A/N: it’s a long Chapter. I didn’t want to split it so...

Enjoy..

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"Why did you stop me?" A cold voice sounded out as the crimson-haired youth stared daggers at his friend.

"You were about to make a bad decision." The silver armored youth replied plainly. His stature rigid as his gaze followed after the departing figures of Dante and Elizabeth.

"I was only going to have a few words with him."

"You were going to get yourself killed."

At those words, the eyes of the crimson haired youth flared.

"You dare? You believe me weaker than him?" He growled. Murderous intent rising.

"Yes. Had you made a move, you would’ve died." The armored youth’s voice hardened.

Hearing his friend speak in that tone the crimson-haired youth went silent.

"I have father’s blessing. I’ve awakened my bloodline fully. You still believe I would lose?"

"Lord Kaelel’s blessings won’t mean anything if Terra’s suppression still holds weight."

Silence. The crimson-haired young man had no words to counter those. Yet, the thought that he, Kael, would lose to someone of his own generation that wasn’t the prince.

He grit his teeth as dissatisfaction flashed through his eyes, yet before he could speak..

"... And SHE was there."

Those words made him freeze in dread.

"You believe a confrontation with him while she’s there would result in anything other than both our deaths?"

"..."

"I don’t know how close they are. But they’re at least close enough that he can hold her hands without her killing him. And he’s powerful enough to maintain physical contact without being killed."

"..."

"Forget you. Even if Lord Kaelel’s blessings were effective, death would be the only outcome for the both of us had you made any rash moves."

The crimson-haired celestial stood silent as the words slammed into him.

His friend never spoke much. Yet, when he did, he was hardly ever wrong.

And.. he knew it. Oh.. he knew it.

"That unreasonable...."

His fists clenched hard. Nails digging into his palms. Teeth gritted.

"I understand your rage..."

"Do you!!" The crimson haired youth spat.

"There he is. Sauntering around after daring to kill MY brother! Yet I’m forced to just watch and do nothing? And you dare say you understand? Spare me the sophistry, Joshua."

...

...

A heavy silence fell between them, before the raging youth felt it.

"Hmm?" He snapped out of his anger as he turned to his friend.

The silver armored youth hadn’t moved. He hadn’t twitched. Yet the thick and condensed killing intent that was swirling around him spoke volumes.

"I do. I understand perfectly." His voice wasn’t loud. It never shifted from that stable tone. Yet it had become infinitely colder.

"I trained Uriah. I listened to his dreams of inheriting the light. I pushed him myself. So, yes. I understand."

"It wasn’t only your brother he took. It was mine as well. He took from me. Then besmirched the church."

"I understand."

"So..."

"It is because I understand that I need you to wait. If you move. We die. And then there’s nothing. No vengeance. No payback."

"But if you wait. Once we’re within the abyss. We can take our time to find him. It doesn’t matter how far he is. We can find him. And once we do..." he let his words drift without bothering to complete them, yet the crimson-haired youth understood the intent.

So.. he took a deep breath and closed his eyes..

"Alright... I’ll wait."

...

...

"So that’s the one little aegis was talking about, huh?" A black haired young man with blindfolded eyes muttered in amusement.

"He’s dangerous." The youth standing beside him. His mouth sealed shut. Spoke with intent.

"Hahaha.. very. Little aegis didn’t even know the half of it." The blindfolded young man laughed.

"What do you see?"

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

"Yet you still wish to carry on with this foolishness? When you know your brother is merely using you to test the waters?"

"Heh! Little aegis always likes to feel like the most brilliant person in the room, why don’t I humor him a bit?"

"You’ll get yourself killed?"

"Fufufufu.. the prince is with him. I’m sure I’ll survive."

"You place your life on a flimsy acquaintance?"

"If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t. But the prince, for all his madness. Is quite honorable."

"You’ll be the death of me."

"Hahahahahahaha... what are friends for?" The blindfold wearing youth laughed in pure amusement as he turned his head in the direction of the church’s group.

