With every word that resounded from the glass cell, more questions arose in Dhein's head. He felt like the answers were just within reach.

But there was this foreboding sensation that gnawed at his heart, almost preventing him from asking them.

"Pity me," the oracle said.

"Pity me."

Dhein stepped closer after mustering his courage. His footsteps echoed louder than they should in the silent hidden chamber.

"My soul is keeping Oneirah safe? How?"

After a short pause, the oracle answered.

"She is indeed imprisoned in a realm that doesn't exist. Only something with the power that rivals the heavens like your soul is able to keep her fragments together. And that is why you gave it away. That is why you are powerless."

Dhein's eyes widened even more, he was no longer aware of the terror that was written across his face.

All the while fearing the answer, Dhein asked:

"What does the Olcourian Princess have to do with all of this?"

There was silence, as if the oracle was hesitating to answer.

She then said:

"I am not strong enough to answer that."

Dhein furrowed his eyebrows, clenching his fists on his sides.

The cell-bound oracle kept silent.

"What would it take for you to answer it?" he asked.

Even though she was nothing but an eye, Dhein could still see the unmistakable horror in the way it looked at him.

"Angelus is watching me. He is always listening. Until I am free from his gaze, there are words that I shall never speak."

"So Angelus is still alive?" Dhein asked with a growing sense of dread.

The oracle answered:

"He will never die. He will never be defeated. No one in this world is close to rivaling the intellect and power of the one who witnessed the birth of the planet itself."

"He is waiting, Dheinyrus. He is waiting for you."

"Only you can grant his eternal wish."

A single drop of sweat rolled down on Dhein's forehead. His face had gone completely pale.

He spoke.

"And what is that?"

The oracle answered.

"Death. The only thing that Angelus wants... is death."

"And now that he knows all this, he is coming. He is coming for you."

Dhein unconsciously stepped backwards as fear bit on his heart.

"Pity me, heavenly lord. When you fulfill your destiny, pity the one who lost her wings."

***

[ NORTH EAST OF OLCOURIAN CAPITAL: WIXORN VILLAGE ]

It was another peaceful day in this remote part of the empire. Unlike the other clans that governed in luxurious manors, the Wixorn village lay on a humble country side surrounded by mountains, farms and trees.

The children were playing outside in the roads without a care in the world. Honest working citizens tended to their farms and stores.

This was what it looked like to live in the era of peace. Thanks to the five governing clans, the threat that the Demon King posed had been finally quelled.

At the center of this peaceful village was the Wixorn Shrine, a humble compound of wooden structures of buildings. This was where the leaders of the Spirit Clan resided, and where the citizens went whenever they needed help about anything.

Philip had just returned to the shrine after submitting his weekly report to the office of the emperor. But as the heir to the Spirit Clan, his job never ends. Not only that, he was a father of three as well. His responsibilities sat right on top of each other, and at times, he couldn't help but have difficulties navigating them.

But that was exactly why he had to keep going. Many people relied on him, and that sense of necessity was the one driving Philip to fulfill his duty and do even beyond that.

The wooden steps creaked at Philip's weight. He entered the shrine and paid his respects to the ancient spirits before proceeding through the doorway.

Even though they had already defeated the Demon King, the empire never let their guard down. The spiritual prison that contained the foul demon was in the possession of the Wixorns, and they regularly monitored its behavior, making sure nothing was off.

It was sealed away in the most guarded part of the shrine. The spiritual levels in this area was so high that entering it without the permission of the ancient spirits would be hazardous to one's physical and spiritual self.

If any goon of the Demon King would try to steak the dark crown away, they would have to bypass the unbreakable spiritual barrier first, lest they die. There was basically no hope for the Demon King to get help and escape.

Philip descended to the underground floor in the compound where the Demon King was locked away. Upon reaching the highly guarded area, the spirit users and several imperial guards that Emperor Vedis assigned here showed him respect.

"Any irregularities?" he asked.

They stepped aside and gave way to Philip before one of them answered.

"No, Lord Wixorn. The crown showed its usual behavior today as well."

Resting on a concrete podium was an ominous onyx crown. There were spiritual beads, offered rare flowers and holy objects surrounding it, adding to the strength of the seal.

Someone like Angelus must never be released again. He should not be allowed to exist in the first place.

As Philip walked up to the podium and sat on his knees, he began to wonder if they were being paranoid. All of this wasn't enough, he still had to perform an entire ritual to make sure Angelus was really inside the spiritual prison.

He didn't doubt the reliability of the spirits, but it was better to be as careful as possible. Especially when all of the strongest clan heads nearly lost against this one being.

Philip stretched his arms out, laying his hands above the crown.

A swirling green glow connected the crown to Philip's hand. It was the spirits at work, providing Philip all the data he needed to confirm that Angelus was in fact sealed.

He had been doing this every day ever since they had defeated Angelus. And as always, he saw the Demon King helplessly suspended in the spirit realm. No matter what he did, he would not move from his spot. The space in which he floated around stretched to infinity,

This was almost a mundane routine for Philip. He would go about his day, finish his job, monitor the seal, and go play with his kids. Then, he goes to work again until dinner. But he still didn't forget the gravity of this task. It was very important that he took this seriously.

And that he did. He always studied the spirit prison with passionate intensity, ensuring that nothing truly eluded his observation.

Confirming that nothing was really wrong, Philip stood back up and turned his back on the crown.

"Good work, everyone. The next shift will arrive in thirty minutes," he said to the guardians of the seal.

They nodded at him.

As he was about to walk away, they heard a familiar voice that made everyone freeze.

"I hate those guys. Among all the guards that watch me, they were the ones that are most obnoxious!"

The Demon King could speak from inside the seal, but there was a difference in the tone in which the way his voice comes out.

This time, it didn't sound as if he was inside the spirit prison. It was like he was just in the room with them.

Filled with terror, Philip slowly turned around, internally praying that it was just his imagination. That it was not reality.

But his hopes were crushed.

Angelus was sitting on the podium, legs crossed, and a laid-back smile was spread across his corrupted, youthful face.

"I'm sorry, but I have to leave now. Urgent matters," he casually said.

Philip stepped backwards, his mouth was left agape but it was so difficult to push the words out.

He managed to utter the following:

"H—How did you..."

Angelus put his open hand next to his ear and tilted his head sideways, leaning closer as if trying to hear Philip clearer.

"What did you say?"

Philip and the guards were completely consumed by fear. After all, nothing but death reeked from the entity before them. And to make matters worse, they were locked in one room.

Philip tried his hardest to push out some words.

"But we... defeated you. How?'

A hearty laugh from the demon king filled the room.

"You believed you defeated me."

In the blink of an eye, Angelus was in his face. His hand was ready to dig into his abdomen.

An imperial soldier reacted quickly and pushed Philip away. The soldier's body got pierced by Angelus' unstoppable strength.

As the soldier's corpse fell, the Demon King said:

"I was just fucking with you. Of course I wasn't defeated."

The guards charged at the monster all at ones, screaming to Philip at the top of their lungs:

"RUN!"

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