Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Recollection

"Huff, huff. I congratulate you, Oh chosen one. You surpassed your limits, going further than anything I could expect. But this power you gained it by sacrificing your very being. Your soul, body, mana and even your own life force, you lit them up, turning them into a furnace capable of harming even myself. As you've killed a God, you should be prepared for the trials ahead. I promise you that what occurred here shall change your very fate. You've gained the Authority of a Deity, so peer into the abyss and survive the calamity." Said Lucius as he approached Ace slowly turning into dust, fading away and dying.

"Where am I? What happened? I can't remember. Who am I?" said Ace as he seemed to dive in a deep ocean within his own mind. "Witness the past with your own eyes. I am curious to see what fate has in store for you." Echoed remnants of Lucius's voice. "Let the..." said faint voices in the distance. "Who are talking? Where are they? Hmmm? What is that light?" said Ace he heard the voices and light appeared before him as he tried to grab it.

"Lucius why are you so infatuated with humans?" said a mysterious man with a divine presence, "Don't you think they are an intriguing race. They revere us while still not knowing if we exist or not. I just find it so very amusing that I can't stop myself." Said Lucius as he harbored a grin on his face. "I will never be able to comprehend your thinking. We are superior beings who have no need for the humans." Said the mysterious god. "Well I am a defective god unlike the rest of you." Said Lucius.

"Well I'll be going back." Said the mysterious god. "Well you are hypocrites after all. I'm more curious of knowing if there is a human capable of achieving divinity. I know full well that you guys have only one thing you all think about. And that is to become the Unique God who reigns supreme over the others. If that's case, I don't see why I couldn't become one. After all the Gods shall go to war soon." Said Lucius after his visitor left.

"Unfortunately we are already done for. After all <> has awakened and there is no escape from its grasp. It shall devour all things within its darkness and there is nothing to stop it. Unless there is a way to conquer it. And if there is I'll seize it and become the Unique God of this world. To achieve this I shall need to go beyond the Divine no matter the cost." He added.

"With that conclusion in mind I committed a taboo. I, Vartos Lucius Drankein killed another god and stole his divine essence. With it I created the Demon Artifacts series which beared The Sinful Heart, a corrupted force with incredible power of that which has never been before. Due to that I was chased out of the Heavenly Realm exiled in the Mortal Realm and my powers castrasized. Thankfully I had linked them to the artifacts which became temporary storage for them." Said Lucius to a white silhouette.

"All that was needed was a vessel which would absorb the powers of the Artifacts and my own Divine Essence that was The Singularity. And it was you who was to become the vessel but it seems that I underestimated the willpower of you humans. Well it's too late for me I'm no more than a simple ghost of the past. Will you be able to stop Yggdrasil? I look forward to seeing what you accomplish, Ace Blakelord." Said Lucius as he disappeared for good.

"Ace,Ace,Ace" said faint voices, "Who is that? And Who is Ace?" he said as he slowly regained consciousness. "Ah! He's waking up." Said Isabella. "Nngh." Exclaimed Ace as he woke up. "Where am I?" he said as he opened his eyes. "You're home son. What happened to you? When the village guard was patrolling he found you covered in injuries and blood. We were worried sick but thankfully you were still breathing. You were asleep for two weeks straight." Said Chris.

"Um excuse me but who are you people and who is this Ace you keep talking about?" he asked as they were taken with surprise with what the young boy said. "Wha-what do you mean by that?" asked Ellie. "Well, except a weird dream and the moment I woke up, I don't remember who I am or where I come from. The only thing I remember are two things <> and <> . Anything beyond, I don't remember." Said Ace who was suffering from the consequences of using Arcana Zero but unfortunately memories were not only the ones lost.