Darkness, according to one of the theories that tell us about the end of everything, will be the result of the expansion of the changing universe in which we live. This is known as the perfect fulfillment of Newton's second law: The thermal vacuum.
The remnant consciousness of Adam begins to disintegrate little by little with each of the deep brain functions of Yukino's brain. For him, the feeling is almost identical to the original starting point of all that mess he had gotten himself into. But now there is a substantial difference.
Like Loa, the blessing of near-immortality carries the curse of ultimate death. This was something that he had very much in mind since that day when he crossed the threshold in the corridor of reminiscence. For him, there is no possibility of re-entering the ouroboros and fulfilling the cycle of death and rebirth.
Wandering as if he were floating in a dense black sea, he locks himself in a dubious monologue as he meditates on all the events that have occurred since his reincarnation. Why can't the Loa go back to the ouroboros flow? That doubt struck, digging into his subconscious in a rampant way, before the indomitable fear of disappearing completely.
But far from being like another unknown sinking into the infinite ocean of oblivion, a voice made itself felt in that place, like a ray of light that pierces the darkness: "When a consciousness rises to a higher level, it stops depend on a physical body to manifest the force of your desire "
The darkness began to dissipate like the night sky that languishes before the imposing dawn of the sun on the horizon, giving way to an idyllic setting that escaped all possible knowledge or imagination.
The sky had a lavender tone mixed with crimson red, in it you could see two imposing moons that paled between that range of color despite their enormous size. On the ground, a diverse flora of blue-green hues stretched from one edge to another that the eyes could not encompass.
The murmur of the many waters that flowed from various streams, gave a feeling of being before a relaxing symphony for all the senses. If a name could be given to that, without a doubt, paradise would fall short of describing it.
Taking control of his consciousness, Adam placed his bare feet on that floral carpet and began to walk in search of the voice that he had heard just moments ago. The sensation at his feet with each step, resembled planting on a soft surface that reminded him of the sensation of English grass.
In the distance under the shadow of what seemed to be a tree, he made out the silhouette of a being that was resting peacefully on a rock. Trying to get closer as quickly as possible, because he felt that every second that passed his strength was gradually extinguished.
"Stop there and do not take another step" - With an imposing tone of authority, that being got up from the rock and walked to where Adam was. Who saw that that being of semi-human appearance had a very familiar face, so much so that he was completely perplexed: his own face.
Apollion explained that the place where they were standing was part of his consciousness superimposed on that of Adam himself. The remnants of an old planet that existed millions of years ago in one of the confines of the universe, only lived in the memories of the astral entity who observed with nostalgia the moors around him.
"All your eyes can see was a beautiful planet that I created many eons ago. It was one of my first experiences as a modeler under the orders of the Architects. Honestly, this has been one of the jobs that I have enjoyed the most during my entire existence, you could see different species of animals and plants that would never have crossed your mind. " - With a smile looking up at the sky, Apollion opened himself completely before Adam for the first time.
It seems that death is the watershed that makes a difference in every relationship, no matter what species or being it is. Master and slave? Friend or enemy? Everything always leads to a closure, the end point of a story after a long wait.
That man in the black suit and serene gaze sat on the ground in a lotus position, gesturing for Adam to sit opposite him in the same position in order to have a talk. Apolion began by explaining that Yukino's body was indeed dead and that what he perceived as his own consciousness was only the remnant of his brain register before the last electrical signal from the brain was completely extinguished.
This is why Adam was experiencing this growing weakness and the gradual loss of control of his spiritual flow. As the minutes passed, the brain would begin to experience its neuronal function arrest, completing death within three hours. So at that time Apolion wanted to grant Adam the certainty about every unknown that he had and in a certain way, comfort him like a friendly hand until the bitter end fell like the blade of a sword that cuts the rope of the curtain of the work. .
"Do you know what happens when a Loa exterminates another of the same species as him?" - Referring to past battles, Apollion describes that being entities of an ethereal nature are a direct part of the flow of life. All the experiences and techniques that a Loa develops are transferred to the Loa that exterminates him in the form of a continuous flow of consciousness. Without affecting the original essence of the Loa who is victorious in combat.
