, woke up from it, found you guys, and ran."

Abruptly, a magic circle appeared in front of the group. The one to come out of it was none other than Rizevim.

"Grandpa?!" Vali gasped.

"No time. Let's get going." He snapped his fingers, sweeping everyone away to the secret base that the Lucifer Family was now using.

"Where are we?" Issei asked.

"Secret base. Been here ever since Enki's failed assassination attempt on me." Rizevim sat down on a chair.

"Okay, someone explain what's been going on here, please." Vali looked around.

"Well, after Enki took away a lot of political power, we've been plotting our own agenda. The bastard was planning to use you all, so we tried to get evidence and use it to get rid of him. Speaking of which…" Rizevim turned toward the infiltration team.

"Don't know how good this'll be." Sona opened her belt buckle and handed over a scroll the size of her finger.

Rizevim read through the entire paper and smirked. There were blueprints of mind-control devices, anti-dragon inventions, even samples of Avitur blood and studies. Most damning of all was the evidence of journal logs that hypothesized control over Bahamut and Aviturs.

"This'll be enough." He sealed the evidence into a protected box.

"Now, with that said, you kids need to get patched up." Ezagyra ran over to her grandchild and sat her down.

Everyone knew what was coming and promptly left the family to be alone.

"I'm so glad you're all okay." Vali smiled. She looked around.

Her parents and her grandparents were all here and looked as healthy as usual.

"Same here. When you three disappeared, we had no idea what to do. Whenever we thought we'd found you, you were already gone. Boy, how'd you do it?"

"We met someone named Viatorus. He gave us a ship and we've been flying around, looking for keys to an Atlantean Vault. Merlin said that the vault had valuable objects and possibly answers. Ever since then, we've traveled the world, trying to get all four keys." Vali sighed. She proceeded to go into greater detail about everything that happened from the Trio's departure till this moment.

(Final Fantasy X OST – A Fleeting Dream. Play Song.)

The adults were silent as they digested the recounting. Ileana was focused on other matters, namely her daughter's emotional state. She stroked her daughter's hair, minding the injuries she still had.

"We thought we had it hard but you three…you went through so much. My strong, brave, sweet little girl." She spoke gently.

That was what did it for Vali. She bit her lip to fight the emotion but failed as she let out her repressed fear, anxiety, and sadness. All of the betrayal, the worry for survival, the uncertainty…Vali had held onto so much and she'd made it her job to be the strong and stable one in the group. Issei had too much on his mind and was the focused one, planning their tasks while wrestling with his issues. Adelaide did her best to bring levity and keep peace. Needless to say, Vali had had enough and finally let her walls come down.

"Mom…i-it was so scary. It was so hard! I had no idea what happened to you all. I had no idea what to do. I tried to be strong but deep down, I was getting so tired! I was at my limit!" Vali sobbed as she embraced her mother.

Ileana was no stranger to such struggles but for someone as young as Vali, who's entire world came crashing down while dealing with literal deities, it was too much. Vali had known far more peace than anyone in the room had when they were her age. It was only natural for it to have been hard for her.

"It's okay, now, sweetie. You're with us now. Just let it all out." Ileana held her daughter close.

Vali cried for a good while before she finally calmed down.

"Thanks. Sorry." Vali blushed as she replayed what she had just done.

"It's alright. We can't be strong forever. You went through a lot but we're all together now." Rizevim patted her head.

Vali's stomach grumbled.

"And that's a sign of what we should do next. Eat." Ezagyra chuckled.

"You three catch up. We'll go get food." Rizevim stood up with his son and left the room.

The three ladies sat for a good bit in silence. Ezagyra held her granddaughter's hands and stared at them.

"Something wrong, Grandma?" Vali asked.

"You've gotten even stronger. I'm glad. As your family, we failed you too. We're also sorry."

"Like you said, we're all together now, Grandma. So, let's hurry up and finish this so we can get back to our lives." Vali held her hands and smiled.

(Final Fantasy X OST – A Fleeting Dream. End Song.)

Indeed, everyone was back together as a team again.

