Here we start spreadin' and putting butter all around. Not much to say.

Have a nice read.

There is only one deity above it all.

It knows, It controls fate. It knows what happened in the past, to the smallest of details, It knows what will happen in the future…

It created all of existence, and allowed living beings to have beliefs, even if they weren't for said It.

The beliefs of the living beings manifested as Gods.

The more living beings believed in the God that had manifested, the stronger the God grew. It didn't match the power of the original creator, of course. Its power was so wide and vast, there was no being that could match it.

It cared for the Gods as Its own children.

The multitude of worlds It had created, all with a unique God. No God was similar to the other.

Each God governed over their own world, and It watched as they tried their absolute best.

It lived, knowing the outcomes that would happen. The fate It had perceived, the fate It had chosen couldn't be changed…

It could feed off the belief of living beings, but the power their belief produced was so weak compared to Its own, there was no reason for It to try to make Itself known.

So It let the Gods feed on belief.

It knew that Gods were manifests of belief and their way to strengthen was through belief, so It knew why they did things when governing their world, such as saving people at the last minute. Making their presence known. Making their wish come true. Making their presence known.

Normally, from what It has seen, a world can only have one God… no that's wrong, it can have a multitude, but a fight between spiritual Gods happens, and the one with less belief is destroyed.

So why…

A flash of purple.

It knew of this being, but It couldn't decipher the beings fate. No matter how hard It tried. It could've put one fate on the being, but the being disrupted it, changing their own fate. It had given up, and merely watched, as this being grew in terms of power. It decided not to intervene…

But how?

A second God had appeared.

But this was no God. This was a living being, supposedly controlled- no, not controlled, but governed by the Goddess of Beatrix.

This was no God born of belief, but born of pure power.

Belief came after witnessing it.

The Goddess of Beatrix had taken notice of the living being, from what It could see… and It too had noticed.

That World was advanced, yet the being was further.

There can only be one God per world… a human is no God.

A human can't use belief.

So why did the belief for said human continue to grow?

Small, but in a few hours, that planet's time, the belief has quadrupled.

The new 'God' was growing.

It will decide the fate of the being. That fate being nothing but death. It will make sure that the human's fate ends in death.

There was a reason why the new 'God' had died in its previous world… only It allowed it to manifest in the new one, thinking the being had learned their lesson… yet…

Imitate the Almighty, and the 'Almighty' will fall.

This living being had decided to choose its own fate, but It would not let it.

Beatrix would not let it.

Beatrix has been working on something to increase belief for decades. Revive a Diablos.

It understood why. Diablos being so weak compared to Beatrix, there's no reason for her not to destroy it in the midst of battle and increase their belief in her…

Yet this being was taking it down. This 'God' was destroying Beatrix plans.

It considered the Gods its children, and while It at part had no part in their creation… it was Its creations that manifested the Gods.

It won't let a mere 'human' mock a God.

This being won't last long.

A flash of purple.

『Cid Kagenou.』 It decided —since the living being, the human known as Cid Kagenou had decided their own fate, something which no other being had ever done— that It would make sure of their fate… It will intervene...

『Shadow.』

I was currently seated on a throne, made of the most comfortable wool and leather combination I've ever felt in my two lives! I don't care much 'bout my previous life but honestly a mystery to me how this is more comfortable compared to everything else in my old world.

I was currently reading through a butt-ton of papers, which I had asked Alpha to fill me in.

They, my seven Shades were also having- six Shades, Eta was sleeping. My six Shades– five shades, Eta and Delta were sleeping. My five Shades, they were mostly talking about their missions which I had no idea they were taking… but it was cool to listen to.

"—further east, investigations on Diablo's left arm are being done… hard to get information as the place is heavily guarded, and the window of entrance to the place is limited."

These papers I had at hand were mostly detailed analysis about Diablos, their actions, and the locations. I didn't know that since we were children we were up against an organization in the Shadows! And we're fighting them from within the Shadows, which is also pretty sick.

"—Midgar's forces had been reached by the Cult. Previous actions against the Kingdom itself, some Knights working as Guards for Zenon—"

Yeah I understand this. I think?

