what is happening' he inwardly sighs.

'Vali… what's troubling you?' Albion's voice resonates in the White Dragon Emperor's mind, cool and steady.

'The Khaos Brigade's scheming behind Ophis' back' Vali replies silently, his jaw tightening. 'They're fools, but fools that are somehow becoming stronger'.

'No one betrays the Ouroboros Dragon lightly' Albion cautions. 'Stay focused'.

Vali's fists clench involuntarily, knuckles whitening: a telltale sign Azazel knows all too well.

"Oi, Vali!" Azazel barks, cutting through the tension. "Stop stewing over that bastard grandfather of yours. You'll burn a hole in my floor".

Vali's glare could freeze hellfire. "I'll wait for Yuki in the training room" he mutters, turning on his heel.

The door clicks shut behind him. Azazel slumps back with a heavy sigh, the weight of decades pressing down on him. 'When did I become so damn fucking helpless?' He remembers a younger Vali, smaller, quieter, his eyes already haunted by the Lucifer name. He'd tried everything: sparring, strategy games, even stupid jokes. But the scars ran too deep.

'Only Rizevim's blood will cleanse this' Azazel thinks grimly, staring at the dent Vali's grip left on the doorframe. 'But that brat of Lucifer... it seems like luck smiles upon him since his father's death. One day I will find him and...'.

Azazel shakes his head and focuses back on the matter at hand, helping the Messiah.

"Azaz-" Penemue voice is heard as she lightly knocks on the door before noticing the damage on the door. "Vali, right? I saw him pretty angered when I was coming".

Azazel nods his head. "Yes, but what are you here for?" he asks. "The Messiah is back".

05/04/2012, Velvet Room, Afternoon.

Ryoji stares at the space where Makoto should be, a patch of warped reality that buzzes like static, an error in the fabric of existence, at least from his eyes as he remains a shadow.

"If I weren't your Death, Makoto… I wouldn't recognize you. I wouldn't even sense you," he murmurs, his voice tinged with awe and unease.

Loki's illusion is a masterpiece. To Ryoji, Makoto doesn't look like the blue-haired boy he knows, he's a glitch, a distortion. Only their bond tethers Ryoji to the truth, a fragile thread in a storm of deception.

"What do you see, exactly?" Elizabeth asks, leaning forward with clear curiosity.

"A… void," Ryoji replies, squinting. "Like static on a broken screen, buzzing where his body should be. But his voice cuts through it, crystal clear".

'Loki' Makoto thinks. 'can't you adjust the illusion for Ryoji?'.

'Obviously he can' Odin's voice cuts through the mental chatter like a blade. 'He's simply toying with Death'.

'The air's so thick here between you two, hee hoo!' Jack Frost chimes in, his words analyzing the dynamic between Loki and Odin.

'Means it's working Dindin' Loki quips. A snap echoes in Makoto's mind: sharp, decisive.

Suddenly, Ryoji blinks. The static peels away like a veil, revealing Makoto in full clarity. "There you are," he says with a laugh. "Thanks, Loki".

'You're most welcome' Loki purrs, his mental voice dripping with faux gallantry.

'All-Father' Apollo interjects. 'why the vendetta against your brother? He's no worse than… well, Lucifer'.

'Tread carefully, Sun God' Lucifer growls, the threat in his tone palpable. 'See what I mean?' Apollo retorts, unfazed. 'Touchy'.

'Theeee old maaan's just jeaaalous' Fafnir croons, his voice creaking like rusted hinges with an hint of amusement. 'Siiibling riiivalry's aaaancient'.

'An understatement, it seems almost that Odin is ready to rip Loki of his head' observes Izanagi sensing the utter annoyance from the All-Father.

Ignoring the internal ramblings of his Personas Makoto stands up. "It's time I go..." he says looking at Elizabeth and Ryoji. "I will speak with you through Mercurius, meanwhile keep in check what Takamagahara is doing" says Makoto.

'I hope this works... it's too different from organising expedition to Tartarus. Here I am dealing with smart enemies' thinks Makoto.

'Overthinking will do no good. We will just need to be careful and not rush things Makoto' says reassuringly Messiah.

'In the worst case scenario there is still the atomic solution' remembers Lucifer. 'I'd rather not think about that, hee hoo' says Jack Frost uneasy.

Yoshitsune's voice rings out, his tone a sly chuckle resounding with irony. 'A word of counsel, Universe, next time you meet the Tower, accept a cup of sake. In my day, we samurai shared a draught before battle. A pact of honor… and a harbinger of fortune'.

Before Makoto leaves the Velvet Room Elizabeth gives him an hug of good fortune and they depart.