Issei was dining in the Cafeteria of the Lucifer Secret Compound. It was reminiscent to a fine dining establishment in design. The tables were covered in white cloth, the chairs were leather, and bright lights hovered in the air as spheres.

At the center of the Cafeteria was a ring of plates and machines that dispensed whatever food and drink desired.

It had been too long since Issei had eaten. He stuffed his face with burgers, fried chicken, fries, sushi, fried pickles, croissants, fried udon, and takoyaki. To finish it all off, he consumed a pint of cheesecake ice cream, donuts, cupcakes, a treacle tart, and brownies.

"Dude…was it really that bad traveling?" Sairaorg asked.

"Not at all, aside from being hunted and fighting and avoiding traps and solving mysteries. The ship of the guy we met, Viatorus, had everything." Issei shrugged.

"What happened to the ship?" Sairaorg asked again.

"Sent if off. It'll come to us when we tell it to. Couldn't leave it on the Moon."

Issei had just finished regaling the entire story of his travels to everyone. He continued to eat while Sairaorg shifted around nervously.

"What's up?" Issei asked as he gobbled one last spoonful of ice cream.

"I'm sorry for not believing you. Your lives were about to be ruined and we tried to stop you. We chose to believe a stranger instead. I'm so sorry, Issei." Sairaorg knelt onto the floor and bowed his head.

The rest of the Vali Team, Rias, Sona, and Sairaorg's and their peerages followed suit.

Issei took a deep breath and wiped his mouth. He turned to his friends and shook his head with a smile.

"Folks, don't bow your heads. I'm sorry for attacking all of you too. It was Enki, who's responsible. I get it. You guys didn't know the truth and it was hard to believe us with all that had happened. We just did what we believed in. Now, let's bury the hatchet and move on. We're gonna need to work together if we're gonna get through this. So, let's do ourselves favors and not apologize anymore." Issei stood up and offered Sairaorg his hand.

"No matter what happens, you're still my friend." Issei gave his trademark smile.

Sairaorg returned the expression. It was quick but the two knew that everyone's bonds to each other were too strong to be broken by misunderstandings. There was no point in wasting time with apologies when both sides knew why this all happened. There had been no evil in anyone's actions.

After eating till they were full, everyone split off to do different things. Issei, who was covered in dirt, dried blood, and sweat, decided to shower.

As for the ladies, they all visited the Compound's hot spring to heal their wounds and relax.

Vali and Adelaide moaned in relaxation as they entered the soothing hot water.

"There's nothing better than a natural hot spring. The Bastion was great, but it wasn't the real deal." Vali sighed in satisfaction.

"No kidding. I wanna sit here and soak for at least an hour." Adelaide leaned back.

"Sounds good." Vali and Adelaide sighed again in bliss.

Lefay, Kuroka, Izalana, Elaine, Lianshi, Ileana, and Ezagyra proceeded to join them in the hot spring.

"Where're the others?" Vali asked.

"In another hot spring. They thought the group here was big enough." Kuroka fixed her hair.

"It's been so long since we've all been together. I'm glad we're all still here." Lefay started to tear up.

"Lefay…" Vali trailed off.

"I was really scared we'd never get these moments back. We're sorry, Vali, Adelaide. We should've listened." Lefay's eyes watered.

"It's okay, you girls were just doing what you believed in. I might've done the same thing in your shoes. So, don't worry. There's nothing to forgive. Like Issei said, let's move on from this. Okay?" Vali hugged her.

"Let's get through this so this can be a regular thing, huh?" Adelaide patted Lefay on the back.

"Right." The blonde witch nodded.

"So, now that we've got evidence, what's our next steps?" Izalana asked.

"Eh, we'll talk about that another day. For now, let's just relax. It's been way too chaotic recently." Ezagyra stretched. She was just happy everyone was together and had forgiven one another.

"Say, I know this is left field and all but…you two…" Kuroka pointed at Vali and Adelaide. "You lost your virginities, didn't you?"

"Huh?" Vali gasped.

"What?!" Adelaide sputtered.

"Really?!" Ileana and Ezagyra looked giddy.

"I can smell it. You two did the deed. You've got…Issei's scent on you. There's a lot of it on you two." Kuroka smirked mischievously.

