Kitsune Base.
"Capture of 008 confirmed. For now, we're maintaining a strict lockdown. Ensure 008 remains asleep."
"Chief, as for 008's further handling, headquarters is—"
"Not interested in listening."
"Uh… I hadn't finished."
"What else would it be? Besides decoding the vampire's genetic research on immortality, I can't imagine any other orders."
"Right. But what about you?"
Zero turned his head. "No one is to touch 008. Let me be clear: as long as I don't authorize it, any research or contact related to 008 is forbidden."
"Are you thinking of destroying 008? The superiors won't take kindly—"
"All I'll say is, I won't let the Kitsune, or even humanity, repeat the same mistakes."
"As for how I will ultimately deal with 008, that's a matter for me alone to consider."
"This thorn is stuck in my throat. The power lies solely in my hands. If anyone dares object, I will silence them."
Zero turned and left the chamber where 008 was held, retreating to a room accessible only to him.
The room had no monitoring systems. Only he had permission to enter, and not a single light broke the utter darkness. Zero stood before the pitch black, taking out a cigarette and lighting it slowly.
"008 has been captured. You doubted I could manage it, but I did."
"This wasn't by chance. And it won't stop here. One day, I'll eliminate you all."
A mocking laugh echoed from the shadows. "Is that so? But you're a monster yourself. You want to wipe everything out—maybe you should start with yourself."
Zero exhaled a cloud of smoke. "Perhaps. But no one will ever know this secret."
"About Death… about me… this secret will stay buried in shadows. Even if peace comes, no one will know."
The laughter deepened, more chilling than before. "Ha ha, such grim irony. Someone who claims righteousness using the vilest of methods to pursue justice. You become a monster, hiding your secrets for mankind's sake."
"What difference is there between you and us?"
Zero gazed into the darkness. "Humans can't survive on ignorance and fear. Ignorance is their only happiness."
"If humans knew Death existed, what could they do but worry about their mortality? They're powerless against it."
"So, I don't need to wonder what foolish things humans would do."
"It's better for them to live in ignorance and fear than to live in terror of something beyond understanding. Ignorance is bliss."
Two eyes glowed faintly from the darkness.
"You think yourself noble, but to me, you're pitiful. Why do you alone deserve the truth?"
"Do common people not crave it? Do they not have the right to know?"
"The Lord is selfless, merciful. He would grant all beings a chance to evolve, yet you would keep grace for yourself. You claim this is for humanity, but it's simply selfishness."
Zero nodded. "You're right. But I won't debate with you about good and evil, methods or philosophy. I'm not looking through any single lens."
"I'm seeing this from the collective viewpoint of humanity itself."
"And I came here today to ask you something."
"This 'other world'—how much do you know?"
A flicker of hesitation came from the being in the dark. "Another world? Do you mean a parallel world?"
"What about the Six Great Heavenly Chapters?"
"Never heard of it."
Zero's eyes narrowed. Another world, a vibrant, magical realm, was what he glimpsed through his abilities. In that world, from the mouths of the strongest, he had heard:
"The Six Great Heavenly Chapters created the universe and all things. Originally, they were sealed in the Palace of the Universe: Evolution, Future, Space, Balance, Destruction, Entropy. All held within, until the palace itself shattered, scattering the Chapters across countless worlds."
"In the billions of parallel worlds, even a lifetime isn't enough to discover where these Six Heavenly Chapters have fallen."
"But perhaps, that's not necessarily a bad thing."
"And who did you say told you this?"
"My great-grandfather, naturally."
"And your great-grandfather heard it from...?"
"Why, from his own great-grandfather, I imagine."
"I'm not here to trick a child. Who knows how many generations this tale has been passed down. Maybe, from the very birth of the universe, my ancestors have whispered this truth."
"And the reason behind it? Who knows?"
...
In the crack space.
Mei, having finished recording details of the angel and True Ancestor, was busy collecting remnants of the great serpent.
"Today, just another day of trash."
She turned her head and noticed a diary and vase on the table. Strange. She hadn't yet examined these objects' traits closely.
Picking up a magnifying glass, Mei focused on the vase and the Future Diary. Oddly, the magnifying glass only revealed a string of words, refusing to clarify their unique properties.
"The Six Great Heavenly Chapters, The Warmth of Scorn, The Book of the Future…"
Could these two items share the same origin?
Mei's fingers drummed on the table. "Maybe I should bring that fat boy over to ask a few things?"
No, that felt unnecessary.
It was like when she'd first picked up the vase—an ordinary moment, seemingly insignificant. Likely, the boy had simply bought a random diary, clueless about the powers it held.