"But.. I wonder what history he has with Kael and Joshua, they seem pretty murderous." He placed a curious finger on his chin.

"It is precisely because you’re too curious and carefree that your brother wants you dead."

"Ehhhhhh!!!!??? But I’m lovely?? You guys are just too stuck up. That’s why you can never make friends. Why do you think the prince only likes me and that cat, Morvak, on the entire heaven’s list? Humph."

The youth with the sealed lips merely shook his head.

"What do you think."

"Heh! They’ll die horribly."

"You can see it?"

"No. And it’s precisely because I can’t see anything that I know they’ll die horribly. Heh! They thought some puny upgrades will help them against someone the prince fancies? Fools." The young man sneered before turning away.

"I’m suddenly excited for this trip to the abyss. Might be more fun than our last one. Hahahahaha." He laughed.

"Haaa... you’re impossible."

The youth with the sealed mouth sighed before closing his eyes.

.........

DING!]

[Your understanding of the [SUPREME LAW] has deepened significantly....

[SUPREME LAW]

....

.....

"What?"

I stared at the notifications. At this point, I should’ve already gotten used to the ridiculousness that was Chaotic Comprehension.

But. Full comprehension of a Supreme law in mere moments was still jarring.

Now. Recent events had already made clear the fact that full comprehension didn’t mean complete mastery, but nevertheless, I was quite excited, because if what was being fed into my mind was anything to go off on, then I might have just found something as ridiculous as collapse and inevitability.

But before I could delve deeper into it...

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.... It seems everyone is quite excited for this expedition into the abyss." A boisterous laugh echoed like thunder.

All eyes looked up.

There. Within the ruined skies. A pair of starry eyes opened up. The ruination around them backing away in fright.

"We greet the Dean."

Everyone. Be they from the academy. The ancient families. The church. It didn’t matter. They all greeted the apparition in reverence.

"Hahahahaha.. everyone, you’re too formal." The voice laughed jovially. It sounded exactly like the voice one would expect from an overly excited grandfather.

"So this is the dean huh?" I hadn’t even seen the man himself. Only his eyes. Yet I could already feel the disparity between him and anyone I’ve ever met, and that included the old man himself.

"Damn..."

.....

"Hahaha.. alright. Everyone. I shan’t bore you with pointless words. In five minutes, I shall weaken the restrictions on the gate. Be ready to make your move." The voice laughed before the eyes in the sky closed up.

.....

"Alright! Listen up." As everyone else went about, trying to get ready for the opening of the abyss, Liz decided to finally let us in on the details of the exams.

"Your mission is simple. Bring back the head of an Infernal."

A wave of confused murmurs spread through the group..

"Excuse me. Instructor Elizabeth." One of the candidates called.

"Speak."

"According to what my elders told me. The abyss is populated with the creatures called infernals. So, which infernal are we supposed to bring back?"

"Heh! Naive fool." Leo scoffed.

Before I could ask why, I saw a slow and cruel grin surface on Liz’s stunning face.

"Don’t worry. You just have to bring back the head of whichever infernal doesn’t kill you first."

........

........

Five minutes later..

After a few more back and forth between Liz and the other candidates.

The five minutes allocated us were finally up.

WENG!!!

A bright purple glow engulfed the entire skies as the starry eyes opened once more.

"Everyone. It’s time."

The voice of the dean was followed by the trembling of the earth.

The purple glow shrouded the entire tear. The gates of the abyss shuddering violently as the world lurched.

"Woah!!!" I planted my feet into the earth to prevent myself from falling.

The shaking continued for a few moments before finally stabilizing.

"The restrictions have been lifted. Everyone! Good luck on your hunt."

Following the dean’s words, the crowd surged into the gates as they disappeared one after the other.

I could feel multiple gazes on me. I turned. The first group being the silver armored youth and the one with the wings I wanted. The two leveled me a quiet look before they disappeared into the gate.

I shifted my eyes. Locking my gaze with those of a blindfolded youth. His eyes weren’t visible yet I knew he was looking at me.

I didn’t feel the slightest Ill intent. Only amusement and curiosity. He smiled. Waved. Then disappeared into the gate with his partner.