The power to manipulate Iblis's memories, the ability to control Leviatan's shadows, all those techniques, had been assimilated by Adam into his Loa form and until the moment of his death he was ignorant of all of it. When questioning him why he never contacted him as on other occasions and communicated all that to him, Apolion showed a bit of annoyance in the expression of his eyes. Lowering his head as he slammed his clenched fist against the floor.
"Could you have made a difference when you were Freyja's dog?" - The proud spiritual entity tried to maintain his composure before Adam, because he knew that he was just one more victim of the sinister games of the terrible Arcana.
Freyja had lived long enough to hold very deep secrets, much like the vast expanse of the universe. But that suspicion with which Apolion behaved towards her had little to do with that. Her uncertainty rested on the very nature of the astral entity, who was the product of the machinations of her old and dear enemies.
To such a degree that even when Adam was on the verge of oblivion, Apollion did not consider it pertinent to even mention it.
"Why did he choose me?" - Staring him in the eyes, Adam questioned in a calm and equanimous way. That question had crossed his mind many times as he struggled to survive in this new reality. Meditating without finding an answer that made any sense to him even when he had that talk with Hanabi.
Old Loa understood the anguish in Adam's words and felt the sorrow that fell upon his afflicted soul. The candidates to be Loa guardians certainly have in common that they have experienced betrayal as a key factor in the time leading up to his reincarnation. But the real reason why they are chosen is because their consciences have remained constant in the flow of our ouroboros; in other words, they were always reborn as human beings.
In general, every living being follows the cycle of rebirth from the lowest part of created beings; but on rare occasions, some manage to have lives whose karma maintains a balance that allows them to remain human even after being reborn. In some cultures, these beings are known as traveling souls.
When a soul has been selected as a candidate for guardian, a container compatible with it is sought in order to create the new Loa. Taking special consideration that said recipient must always be a woman.
Those words surprised Adan, as he initially thought that her reincarnation in Yukino had been a punishment by Freyja by making her disgusted by her behavior in the corridor reminiscent of her. But he certainly he was wrong.
Regardless of the species, femininity is considered the active and creative force of life itself. And due to this nature, she maintains a constant balance with the flow of life to the point of perfectly synchronizing with the changing force.
Such a revelation completely surprised Adam, who had heard such a thing from the Sumerians and Babylonians. Fully understanding that many of the clues that would have led him to unravel the secrets of the Loa, were found in the mythology of the various ancient religions.
"When I'm done dying, what will happen to you?" - Adam harbored some concern for that spiritual entity, since he had developed gratitude towards him for all the time that he gave him his power in combat.
Hearing this question, Apollion stood in front of Adam and with his eyes closed he began to emanate a green aura around himself. The same armor that Adam had used in his battles was molded on the silhouette of the ancient astral being.
Iblis and Leviatan appeared at the towering warrior's sides, their countenance devoid of life and emotion. Hinting with it what would be the final destination of Apollion: Reborn.
The original users of the fallen Loa were once human beings equal to Adam and Yukino. But after experiencing death, they were released from the contract and took control of the vessels that housed them.
In the case of Iblis, a girl who had died of a yellow fever outbreak in a remote rice paddy village. And when it comes to Leviatan, a young maiden from a fishing village who offered her up as a sacrifice to bring good fortune upon them.
"When your time is up, I will emerge once more and take control. And I will return their conscience to my comrades by searching for other containers. Do not take it personally, but I have unfinished business to resolve with Freyja and her masters. So I would appreciate it. May you be good to me and die once "- The pleasant talk turned into a declaration of war, as Apollion materialized a pair of swords in his hands, very similar to the scimitars of the Saracen combatants in the crusades.
Barely able to move in panic, Adam tried to mold armor on himself and brandish the lumenfang once more. But each attempt was completely useless, since its construction was just beginning, it dissolved without even consolidating.
Apolion raised his face in astonishment as he placed the palm of his hand covering his eyes with a laugh that echoed in every corner of that lost paradise. How could Adam claim to create combat armor using the power of his own enemy? Desperation made him fall into a more than obvious mistake and for that reason the laugh of the ancient warrior did not stop resounding.
As a gesture of goodwill in recognition of his determination, Apollion granted Adam a small portion of his power so that he could battle it out. Even if all this was a futile effort, for him that single act of defiance had inspired a certain respect in his adversary.
