The energy vortex had hurled Midoki into a distant plane, and when the dust finally settled, he found himself in Helheim—a realm of souls where time and reality seemed distorted. Though unfazed, Midoki could feel the relentless weight of the place. The environment around him was a tapestry of desolation and mystery, each part as unique as Hell itself.
His journey began in an arid desert of ash, where the wind carried dust particles that scraped his skin like blades. The sun did not shine here—only a dull, malevolent glow lingered in the sky. Each step felt heavy, as if the ground were trying to grasp him and drag him down. He pressed forward with determination, the sensation of time slowing intensifying with every step. The heat and dryness made the air feel like an invisible curtain of fire.
After crossing the desert, Midoki found himself in a scorching terrain, where the heat was suffocating. Flames danced within the cracks of the ground, and the environment seemed to be in constant boiling turmoil. He forced himself to go on, facing the torrent of heat that threatened to melt his skin and collapse his body.
Then, without warning, the scenery shifted to a frigid and shadowy environment. The cold was cutting—nearly unbearable—and the air was thick with heavy, dense snow. The distant mountains looked like serrated blades of ice, and the sound of icy winds pierced the silence with a ghostly wail. Each breath Midoki took turned into frozen mist, and his movements were slow and heavy, as if the cold was trying to freeze his very steps.
The landscape changed once again, and now Midoki found himself in a dark and hostile environment, where acidic rain fell from the sky in corrosive droplets. The air was thick with the stench of sulfur and decay, mixed with a metallic smell that seemed to invade his lungs. He moved with caution, avoiding pools of green liquid that bubbled and evaporated into clouds of poisonous vapor.
He continued his journey until he reached a swamp, where the ground was muddy and shrouded in thick fog. With every step, the ground sank beneath his weight, and the sound of murky waters filled the air with an eerie, sinister wailing. It was as if the swamp itself were alive, breathing and watching his every move.
Suddenly, a colossal figure emerged from the shadows of the swamp—an Abomination made of tormented souls and darkness. Its eyes were infernal lanterns, and its form a tangled mass of shadows and wails. With a deep growl, it charged toward Midoki, a whirlwind of malevolent energy radiating from its presence.
Without hesitation, Midoki activated his spiritual ability, the "Law of Originalism – Destruction." A wave of purifying energy burst from his body, illuminating the air around him with celestial light. The monster's shadows were consumed by the energy of destruction, and in an instant, the colossal being was annihilated—its parts disintegrating into ethereal spiritual mist that vanished into the air.
Finally, after '5,000 years' of torment and trials—or '5,000 seconds' in the world of Gaia—Midoki caught sight of Hades' imposing palace, its silhouette towering against the dark horizon. The structure was an enigma of stone and shadow, with towers stretching into the infernal sky and corridors that seemed to vanish into darkness.
As he entered the palace, Midoki encountered endless hallways, each more opulent and foreboding than the last. The walls were draped in black velvet tapestries, and eerie lights cast dancing shadows. The air was heavy with a sense of antiquity and power, and each of Midoki's footsteps echoed through the vast void.
At last, he arrived at a colossal chamber, where Hades sat on his dark throne. The God of the Dead, with his imposing presence and glowing red eyes, gazed upon Midoki with a mix of curiosity and disdain.
- Hades: "What is a mortal soul doing here?" he began, his voice echoing like distant thunder. But as he looked closer, he realized Midoki was very much alive—in flesh and blood.
- Hades: "You're… alive?" he asked, a momentary expression of surprise crossing his face. "How did you manage to get here?"
Midoki stepped forward, his voice heavy with revelations.
- Midoki: "In a battle against Geminus, I was struck by his spiritual ability—Double Sentence—and was sent to Helheim. But that's not what I came to discuss. There's something I discovered when I was '9 years old' and journeyed into the Underworld. I met a Witch who revealed several secrets about Chaos and my Shinrei. She also foresaw my encounter with Lucifer—and his plan."
Flashback:
The Witch, cloaked in garments that seemed to absorb all surrounding light, unveiled to Midoki ancient truths intertwined with the cosmic purpose guiding his existence. Her eyes glowed with an ancient, unsettling wisdom as she began to share forbidden knowledge.
- Mysterious Witch: "The powers of Chaos that destroyed Britannia," she began, her voice thick with mystery, "are actually fragments of the Shinrei of Eminence. The Chaos Arthur unleashed is merely a partial manifestation of this primordial power. You are connected to something far greater—a web of events that transcends the boundaries of time and space."
Midoki listened intently, absorbing every word as if it were an eternal truth. The Witch continued, her voice now tinged with a darker tone.
- Mysterious Witch: "Soon, when you return from this realm, you will encounter a Nephilim named Lucifer. It is likely that the two of you will clash in a monumental battle. In his rage and despair, Lucifer will cast a curse upon you. It will not be a mere hex, but a decay that will affect the entire universe—all multiverses. What's at stake is vast and grim."
Midoki felt a chill down his spine at her words, the weight of her revelation nearly crushing him. The Witch looked at him with an intensity that seemed to pierce through reality itself.
- Witch: "Before you return to the world you know, I must entrust you with a vital secret. Lucifer's plan is vast and insidious. I ask you to reveal this to no one—not even to Canvos. Keep it hidden until you meet Hades. If Lucifer's fate is known before its time, the consequences will be catastrophic, and reality as we know it could be drastically altered."
With those heavy words, the Witch made a farewell gesture, and Midoki felt the connection to that plane begin to fade. The visions and secrets she had shared would remain engraved in his mind—a burden he would carry as he faced the challenges ahead.
End of Flashback
Hades listened carefully as Midoki continued.
- Midoki: "Lucifer is actually planning to seize the Scepter of Helheim, which you possess, and the Jewel of Valhalla, which is with Zeus. These artifacts hold immense power and are part of a larger plan."
Hades listened intently, his gaze turning darker and more resolute.
- Hades: "And you believe Lucifer will succeed?" —his voice now laced with subtle menace.
- Hades: "No… not while I still breathe," he said, voice thick with threatening determination. "Lucifer will have to face my wrath—and that will be his immediate death."
Before Midoki could respond, Hades made a subtle gesture with his hand, and an invisible force surrounded Midoki, beginning to push him back to the world of the living—Gaia.
- Hades: "Go. You have already fulfilled your role. But remember—whatever Lucifer is planning, he will have to face me."
Midoki felt Hades' power transporting him back. The sensation of being pulled through layers of time and space was overwhelming, but he maintained his composure. In an instant, he was back in Gaia, on Mount Olympus, on the path to the House of Cancer, the familiar atmosphere wrapping around him once more.
After sending Midoki back to the world of the living, Hades pondered in silence.
- Hades: "That human… he is not ordinary. His body appeared greatly worn, yet his spirit remains intact. Could it be that he…"