"S-So what." Vali didn't even bother denying it.

"How was it? Was it a threesome?" Kuroka's smirk got wider.

Vali and Adelaide turned red and it wasn't from the water. Their silence spoke for them.

"Threesomes are kinda weird at first. When Lianshi and I first had one with Bikou, it was a little awkward. No idea who'd go first and who'd do what." Kuroka shrugged.

"Still don't, honestly. But, yeah, you get used to it when they happen. Of course, we also have time share." Lianshi chuckled.

"Can we please not?" Vali groaned.

"Fine. Here's a more comfortable question. Issei packing a pistol? Shotgun?" Ezagyra chuckled. She enjoyed messing with the girls.

"Why would I tell anyone that?! That's strictly for us to know!" Vali crossed her arms.

"Sorry. It's just been so long that we wanted to mess with you." Kuroka waved her hand playfully.

"I know. Just like old times." Vali couldn't resist smiling.

"So, Adelaide, who suggested it? I don't think Vali would've." Ezagyra asked.

"It was a combined effort." Adelaide's reply was quick. She knew if she said more, she would invite more teasing.

"Oh my. Vali's getting more daring. I really will see my grandchildren soon." Ileana clapped.

"We only had sex on safe days!" Vali gasped at her blunder before Adelaide clamped a hand over her twin's mouth.

"Girl, stop! What's next, you tell everyone our favorite positions?!" Adelaide looked mortified.

"Oh my! You two are so easy to exploit! Still, you never answered the girth question." Kuroka leaned closer.

"No. Issei's size is our business!" Vali and Adelaide glared at her.

"Okay, okay, we'll stop being degenerates. Still, can't tell you how much we missed this." Ezagyra leaned against Adelaide.

Before Adelaide could apologize, Ezagyra put a finger to her lips. Adelaide was a bit thankful, as she nearly forgot the advice she'd just help give to Lefay.

"We know already. Enki was the reason for the chaos. Don't bother, dear. We know. I know we're not that close, but I hope we fix that." Ezagyra patted her on the head.

"You may look like Vali, but you're not. You're you. Take it from someone who also got possessed. Beating yourself up won't help you." Ileana smiled.

Adelaide stared at the water below. It felt warm and soothing, not just because of its healing properties but because she was with a family, even if not her own.

"Thank you." She choked out the words.

After the ladies got out of the baths, Issei was running around the courtyard. Rintilr was firing magic at him while the other men tried to restrain him.

"Dude, chill!" Bikou howled.

"It's not like many of us are virgins!" Azazel had hooked his arm around Rintilr's arm pits to try and stop him.

"How is he this strong?!" Sairaorg yelped as Rintilr flew into the air.

"HOW DARE YOU?! YOU LAID HANDS ON MY DAUGHTER! YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF HER IN AN EMOTIONAL STATE! I'M GONNA MOUNT YOUR HEAD ON A PLATE AND USE IT FOR AN ASH TRAY AND THEN I'LL USE IT AS THE HOLE FOR MY GOLF COURSE!" Rintilr was screaming as if he were trying to carve words into stone.

"What on earth are you screaming for?!" Ileana slapped her husband across the head.

"He had sex with not just our daughter but with Adelaide! A threesome! What shouts manipulative, depraved horndog more than that?!" Rintilr freaked out, earning another slap across the head.

"They love him and he loves them. He died for our sakes and Vali's sake. He burned up all his credibility for those two. He staked his second life for them. What more could you ask for?" Ileana held him still with firm hands and a gentle voice.

Now that Ileana spoke, Rintilr seemed to realize those truths. Yes, she had a point.

"I'm sorry. My dad instincts took over. I-I just…it's my little girl, okay?" Rintilr sighed.

"I get it. Trust me, I do." Issei nodded in recognition.

"He's already like that with Lefay." Vali chortled.

Issei merely pursed his lips in response.

After everyone calmed down, they entered the Main Building's Living Room.

"Now, I know we don't wanna talk about problems, but we've gotta. You three mentioned that you have the keys to an Atlantean Vault. You sure your ship's okay?" Rizevim asked.