Taking a light breath, Adam stood up and wagged his left arm, projecting a smaller version of his lumenfang. The design resembled the retractable jian used by Chinese emperors' escorts, allowing Adam less power consumption compared to the full lumenfang.
Face to face, face to face, the two opponents looked directly into each other's eyes as if possessed by a thirst for blood. The passing of the breeze through the blades of the grass was the start of the bloody combat. This was an uneven fight, as if a drop of water hit an immovable mountain; but even with the conditions against, the determination of a simple human stood firm in the face of the inevitable.
Apollion did not hold back an iota before his adversary, letting go of all his momentum against the enemy in front of him. Like the sound of metals colliding, the spirit forces in the armor resounded like cymbals in unison.
Struggling to stay on his feet and avoiding fully receiving Apollion's attacks, little by little Adam's armor was cracking with each blow he received. Staring at every crevice that grew in her, despair rampaged through his heart, leading him to desperate measures.
Making use of the knowledge he received from him during his brief training with Lucifer, he began to consume his spirit remnant to inject energy into his Jian lumenfang. Every second he spent channeling his spiritual energy shortened the time he had available on a neural level.
"I just have to give him a critical hit, I can't allow him to take over Yukino's body and bring those demons back" - With that firm resolve in mind, Adam propelled himself with his feet climbing a boulder high enough to take advantage of the momentum. of gravity against Apollion.
The image of the two combatants closely resembled the Renaissance paintings of the combat of Miguel Arcangel and Lucifer. Adam let go of his entire arm using his sword as a spear attached to him consuming almost all of his spiritual energy, piercing Apollion's skull from side to side through the left eye.
"I recognize your courage and strength, but our battle has reached this point" - Extending his arm and resting his hand on the breastplate of Adam's armor, Apollion released a withering attack that pierced the unfortunate fighter's chest.
As his shattered body fainted, he gazed with his eyes at the fragments of the spirit armor disintegrating in midair, as if the whole time had slowed down until he heard his body crash into the ground.
With his eyes fixed on the sky, Adan observed the face of Apollion who smiled as he raised his arms wielding a sword to deliver the final blow seeking to cut the neck of his victim.
Just when the blade was about to touch his neck, a blast of arrows glowing amber streaked across the skies toward Apollion's body. Who completely surprised took a huge jump back trying to dodge each bolt.
When his eyes returned to focus on Adam's body, he saw a hooded figure pick him up from the ground and carry him jumping in the air as if it were a solid surface.
"Who are you?" - Completely exhausted on the brink of destruction, Adam approached his apparent savior seeking to find an answer in him. Contemplating it carefully, that being wore a white mask that covered its entire face. And without saying a single word he moved as far as he could from Apollion's reach. Who settled down to sit down knowing that Adam had consumed much of the remaining time of his life and that it would only be a matter of minutes before he finally succumbed.
Meanwhile, in another plane of existence, a woman is sitting in front of a cold iron on which a body covered by a white blanket rests. The scent of lavender flower incense saturated the air around her. She contemplating silently without making a single movement of her eyelids, as if her life were leaving her with each stroke of the hand on the clock on the wall.
Two hours had passed since Yukino's death and the wait for those in charge of the funeral service seemed to grow eternal with each passing minute. As if eternity expanded with each breath held between sobs and the tears that fell from Hanabi's face.
"How much more do you plan to have me locked up here?" - Frustrated hitting the walls of the crystal orb prison, Yukino's assassin rebuked Hanabi seeking to get her attention. She only managing to get her out of her trance to completely enrage her, standing in front of her corpse lifting the sheet that covered her face. Showing it completely before that woman who only made a frenzy of laughing.
"It's time for us to have our talk" - Hanabi's tone of voice was harsh and rough, as if another being was speaking from within her. Just listening to him, her prisoner's defiant attitude changed to a more modest tone. Begging him to let her out of it, while Hanabi walked quietly to one of the bathrooms, locking the door.
Raising the orb to her face, Hanabi's gaze seemed as deep as a desolate abyss overseas. The darkness in her was only comparable to the universe before the big bang. "Orjan kruunu" - When pronouncing this phrase, a seed fell into the orb at the feet of the captive woman, who with great horror began to scream as her body was surrounded by branches of vine covered with sharp thorns.