The last group made my eyes harden.

"Demons..." I growled as I locked eyes with a young man that looked too handsome to be human.

No. He wasn’t quite on my level, but he was arguably the most good looking guy beneath me.

If it wasn’t for the nasty energy surrounding him, it would be impossible to tell he was a demon. Beside him, another demon stood. Taller. Eyes closed in utter indifference as they turned and walked into the gate.

"Heh! Seems there’re quite a few fun things to look out for." I laughed, more excited than bothered, because finally..

"Dante..." Liz’s voice snapped me out of my trance as I turned around.

"Hey there, beautiful." I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her into a warm embrace.

We stayed like that for a few moments, not minding the others that were already making their moves.

"You’ll be safe?" She asked as we finally separated.

"When I’ve got a date with a bombshell like you? Even death can’t keep me away." I laughed.

A small smile appeared on her face before..

"Mmmph..." she kissed me.

It wasn’t anything deep. Just a minor peck.

"Come... come back safe.." her face went tomato red as she looked down.

"Pfft... hahahahahahahahahaha!!!" I laughed and then..

"Hmmmpphh..." Pulled her into a deeper kiss. Her eyes widened in shock before her body relaxed.

"Worry not. I’ll be back before you know it." I winked as I finally let her go.

"Done with your farewell? Can we go now?" Malachi’s grumbling voice sounded from behind me.

"Hahaha.. yea. Let’s go. Fur ball! Stay close."

"Absolute! I swear if I die..."

"Sigh... this is going to be a chore.."

Together we made our way towards the massive gate.

I stopped as I finally got close enough to the gate. Feeling the dreadful amount of wrongness the thing emitted stoked my excitement even further.

I turned. Waved goodbye. Then took a step.

My surroundings changed drastically as I appeared within a realm of absolute damnation.

Yet before I could properly center myself...

Click.

Snap.

The sound of something coming undone echoed deep within me.

Not around me.

Within me.

"...?"

Before I could make sense of it...

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

An unprecedented aura erupted from within me.

RUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMBBBBBLLLLLEEEEEEEEE!!!!

BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!

The world quaked violently.

The earth beneath my feet gave way.

CRAAAAAAASSSSHHHHH!!!!

A massive crater spread outward as the ground collapsed beneath the sheer weight of my presence.

"..."

My body felt...

Heavy.

Heavier than it had ever felt before.

Not sluggish.

Not burdened.

Just...

Heavy.

As though every part of me had suddenly become infinitely more real.

The atmosphere around me became erratic.

The surrounding world began collapsing visually.

Space twisted.

Time lurched.

For a brief instant, it surged forward.

The next...

It seemed to reverse.

The laws saturating the surroundings fell into complete disarray before gradually stabilizing once more.

Then...

The familiar mechanical voice echoed within my mind.

[DING!!]

[Restrictions lifted....]

"Heh..."

A grin tugged at my lips.

"So this is what the old man meant..."

I rolled my shoulders.

Every tiny movement felt different.

Like a part of me that had been asleep my entire life had finally awakened.

Then...

[DING!!]

[You have comprehended the [SUPREME LAW].]

[SUPREME LAW].

"..."

Before I could even process it...

[DING!!]

[You have comprehended the [SUPREME LAW].]

[SUPREME LAW].

[DING!!]

[You have comprehended the [SUPREME LAW].]

[SUPREME LAW].

"..."

"What...?"

Three Supreme Laws.

One after another.

Before I could gather my thoughts...

Everything...

Stopped.

The trembling earth.

The distorted space.

Even the endless stream of notifications.

Silence descended.

...

...

[DING.]

A lone notification appeared.

Unlike the others...

It emerged slowly.

Almost...

Deliberately.

[You have comprehended...]

...

[PRIMORDIAL]

.

...

...

"..."

I stared blankly at the final notification.

"..."

"...Physicality?"

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A/N: it’s a very long Chapter but I didn’t want to split it again...

Anyways,

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Thanks for reading...