"Yeah. I'm connected to it. It's floating around somewhere far away. All of the keys are safe. I've been meaning to talk to you all about the selenelion happening in a few days."

"It happens every once in a while. Think you know something more to it?" Ezagyra asked ominously.

"Maybe. Maybe not. When we went to the Atlantean Library, we didn't find anything on it. Let's hope it's just a coincidence."

"Why all the bad vibes over an eclipse?" Bikou asked.

"Things tend to happen on eclipses. The fact that multiple stars, the Sun, and Moon are aligning is foreboding since astral energy will be at its peak. Let's try to be ready for anything in six days."

"Then let's open the gateway to the Atlantean Vault. Maybe it'll have knowledge we need." Vali looked to Issei.

Issei commanded the Bastion to come to them through his mental link to it. Its systems informed him that it would take a day.

"Gonna be a day. Just got messaged."

"Then it's a day to rest. No point in stressing out what we're not certain of." Rizevim shrugged.

"Finally, a place where we won't get attacked." Rexis chuckled as Issei plopped himself onto his bed. How long had it been since he didn't have to worry about someone attacking in his sleep?

"Right? Been nonstop ever since we escaped the Alliance HQ." Issei rolled over on his bed.

"Been too long since I've relaxed without worries." Issei smiled.

"Y'know, I'm glad this happened."

"What?" Issei was flabbergasted. He was thankful for these series of unfortunate events?

"Running into your surrogate family again. I mean, obviously, you're safe but it's been a while since you had that carefree smile. I was beginning to worry." Rexis explained.

"Oh…yeah…guess I was turning into someone else, huh?"

"Indeed. So, since we're not gonna talk about work, we gonna talk about something else? Namely, what you plan to do once all this is over?"

"Simple, go back to my everyday life. I'll live the way I did before I ever departed on my journey to kill the Aviturs before they awoke. God, I miss those days." Issei felt excited at the mere thought of just messing around and seeing everyone's smiles on a weekly basis.

"Those were the good days, hehe." Rexis chuckled again.

"I'll do whatever it takes to stop the Void and the Aviturs." Issei swore.

Just then, the door to his room received a knock. It opened to reveal Vali and Adelaide.

"What's up?" He asked innocently.

"Kinda hard to sleep alone when we're used to sleeping together. Think it'd be okay if we shared a bed?" Vali asked.

"Sure." Issei pulled out more pillows and blankets from the closet.

The three got comfortable, with Vali undoing her robe to reveal a black negligee. Adelaide was in a matching white one. Issei froze. He knew where this was going. Maybe agreeing to share a bed was too hasty.

(My Happy Marriage OST – The Weight of Words. Play Song.)

"So, we're finally in a safe place." Vali beamed.

"No one to attack us in our sleep. No worries for now. I hope it never ends." Adelaide held Issei close.

"I'll fight to keep it this way." Issei mumbled.

"We all will." Vali kissed his cheek.

"So, how's it feel to be with your family again?" Adelaide asked her.

"Awesome. I never knew if I'd see them again. While we were away, I was also kinda scared what they'd think of me. I rebelled and ran off and caused chaos elsewhere. I worried if what I did would send all my family's hard work plummeting to the ground. I'm glad that everyone's alright. I'm also real happy that they're proud of us. What about you two?" Vali turned to Issei and Adelaide.

She knew that the two were alone in the world. They had no blood relatives left that cared for them.

"I'm okay. Ever since you all took me in, I've seen you as my family." Issei kissed her forehead.

"Kinda sad. I do miss my family. Being around the fireplace, swapping stories, laughing, eating, and just being jolly…it brought back a lot of memories. I wanted to cry when Ezagyra patted my head. My grandma used to do that too. I hope I can make it up to everyone." Adelaide smiled hopefully, tears dotting her eyes.

"I believe you will. You've got us." Issei held her closer.

"I know." Adelaide nodded.

A silence crept into the room until Adelaide spoke up.

"Vali, the room's soundproof, right?"