One of Hanabi's special abilities, the most painful and slow of all. She particularly she only used it in cases where she required to obtain information from the voids that seized reanimated corpses. But in this particular case, it was not a wandering spirit entity screaming in agony as her bleeding skin shuddered on the branches.
A human being, the ultimate taboo that a Loa Guardian should never break regardless of the situation.
"It hurts, it hurts so much it's tearing me apart please stop. I'll tell you what you want!" - The torture bore fruit as the blood dripped on the fine crystal of the orb, forming a pool that resembled the remains of wine in a glass. That woman claimed to be Anabelle, a maid in the service of the Kojima family.
Being just an orphan, she was taken in specifically to be a maid in the service of Miss Akane. She being the victim of her abuse for years, but even when she tried to escape from the mansion on several occasions, she herself returned attracted by her young mistress.
Much like Stockholm syndrome, that sick relationship of hers had led her to lose her dignity and will completely. Until one night her mistress offered her a prize if she could fulfill a particular mission.
Akane promised that they would live alone, secluded from everyone in one of her family's villas abroad where no one would know her origins. In a single night, her life would change from being a maiden to a society woman and also the young Akane's lover.
Anabelle's eyes were lost in ecstasy as she said these things, completely forgetting the pain or blood loss produced by the thorns of the vines on her skin. Just seeing that expression made Hanabi angry to the point that the atmosphere in the bathroom became heavy. The lights began to flicker and dust particles rose from the ground in a shocking jolt.
"I set you free. You can go find your mistress and receive your award as the good bitch that you are" - Anabelle had a smile of enormous satisfaction on her face, which was soon dispelled by an expression of agony as she writhed in spasm . Her vines began to clench tighter and tighter on her skin until she went through her as she slowly broke his bones.
The screams within her orb were deafening to the point of completely annoying Hanabi, who with a movement of her fingers gave the order to the branches to deliver the coup de grace.
A single branch pierced from her groin to the throat of the unfortunate servant, who gurgled blood and guts from the corners of her lips, shedding tears mixed with blood as she shook in one last gasp from her lungs. she.
That vine began to drain her blood until she didn't leave a single drop, while Hanabi contemplated with some satisfaction that spectacle while she said: "As I promised, you are already free. Wait for your mistress in hell"
Hanabi's relentless flash of domineering woman faded, leaving her euphoria behind, regaining her calm only to return to the stark reality that awaited her in the morgue. She walked slowly making her step echo down the silent corridor of the hospital basement.
"Wake up, we don't have much time and it is urgent for you to listen to me" - Regaining control of his consciousness, Adam felt an immense pain in his chest, contemplating in amazement that the wound inflicted by Apolion had completely closed, only leaving a residual brand that disappeared as it was incorporated.
Standing to one side of him, that enigmatic being took off the mask that covered his face. Revealing that it was apparently Yukino. In shock, Adam couldn't believe what his eyes saw. She was dead, it was impossible for her to be in front of him, much less that they could have that talk.
Understanding the situation, she got on her knees and took him by the shoulders trying to make him react. Time was pressing and there was no room for unnecessary questioning, since the balance of the universe itself was hanging by a thread.
"Since the beginning of time, I have been called in many ways and I have never had a name. I am the gaia, the mana, flow of life, continuity, deity; but certainly the one that could best describe me is nothingness" - That which it was known as the flow of life had taken on Yukino's residual appearance from the memory fragments at the neural synapse. She was with Adam the entire time since the crash incident, when she allowed Apollion to emerge from the spiritual stream and sign the covenant that night.
She patient, she silently observing the evolution of Adam to the point of preserving him as a seed about to germinate. Trying to amend the mistake that she supposed when she granted all that knowledge to Apollion, who in her opinion was carried away by her deepest passions and she lost the concrete meaning of why she had revealed herself to him.
Both Architects and Loa had distorted every principle regarding the management of the flow of life; setting aside the continuous essence of spirit in each created being.
"I have revealed to you in the form of dreams, things that the eyes of the girl you have used as a container never saw. Memories of lives linked to her, but being memories alien to her knowledge. All with the hope that you would understand what Apolion had forgotten "- Certainly Adam remembered all those events of his unconscious state in the hospital and after them he believed that it had all been a hallucination. Until the day he confronted Hiroki in the mansion room, it was when he realized that all this had really happened.
