Simultaneously with Aaron, I approached Hado in a pincer attack.

The first is me!

Pretending to slash its upper body, I feinted into attacking its midsection instead. Hado reacted to it, blocking my attack with the sword in its left, while attacking with the one on the right..Aaron didnt let it to do so though.

Forcibly pushing back Hados right sword, giving me an opening.

[Fate!]

[Die already. Uooooo]

Infusing theFire ball magicon to the black sword, I buried the blazing fire sword into Hados heart. Then, after noticing that Aaron had jumped away, I poured more magic power.

The close ranged magic burned Hado, and even enveloped myself, creating a pillar of flame.

The powerful shockwave sent me back rolling way near to where Aaron had jumped away. From the sky, shards of glass and debrises from nearby buildings fell down like rain.

[Are you okay? Dont be reckless.]

[Yeah, I got burned a little. But this much will quickly heal.]

Since I had both auto recovery and auto recovery boost, small wounds would heal like it was nothing. But compared to Hado, I can say that Im still lacking.

Getting back up with Aarons help, I looked at the state of the burning Hado.

[What a powerful regeneration..]

It was Aaron who said that. From under the burned and carbonized layer, new meat sprout out, restoring Hado in a visible speed as we watched.

No, thats not all. The new meat hardened, making Hados defense to be even tougher than he previously was.

[That, is no longer Hado.that..that thing.]

I was lost for word upon witnessing Hados change. Greed then spoke to me throughMind Reading.

Anyone who has been turned into Nightwalker has no heart. Fate, remember this well. Once someone of Area E loses their heart, they will inevitably experience thisthe collapse phenomenon.

Hados appearance was like a demon itself. A mouth opening from ear to ear, sporting jagged teeth. Its body size kept growing beyond normal, rugged with the color of red-black. Its as if the blood inside had been solidified overtime.

Then, the trademark bat-like wings sprout out from its back in a wet tearing sound.

Greed said that its the collapse phenomenon. He jokingly told me, if, after I defeated Tenryu, Roxy was not there to rescue me, itll be amusing to see what kind of form Ill assume.

Thats not funny at all.

If one day I was engulfed by the Gluttony skill, coupled with the excessive power of Area E, not only losing my human heart, Id also lose my original appearance, and become the worst demon in the history.

Feeling scared? Fate?

I shook my head in response to Greeds taunting,

[No, but that makes me think. Was Tenryu originally a human too?]

If it was, what of it

When I remained silent, Greed smiled. Ive been told from the beginning, that Area E is something that is out of this world. And yet I still traversed into that path regardless.

I was awakened from my reverie when Arron called out to me. Really me? Even though its in the midst of battle.

[Fate, whats wrong?]

[Sorry. Hado is..]

It still remained quiet inside the flame. But the pressure it emitted was even stronger than before.

Gradually, its eyelids opened..revealing the red eyes which gazed at me.

[Na!?]

[This is]

It was in a split second. In a split second, Hado moved behind me and Aaron.

Was such thing become possible thanks to its black wings!?

The dual holy swords were raised.

With an amazingly heavy slash, it attacked both me and Aaron.

In such a short notice, each of us actually managed to block that attack. Lots of flares scattered, but unfortunately our stances were swaying.

Together, we were knocked backwards into the wall of some research facility.

When I got up and rid myself of the rubbles that buried me, I found myself in a room with women immersed with the solution inside transparent container. Theyre treated like a specimen of bird or insect. And for some reason, Hado didnt pursue us here.

While sensing the oddity, I noticed the crest in the laboratory. It was the crest of Burix family again.

One of the women especially took my attention. She was very beautiful, to the point it felt like her beauty was out of this world.

Who is shewhile I was thinking of that, Aaron beat me to it in finding out her identity.

[Lina Burix..why, in such a place, she has supposedly died more than a decade ago.]

Lina Burix!? What? From her name it seems that shes related to Hado, Rafal, and Mimir.

[What kind of person she was?]

[That is.]

While still wary of Hado pursuing us, Aaron began to explain.

[I do not know the details, but Lina Burix was that young Rafals mother. Apparently she had a weak constitution, and fell sick after giving birth to Rafal. She died a few years later. To think, shes in such a place..and the other women..]

What in the worldthis is different from the laboratory Ive seen so far. Could this be, a place that tried to satisfy a certain desire?

Now that I think about it, this place does sport rather excessive decorations.

When I approached Lina Burixs container, I noticed that it has fine engravings on it.

And a gold emblem is embedded on the bottom of the container, placed there with unknown means. Its hard to read what was engraved on it.

I also found another strange thing. Fresh flowers usually seen on burial ground were placed next to the emblem. Judging from the state of the flower, it was put there only recently.

Looking around the room with Aaron, we were stopped by the approaching sound of foot step coming from the corridor. The automatic door then opened.

A familiar face emerged from beyond that door. He hadnt change from that time, still with his hateful smile.

[If it isnt the sword saint Aaron Barbatos. Why are you in such a place? Ill be in trouble if you opened up such a big hole. Swordsmans really have a lot to be desired when it comes to their courtesy.]

He only talked to Aaron, as if I didnt even entered his sight.

As usual.

[Rafal! Whats this all about!?]

Rafal only turned to me for a split second. Apparently, he didnt really care about me who was standing next to the sword saint.

[Isnt it Fate.it seems you got a better career while we didnt see each other. I heard that you inherited the post as the heir of Barbatos family. I wonder how you managed to get that position?]

[You]

When I tried to come close, Aaron prevented me from doing so. Apparently something was off with Rafal. He let out a crazy laugh. Its creepy to laugh alone in such a large room.

Laughing and laughing, until hes satisfied. Rafal walked past us from the side while we kept watching him.

He stopped in front of Line Burixs container and talked.

[Today is a memorable day. I was meant to start it up, but someone else already beat me to it. No matter, schedule is still schedule. My dear mother passed away, on this very day. With this power, this kingdom.]

[Rafal!?]

[Thats right, Fate. I can feel it from you, the same power. How is it, how did you obtain it? You can do anything with it, right!? With this power, Ill achieve everything that Ive never been able to do in the past. Let me tell you this, Im the real deal. Unlike that thing (Hado)]

Rafals eyes turned red. His were much deeper in color than all other Nightwalker Ive encountered before. He directed his eyes to me. His sight was full of hatred.

He then took out a black spear from out of nowhere, and pointed it toward me and Aaron.

[Fate, Ill discipline you once again.]