Vali stared at her. She blushed when she realized what her twin was really asking. Who had she been kidding? What was she acting innocent for? When they met up in the hallway in robes, they already knew what the other was trying to do.

"Yeah." Vali snapped her fingers, triggering the soundproofing magic. "They are."

"Perfect." Adelaide closed the blinds as she and Vali undid their clothes.

"It's been a while. We're safe and we won't be disturbed. Let's have some fun." The two crawled onto the bed, inching closer to a paling Issei.

"N-Now, ladies…" Issei panted.

"Nope. It's happy time. Let's make it fun time. You made promises to us, remember?" Adelaide licked her lips.

"That's right. Who knows when we'll get another chance. Don't fall asleep on us, Issei." Vali's eyes were filled with lust. There was no getting away.

(My Happy Marriage OST – The Weight of Words. End Song.)

The next morning, Issei descended down the stairs to breakfast with Vali and Adelaide. Rizevim smiled at them as he set down plates.

"Good morning, kids. How'd you― WHOA! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU, ISSEI?!" Rizevim gasped then screamed.

"What's wrong?! Who touched one of my babies?!" Ezagyra charged into the room. She took one look at Issei and screamed.

"WHO IN THE UNDERWORLD DID THIS TO YOU?!" The grandmother shrieked.

Issei was paler than marble stone. He was shuddering like a pebble in an earthquake without pause. To boot, he was using a cane to support himself. Ezagyra connected the dots before breaking out into loud laughter after looking back and forth between him and the young ladies.

"Bwahahaha! You know what happened to him, Rizevim! Look at how brightly Adelaide and Vali are glowing!" Ezagyra chuckled.

Issei wheezed out a cough. It practically came out as dust.

"Okay, first aide, Lefay." Kuroka walked over and started infusing him with energy.

"Well, lively as always, I see." A familiar voice came into the room.

It was Odin, Sun Wukong, and Buddha.

"We came when we heard about your return. We've also go news." Odin smiled.

"I hope it's good, for once." Rizevim pulled up extra seats.

"Not much, but it's not all bad." Odin helped himself to a cup of coffee.

"Enki's been declared guilty. All the evidence we received and the raid on his compound has made it clear that he was behind the slander and plot against this family. The Alliance is in the process of trying to clean house." Sun Wukong chomped his pancakes with satisfaction.

"It was most peculiar. Evidence that wasn't yours also arrived at leadership's doorstep. We have no idea who sent it but it was proven to be sound." Buddha said.

"I recommend we keep our business separate from the Alliance until it's actually safe to come back. Hades is also backing us by having the dead tell him of who's plotted what." Odin sipped some more coffee.

"These young ones have had their names cleared." Buddha gestured toward all the young people.

"Now, the bad news: Enki disappeared. The only eyewitness said that a giant dome of shadow covered the estate and almost everyone in it disappeared. Enki's completely gone. I want to assume that an Avitur did it. I felt faint traces of their power when I went to check." Wukong puffed his pipe.

No one was surprised. Everyone had expected them to be alive. They just wanted to know what they were trying to do.

"Now, I believe we've got some work to do today." Odin looked at Issei.

After moving the Atlantean Construct out of the Bastion once it arrived, the group watched as Issei, Vali, and Adelaide inserted all three Atlantean Keys into the machine. Issei pressed the main console, causing gears to click as everyone stepped back. Issei loathed the idea of doing it here but there was no other place to go.

The Atlantean Keys melded, clicking together as it morphed into a ring of metal with glowing symbols on it. The empty interior of the ring fizzled as a howling grew louder. It hissed as a rainbow of colors shimmered to life, forming a wormhole of swirling colors.

"So, can we expect anything else? Traps? Tests?" Rizevim looked at Issei.

"There was no mention of those. The Atlanteans hoped it would help anyone who discovered it to avoid the mistakes of the past." Issei replied.

Issei was the first to step through the portal.

(Final Fantasy 7 Remake OST – The Cycle of Lost Souls. Play Song.)

The other side was a mesmerizing sight. The vault was a tower of floors. Chambers of metal doors with glowing lights on them contained the treasures the Atlanteans had. The main floor had ten pads that seemed to function like elevators. The walls and floor were made of white stone as glowing spheres floated in the air. As for the number of floors, they seemed to go on endlessly.