"Everything is connected, one is everything and everything is one" - The principle of the ancient alchemists, the predecessors of chemists, came as a flash to his mind and it reached the consciousness of the spiritual entity. Who smirked at Adam, nodding at him letting him know that this was the correct answer.
Extending his hands seeking to join them with Adam's, he began to recite a mantra in a language that seemed heavenly. His intonation brought peace to his being as if it were a healing chant that took away all burdens and restored his vigor.
"To live again, to never die, to transcend, your essence must free from fear. Nothing is forever, not even what finite beings call the end. Flesh and blood are only a material extension of your energy. , but your conscience does not depend on them.
It's not you, it's not me There is only us and at this moment I give myself to you and you to me. To stop being and to be born again "- That being subject to Adam by the neck bringing her face against hers, giving him a symbolic kiss while he placed his other hand on her chest.
A strong light illuminated the sky as if it were the birth of a sun, completely alerting Apollion, who frantically threw himself through the air in the direction of the source of that intense luminary.
Arriving there, I contemplate that Adam had ceased to exist. The old being was replaced by a new personality product of the fusion of the memories of Yukino, Adam and Gaia. His body radiated a reddish glow like that of a red giant about to become a super nova; her voice, like the resounding of many waters, and her eyes like effulgent beryllium in a crucible.
"Damn you Adam, I won't let you spoil my plans!" - Giving an impulse with his legs that tore the surface of the ground, Apolion launched himself with all his might trying to cut off the head of his adversary. The brutal impact made the air around them sizzle, casting an almost blinding light that prevented him from seeing the whole situation.
"Do not play the pimp with me weak and fragile creature, I know very well that you do not have the power to stand up to me!" - The laughter that released from his mouth soon became screams of horror as he contemplated his fateful fate.
"We will not allow you to destroy us, you cannot destroy us because you are also part of us!" - Holding firmly the edges of the swords, that new entity absorbed little by little Apollion who resisted clinging with his feet to the ground. Struggling to loosen the hilt of his swords to the point of severing his hands.
But all that was useless, the force of the void that was generated between the two bodies, pulled him fully while he cursed the four winds for the betrayal of Gaia. Letting see in his face the agonizing despair of returning to nothingness and being one with everything.
Only a few seconds were enough and the combat ended, little by little the luminescence of the astral body was dimming until revealing an androgynous silhouette, with a delicate face adorned by a tiara that resembled the crown of the victorious god Helios.
Completely exhausted, he fell to the ground, feeling that his strength left him. Yukino's brain would soon be completely dead without neural activity.
"I don't give a shit" - Returning to the physical plane, Hanabi was once again sitting in front of Yukino's body smoking a cigarette at the complaint of the forensic technician. She no longer cared about the rules or keeping her formalities; she a few minutes ago she had crossed the line, upsetting the delicate balance of the guardians.
Taking his wallet, he opened it and took out a strip of cash with 150,000 yen and put it in the technician's hand. He telling her that he would leave her alone in that cold room until it was time to deliver her body.
That man took the money and turned a blind eye, leaving the room as Hanabi had requested. Who exhaled heavily as he stubbed out his cigarette on the floor in great anger.
"Now you're bribing for a simple cigarette? How low can you go sweetie!" - A sudden presence was felt behind the redhead's back. A delicate aroma of citrus mixed with jasmine flower made him turn immediately to contemplate the person who was speaking to him.
A being of feminine appearance with a gray suit and red sash, that uniform was only worn by the astrals in direct service of an arcanum. Eyes as rosy as ruby quartz that catches the glare of sunlight, brown hair in an onion hairstyle with some beads at the ends of the temples.
"What are you doing here Nabim !?" Her voice cracking with nerves, Hanabi knew the answer to his question. Nabim was there to bring her to Freyja to account for her actions and receive her punishment. "Disobedience has a very high cost between us and you know it very well. Do not resist and take my hand" - In the blink of an eye, both were transported to the corridor of reminiscence leaving Yukino's body behind.
Her head was spinning and she felt disoriented. The teleportation effect of a physical body has terrible effects on the physical body by taking it to the old corridor. When the dizziness seemed to subside, she tried to move her arms and legs but they didn't respond. Instead she could feel a cold touch of metal wrapping around her limbs and hurting both her ankles and her wrists.