There's something that has been bothering me, though. How would the blood of Alexia resurrect Diablos itself? Unless it was using her blood and somehow increasing the magic supply and using it on a vessel.

"—using the blood with small quantities of Demon Possession completely neutralized, the Cult could use that blood as samples and continue using them to make Beads of Diablos, pursuing strength and immortality—"

Oh, that's how it is. But then again, how would they resurrect this so-called Diablos?

"—and while pursuing immortality, use a vessel with high quantities of magic power and Beads of Diablos… 'Diablos cell' for it to go rampage, and the soul of Diablos to take control and manifest."

Soul you say? Welp. It's a vessel so I was right no matter what. They're using the power of Diablos to pursue immortality, then? That's pretty sick, after all.. Being immortal might be beneficial!

Oh? This paper… they're trying to figure out how to cure demon possession? Wait? So it runs on the blood? Oh, so that's why the girls were either blobs or had overflowing magic. It just has to be neutralized, controlled.

"—children. Due to the fact that they don't know how to control the magic overflowing in their body, they're kidnapped, saying that it's for the greater good, and experimented on. Their families don't hear a word of what happened to them until they're either deceased or the experiments have succeeded."

Oh that's what this paper is all about. That's what happened with Alpha and pretty much everyone in [Shadow Garden], no? Man I'm still on cloud nine knowing this shit is real… Imagine what the world will think of us the moment we succeed in whatever our goals are? I don't know what the girls plan, but I still dream to be the Eminence in Shadow…! And this is the best outcome! I think.

Welp. This is pretty much confirmed and done—what's this? A paper not related to the Cult of Diablos… I don't think this was meant to be here. It reads…

'Mitsugoshi is all ready. The surprise for Lord Shadow is nearing! The doors have opened, we just need to wait for our Lord to go back to Midgar and receive him with wide-open arms!' What the heck is a Mitsugoshi… and why is it a surprise for me—Blueprints?

…it's a mall? But like… so… big? Wait now that I think about it… First of all disappear and place the paper on the office next door to act as if I hadn't read it, and sit back in the throne in a matter of milliseconds… Second, wonder about something. How did they get SO MUCH MONEY?! THE CASTLE, ALEXANDRIA AS A WHOLE… THE FUCKING STATUE?!

"Lord Shadow?"

I blinked, they were all sweating. Delta and Eta had woken up, and they looked frightened as they stared all at me. Did… something happen? Everyone seemed to be sweatin' bullets.

"A-Are you angry, Lord Shadow?"

Angry? Why would I- oh my magic is flowing. I let my emotions take the best of me. That was not very cool on my part, not very 'Eminence in Shadow' like. I shook my head.

"Our enemy has been in control for far too long." Improvise and dominate, "The sooner we destroy their main force, the more advantage we'll have in the long run."

I am not going to tell them that I was not only surprised but saddened by the fact that they haven't even given me a bit of the money they've gotten… but at the same time they've glorified me in such a way that I have no right to complain.

"It's as Lord Shadow says!" Alpha said as she pulled another stack—Alpha are you okay? Did… did you write all of these? "There is suspicion on people from the Academy. The swordsmanship instructor, Zenon Griphi, wasn't the only one. Iris Midgar is not well informed, but we have suspicion on the Librarian of the Academy and Lutheran Barnett, the assistant principal."

"There's not much known about the Librarian. We haven't figured out his name, even… but Diablos power, Diablos blood runs through his system. As for Lutheran, as far as Zeta could get us on him… He was a member of the Knight of Rounds, before being kicked because he apparently had grown weak thanks to an illness. The Bloods of Diablos are running through his stream of blood too, and more potent than the Librarian."

There's so much going on in the Academy I go to that I didn't even expect! It's so cool! I don't know who any of those people are.

"He must be obsessed with the glory he had gotten as a Rounds member."

"The power it once brought him, the glory, the fame… that's what he's after. He has no reason to grow strong." Zeta said as she stared at me.