Most unsettling of all was the sheer power Issei felt radiating through the air.

"Welcome to the Atlantean Vault." A voice echoed just as Vali, Adelaide, Rizevim, Azazel, Odin, Wukong, and Buddha entered.

A transparent humanoid floated down from the light of the ceiling. He looked like an old man, complete with a magician's robes.

"I take it you're the ones who've been gathering all the Vault Keys?" He asked.

"Yes." Issei replied.

"I never thought a Host of Bahamut would be the one to do it. Perhaps that bodes well. My name is Archaenos. I was the keeper of this Vault when I was alive. It was also my diary that you read in the Library."

"How'd you know all that?"

"Because the Library and all Atlantean artifacts are linked to this place. What happened to them was relayed to me. Also, Atlantis had the power to see the future. I've been anxiously waiting to meet you, even when I was alive. Before I died, I became a being of thought, intangible to all, and painfully eternal. I made it my duty to oversee this Vault until it expires like the rest of my home." Achaenos looked solemn but Issei couldn't help but think he looked sad.

"Archaenos, we came here because we were told the Vault had artifacts that could help us. In five days, there'll be an alignment of stars, the Sun, and the Moon. Do you know what that means?" Vali asked.

"Selenelions aren't too rare but they're important for you. This one is most impactful of all because the planets will align with it." Archaenos pointed at Issei.

"Why?" Issei asked.

"It is the day where astral energy is highest. Bahamut draws some of his power from cosmic energy. It is when the seal on him is weakest. In five days, you must prepare for a confrontation with the Abyssal Wyrm. Expect insanity and rage. His madness and everything it entails will be unleashed upon you." Archaenos' words caused Issei to tremble.

"Will he free himself?" Issei asked.

"I don't know. The complexity of Bahamut's seal is great. The only way to free him is for your rage and anguish to be at its zenith and for the Sacred Gears to be destroyed. Bahamut has been aware of events despite his slumber. Be prepared for the worst. Even if he cannot break free, he may possess you." Archaenos replied.

Issei held onto Vali and Adelaide's hands for comfort. He'd only had a small taste of Bahamut's rage before and it made him want to shrink away into the unknown. To face the full brunt of it was something that terrified him.

"However, don't forget that you're not alone. You have your lovers, your friends, and your past lives. Don't make our mistake and forget that." Archaenos smiled.

"Thank you. Is that all there is to the selenelion?" Adelaide asked.

"No. In fact, this one is far more important than the others. The 7 Aeon Gems will activate."

"Aeon Gems?" Rizevim asked.

"The 7 Aeon Gems are the purest concentration of elemental energy in our world. The Void used their power to create the Aviturs. They are also the keys to opening the gateway to enter the Old Galaxy. Their combined power helps make up the fabric of our reality and are sources of infinite energy. They appear randomly and will disappear and slumber again after enough time passes."

"How long do we have?" Wukong asked next.

"After three months from the alignment, the 7 Aeon Gems will activate. Do not waste time trying to find them. They will awaken on their own. Be warned, the Void's agents will be after them too. I suggest you take the time to strengthen yourselves for the confrontations." Archaenos waved his hand into the air.

"This vault has materials, items, and weapons that will strengthen you. One person may only take one thing with them. Also, once you leave, you may not ever be able to return." Archaenos shook his head.

"But won't you be alone again?" Issei asked.

Archaenos looked at him with amusement.

"I've been alone for eons. Once you leave, the keys split apart and spread to different ends of the world. It isn't anything new."

"That's a lot of loneliness, though."

"Do not worry, boy. I have the spirits of my people with me in my heart and mind, even if I am only a disembodied soul. I take solace in the fact that their minds were copied into these archives so I am not truly alone. Now, hurry and take what you can. Time is of the essence."

Issei had one more question. He took out the metal fragment that Viatorus gave him.

"Do you know what this is?"

Archaenos shook his head.

"That object is beyond even Atlantis' predictions. Whatever it is, I can sense immense power from it, power that only the likes of the Abyss can understand. Where did you get it?"