"You know very well that you cannot break these chains with your own strength, because you are in my domain and here I have the power" - Resounding footsteps approached through the mist, revealing whom all the astral and guardians were trying to obey with diligence. Freyja wore her face exposed, not keeping up the appearances of her with the mask that she used to hide her scars.
Nabim who accidentally looked up, gazed at the face of the Arcana. Who unceremoniously held her face with one hand, incinerating her face amid pleas for forgiveness and screams of agony.
"Take her away from my presence" - Two beings with inhuman appearance emerged from the ground as if it were a water mirror. Dragging Nabim into the abyss who was barely muttering groans as she was led into a dungeon.
Hanabi felt her heart pound like a rabbit trying to escape from a hungry wolf. The hands that she had chained behind her back did not stop shaking and her pupils were completely dilated with adrenaline.
"You know well that the mission of a Loa guardian is to exterminate the voids that put the balance of the ouroboros at risk. And to exterminate any threat that threatens our ancestral work as modelers. Humans are collateral damage in that mission, but to the woman you killed tell me how did it affect us? " - Freyja's tone of voice seemed cold and cutting as she squatted in front of Hanabi, running her hand with a subtle delicacy across her face to finally hold her tightly by her neck.
The pressure of her fingers dug into her delicate skin, causing her face to turn red from the interruption of blood flow. Her eyes seemed to want to bulge as she stuck out her tongue trying to gasp for air. To the point that she shuddered in desperation trying to free herself from her chains by violently shaking her body.
"I release you" - Nailing her hand on Hanabi's chest, she Freyja introduced a pearl that was rooted in her heart. That jewel began to drain the spiritual power of Hanabi, who she could feel how her nature was changing completely until she became completely human.
That was her punishment for her disobedience, being confined to a mortal body like any other being. In the same way that Lucero suffered that punishment, with the difference that Hanabi had a whole list of enemies who wanted to settle accounts with her.
When she opened her eyes again, she saw that she was back in the morgue, feeling the pain in her body from the injuries that Freyja had caused her. She realizing in a mirror that they no longer healed instantly, letting go of a punch against the wall, breaking it completely while she lamented her fateful fate.
Returning to herself, she approached Yukino's body to speak into her ear. That would be the farewell for a good friend even if he could not answer him: "I wish that your happiness had not been taken away from you, that you had lived a little longer. It is a shame that this time I spent with you was while you were sleeping and now this farewell is You know, I made a mistake and now I've become a human with a mortal body.
As well as Lucero, a human being who can die easily. But I think that in the end is good, I will be able to enter the ouroboros and if I am lucky I will be able to meet her even if we cannot know who we are. Who knows? Perhaps by a fortuitous miracle our memories will return and we will be able to talk about you "
The sound of those words reached the subconscious of the brain of Yukino's corpse, where that being that once was Adam was imprisoned. Those words echoed in his being like the echo of the mountains. Reminding her of that detail that she overlooked: Lucero could return to the cycle of life by dying as a human.
Even though the chances of meeting again were almost nil, no matter that she did not remember him, that hope made her heart burn, releasing all her emotions. By causing brain cells that had died to be fully reactivated.
The sheet that covered Yukino's bare back began to move, giving the impression that there was weak lung activity. The morgue table, which until recently was a cold piece of metal, began to heat up, revealing a trail of vapor that began to cover it like a fine bed of mist.
"Can not be!" - Hanabi could not believe what she saw, that body that a few moments ago had no life now seemed to recover it in a violent way. Her vital signs were coming back to him until she suddenly rose from the griddle with a scream that made the basement rumble.
Opening his eyes she could contemplate his hands and the place where he was, turning her face, he met Hanabi's, who was crying with an expression of relief when she saw that Yukino had returned from the dead.
"Welcome back!" - Hugging her with all the strength, Hanabi could not contain herself in the joy of him for that moment. That single instant made all the sacrifices he had to go through worth it.
Yukino little by little raised her arms to surround Hanabi's back, reciprocating his affection, struggling to articulate a word due to the time it lasted without oxygen, she said: "Your message made me come back"
That cold mortuary room in the basement of the hospital became the warmest place that could exist in the world and at the same time, the worst place in which they could stay. But even aware of the dangers that lay ahead, Hanabi did not want to ruin that emotional meeting.