"We must prepare, then." I stood up. "To finish what we've begun, we must finish those who started it." I need my notebook.

"Now, my Shades." They all stood up, stiff as they could be, "I'd like to see Alexandria and explore a bit, if it's fine with all of you." my voice went normal, " Would you mind accompanying me?"

"Yes! My Lord!" Damn, even when I'm not my Shadow voice, they call me their Lord. "Please, call me Shadow, after all you know me best." They all nodded, enthusiastically before I chuckled and walked out.

I got to explore how beautiful my apparent country was. Alexandria. Since I still had my Shadow persona on, and I was walking with the seven most well known members of [Shadow Garden], everyone who saw us bowed down immediately. The houses were beautiful, the pathway clean as it could be, the bushes in front of each house shaped like me. Truly, amazing-

"Lord Shadow!" Hm? I turned, and there was the pink-haired girl from a couple hours ago. A smile on her features, her eyes moist while looking at me… she looked almost as if she wanted to hug me and not let me go. "I'm sorry for attacking you earlier, I didn't know!"

"It's fine. After all, I allowed you to do so. And I must say, you did well."

"Yes! Thank you, Lord Shadow!" she beamed.

"You are welcome, erm–" I forgot her name. Didn't they say I was the one who gave her HER name?

"Victoria." Alpha spoke to my side, "We didn't hear your report due to the fact that Lord Shadow–" she said it again, "–had arrived. But now we're here. How was the mission?" I mean she just saved me from embarrassment so, forgiven.

Victoria's eyes widened before she fell on to her knee, "The attack was successful. Even the soldiers who worked with them, according to our intel, were dealt with." so badass.

So there were more Shadow Garden members other than us eight? That's so cooooooool~. I can already imagine the scenarios, and how things can play out! It sounds fun!

"Shadow Garden…"

I sat in front of my sister.

It has only been a few hours after she found me, and I tried to give as detailed of an explanation as possible.

The moment she hugged me under the moonlight, all my strength vanished, leaving me in her arms. I wasn't unconscious, but I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I was just there.

She carried me towards a doctor, but after a bit of persuasion, convinced the doctor to take care of me in my room, and the doctor did so. He said that I was malnourished and lacked hydration, as injuries were minor and my blood albeit low, still decently fine.

My sister came to my room with food and drinks, and we began eating.

She later asked me to explain what happened, and I did so.

"To believe that Zenon would've betrayed the Kingdom in such a manner…"

Nah, I knew there were some screws loose in his head. It was just a moment of trying to figure out which.

Nee-sama couldn't believe it, though.

"So, Zenon was working under some Cult, [Cult of Diablos], and Shadow, the leader of [Shadow Garden] is the opposing force…"

Shadow himself said that the intention of [Shadow Garden] was to clean the world from people like Zenon.

From what Nee-sama said, the being that was to my side imprisoned got defeated by [Shadow Garden], or a member of, called Alpha… who Shadow mentioned. Apparently, the blond [Shadow Garden] member defeated the being transformed into a girl my age… silver hair too. Apparently Alpha took her with.

Her magic output was controlled and defeated in a matter of seconds. Nee-sama said that no matter how much she tried to defeat this being, this girl, she just continued to regenerate every wound Nee-sama inflinted to it. Alpha destroyed it in a matter of seconds…

But Nee-sama has come to a firm stand, something that I don't agree with.

"These Organizations are working under my Kingdom and under the shadows. They're manipulating things behind our backs."

Whilst true, one sounds more dangerous than the other. After all, [Shadow Garden]'s purpose is to destroy [Cult of Diablos], no? To avoid the revival of Diablos itself… from what I could understand.

"If they're real, or not, doesn't matter." Nee-sama said as she grabbed the plates from my bed, a frown apparent on her features. "We're to find these people. Especially Shadow, with the damage he caused."

Shadows power… or what Nee-sama believes to be an Artifact.

"Nee-sama… I don't think it's best that we antagonize them." I tried to reason, "Sure, I mean you can try to find more about them and their goals, but if it weren't for them, I think… it would've been worse, no?"