"A man named Viatorus gave it to me. He said he was from the Abyss. When I first met him, Bahamut seemed terrified of him. I was hoping you knew about him too." Issei replied.

Archaenos' brow arched.

"That is a very tall feat. Bahamut is not easily frightened, much less terrified. However, you can trust it if the Abyss arranged for it to go to you. Megalomania isn't in its repertoire. As for this Viatorus, I don't believe I know of him." Archaenos crossed his arms.

Issei felt a little disappointed but made his way up the floors of the Atlantean Vault. He browsed while everyone else took something.

"How do you know we're trustworthy?" Adelaide asked the ghost.

"There is an enchantment on the gate to this vault. If you're unworthy, you will be disintegrated on the spot. Even if Enki had tried to use the keys, the keys themselves wouldn't have worked." Archaenos chuckled.

While he talked with others, Issei found a small necklace. It was a silver locket with a sapphire gem with white swirls within. He wasn't sure why, but he felt drawn to it.

"Menesara's Locket. It has the power to calm minds and hearts and can collect emotions and convert them into power. It's a powerful tool that will definitely help you." Archaenos floated over to him.

"I'll take it."

"You don't want a weapon?" Archaenos asked.

"No. This'll be a battle of spirits." Issei gripped it tight as he bowed to Archaenos.

Archaenos smiled proudly as Issei walked to the entrance. He then turned to Adelaide, who was eyeing a bracelet.

"The Bracelet of Ankakara. It can be used to purify evil taint. I don't mean to presume but are you intending to use it on yourself?" He gave Adelaide a rhetorical look.

"Yeah. I wanna get the Void's influence out of me."

"If I may, I advise you to wait until the conflict is completely over." Archaenos looked at her sadly.

"Why? Aren't I a danger to everyone?"

"The Void has no control over you but you may need the power its touch gives you. Not all bad things only lead to bad events. Take a look at your lover. Bahamut is a raging engine of destruction yet he puts it to good use."

Adelaide went silent as she gave him a nod.

"Take heart, child. I know you're anxious but have faith in yourself and know others have it in you."

Adelaide sighed while putting the thought into consideration.

Lastly, Vali was paid a visit by the ghostly sage. She was holding onto a sword. It was silver and covered in ornate decorations with a jeweled pommel and a clear blade.

"Halvulyr's Sword. It has the power to separate what it cuts. It can be a concept, a limb, or even souls. However, it has limited uses. It can be used multiple times for a small task or once for one large burden." Archaenos warned.

Regardless, Vali took it, believing it would be vital in the future.

Everyone stopped at the entrance as they turned around to the ghostly sage.

"What happens to what we took? Do we return them when we're done?" Rizevim asked, showing off the ring he was holding.

"They will return once you die, if they are broken, or if you stop being worthy of them. Here, they will be repaired and will await use for the next person who finds this place." Archaenos waved his hand casually.

"You said Atlanteans could see the future. Think we'll meet again?" Issei asked.

"Perhaps. Who are we to determine fate's plans? Although, if we do meet again, I hope we can have a nice friendly chat. It's been a very long time since I've talked to someone living." Archaenos chuckled.

"I hope so. Goodbye, Archaenos and thank you." Issei then left with everyone else.

(Final Fantasy 7 Remake OST – The Cycle of Lost Souls. End Song.)

On the other side, the Atlantean Gateway clicked and transformed again. All four keys separated before flying off into different directions of the world.

"I hope all this stuff works." Bikou stared at his new staff. It was green with golden ornate accents that had glowing lines swirling across it.

"Only one way to make sure that happens: train." Rizevim smirked.

"Alright, while us old people try and pick up the pieces of whatever order we used to have, you kids should develop your skills further. We're gonna have a training camp." Odin popped his neck.

"Pass. People don't even know where we are and I wanna keep it that way. I've had enough of politics. It's also the others' fault for not keeping an eye on the people who shacked up with them." Rizevim groaned.

"Agreed. Instead, I think we'll oversee the training menus." Azazel eyed the Trio of Issei, Adelaide, and Vali.

"You owe us, then. I've had to do so much digging, I might as well have dug myself under too." Wukong grumbled.

"That's not to say we won't help too. The real war is coming and these kids need to be able to fight on a god's level. As much as I don't want any of you younglings fighting, no one has a choice. This problem concerns all of us." Odin said.

"We should start immediately. I've already taken the liberty of preparing the entire locale for everyone to use." Rizevim wiggled his finger in a circle around them.

"Yeah, it's the perfect place." Vali nodded.

"You never did explain where we all are." Adelaide had almost forgotten to ask more about this place.

"The Lucifer Secret Compound is a failsafe location. In case the family had to go on the run, we would come here. There are barriers that can even hide a god's power. The biggest enchantment on this place only lets in people we trust and they cannot speak a word of this place to anyone else unless we let them. The location of the Secret Compound constantly shifts and there are terrains of all kinds built here. We have forests, jungles, a desert, a frozen wasteland, a volcanic area, etc. It's meant for us to stay in forever if we have to." Vali explained.

"How the hell did you guys get such a thing?!" Bikou was gobsmacked.

"We invested eons of magic and resources into building this place. It was unbelievably hard but we're glad it's paid off." Rizevim proudly smirked.

"Enough exposition. Everyone should immediately get started on training. Issei, come with me." Azazel gestured toward a mountain.

The two flew to the landmark which had a dry cave overlooking the coast of the Lucifer Compound. It was true. There were volcanic lands, frozen lands, deserts, jungles, an ocean, and a forest.

"This mountain was altered for you. In here, in the cave known as The Empty Mirror, you're going to train your mind. You're going to have it the hardest because you'll be facing the mind of one of the strongest creatures that will ever exist. You'll be alone, so you'll be able to focus. You won't be fighting just for you own future but everyone else's too." Azazel had dropped of jovial pretenses. The look in his eyes made it clear that not even the goofball Governor could even try to lighten the situation.

"So, what does this place do?" Issei saw nothing but a stone door in the cave.

"Beyond this door, is an empty void. We poured all the divine power we could into making this. In here, you will face yourself alone. On the day of the selenelion, you'll go in here. This place is a subdimension and any collateral damage will be kept in here. I know it's cruel, but we can't risk you going berserk when you're only a few kilometers away from us."

"That's fine." Issei nodded.

"I honestly have no way of preparing you. You've lived enough lifetimes to know what the world's like. This is something that'll come down to your willpower and reasoning skills. How the world is and what you've gone through will influence the battle. All we can really do is wish you luck and make it clear that we're here for you." Azazel put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Thanks."

Issei knew himself best and he knew that focusing on his bonds with the others would be the emotional anchor he needed. He was not a believer in the 'power of friendship' in that it could help him fire a beam of 'friendship' but he did believe in bonds granting the motivation to push forward. Throughout his time as a dying man, it was his desire for these people to be happy that kept him going, even with death snapping at his heels. Having Vali and Adelaide to return to was something that he would need for strength. Everyone that he cherished, every happy memory would give him the motivation he needed.

"Actually, you're wrong, Azazel. He's got me and every one of our past selves." Rexis chuckled.

"Correct. I'm not alone, not anymore." Issei grinned.

No matter what, Issei refused to let Bahamut and his past rule his life any longer.

And that wraps this chapter.

Oh, and just because I feel that this is relevant for the times we're living in right now, I've got something else to say.

People are doing stupid things and proving their ignorance and lack of wisdom and lack of higher thought because they just want to hate. There are people who're doing cruel things and just throwing profanity at other people and baiting them into arguments for no reason at all. Internet trolls are brave behind screens. Be the better person and ignore those people. They're not worth your time or your concern. Some bullies and instigators just want trouble because they've got nothing better to do or they're so miserable that they want other people to be miserable. Of course, not every miserable person does bad things and are crying for help in the only way they know how even if it's done poorly. However, that doesn't mean you have to interact with every stranger who does that to you. Some people just do bad things because they feel like it. Those are the people that shouldn't be encouraged through interaction.

Once again, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I'll try to update whenever I can and I hope you have a great day.