"The damage their leader caused is more than enough reason for me to be wary and ready for anything, Alexia."

I don't think we can win against them… Please be reasonable.

"In order to protect this Kingdom, they all must be investigated and dealt with, accordingly."

She stood up, ready to leave.

"Nee-sama! I don't think we have the power to be able to face either of them…! Especially if Shadow decides to fight us! Artifact or not, it's part of his power!" He has it, it's in his arsenal. It's his power.

She glared, "They'll be dealt with accordingly. End of discussion." She turned, ready to leave.

Nee-sama, please… just… be reasonable.

She walked to the door, before she froze. "Neh, Alexia."

"Yeah?"

"Were you dating Cid Kagenou?"

Cid... Cid...! Cid?! CID?! Wait, I haven't heard of him. I haven't seen him. I don't know of him…! Is he alright?!

"YES! What happened to him?! How do you know his name?!"

I could tell that Nee-sama's face was pale.

"...he was interrogated for five days straight, and came out of the interrogation malnourished and beaten. I told them to do so, because he was our only lead towards you…"

There's… there's… no way… I knew he was interrogated… but for my sister to have allowed it to go further than…

"I'm sorry…" she muttered.

No. That sorry shouldn't be for me! That sorry should be for Cid himself!

"Nee-sama! Where is Cid?!"

She turned to me, opened her mouth before it closed in a matter of seconds. "He was released earlier today, before everything took place… but I don't know anything about him since then."

Cid…

I want to be angry at Nee-sama, because how can someone so weak and lazy like Pooch… do something to me? He can't even beat me when I'm not looking… so why would they… why would she? But I can't be angry. After all, as she said… he was the only lead... their only lead to me...

Cid… I am sorry.

"Nee-sama, I have to find Cid! I have to apologize! I-I-!" she raised her hand as she held the plates with the other.

"I understand, Alexia. But as you are right now, I can't let you go… Especially with everything that happened tonight." Nee-sama! Please! "You'll see him tomorrow at school, and… if he's not there… an investigation will be started."

Cid, I hope you're okay…

"Cid?! Where are you?!"

His sister looked through the rubble, frantically. I can tell, she doesn't know what happened, how it happened nor why. All she knows is that the Kingdom had blamed Cid, or Master Shadow for Alexia Midgar's kidnapping.

Master Shadow had been released and he immediately took action, freeing Alexia Midgar from the clutches of the Cult, but Claire Kagenou doesn't know that. All she knows is that Master Shadow was blamed for something he had not done.

She looked frantically everywhere, even Master Shadows apartment… yet nothing could be found. I, Number 13, Nu, was silently watching Claire Kagenou traverse through the Kingdom, asking people, anyone, if they had seen Master Shadow.

She was worried, of course, and I can feel nothing but pity for her… but Master Shadows goals are my own goals, and I will not let them fail.

"Claire Kagenou." I muttered, as she dashed through the Kingdom, "you better not be of a nuisance to my master… more than you already are…"

Cid.

Cid.

Cid!

CID!

CID!

Where are you? I can't find you through the mob of people. I can't see you. I can't sense you.

"Alexia-sama! Are you alright?!"

"Who was it that kidnapped you?!"

Cid where are you?

The students wont let me be!

"You look skinnier than last time— ei!"

"You don't say that to a woman, dumbass!"

I don't give a damn of what you think of me currently!

Aren't those his friends? Pot-t-t-… baldy and scarecrow.

They seemed to be sulking.

"Hey there."

They turned towards my voice, the baldy's eyes shined as did his head, while the scarecrow became stiff. "I'm sorry to be inconveniencing you on this lovely day, but I've been wondering."

"Have you seen Cid?"

Small chapter, just want to start moving the pieces. So that's what I'm here to do. There's an end goal established, even if the main character doesn't know it. That's what I wanted to do from a beggining. Now, everything is set in motion, it's a matter on how I deal with it… which I truly am wondering how to haha. We'll see. I have high hopes on myself, and how I deal with this.

Thank you for reading.

~Crim Crim