V1C29

"Not change... But to know of my current Past" Gremory answered Matteo's question, she waved her hand as the two of them were taken to a land with skies dyed in the colour of blood. The blood as black as the void, underneath it was unfertile lands filled with Millions of troops wearing crude armours. Only the few who stood at the back wore well-decorated armour. "It has been a while we engaged a war together haven't we, Duchess Gremory" a Handsome young man with straight blonde hair reaching his back, wearing black plated armour over his crimson robes.

The familiar crimson hair lady stood next to him as the two of them watch over their combined forces about to face an imminent threat approaching their territories. "It has Duke Agares... But do tell me why would you agree to my proposal to seal Solomon?" Gremory spoke as she gently caresses the golden crown attached around her waist, she used her powers to guide her future but there was a drawback to this power, she could only see her own future which meant she never understood the reason Agares agreed to her mad proposal.

"That man who keeps hiding somewhere driven Solomon mad with false rumours, even if we don't want to. We will have to face him eventually, since he did announce our death sentence. Good thing for us, all of the Seventy-two pillars are not joining his side which gives us an edge, but the lesser Key in Solomon's hand makes him nearly invincible if we face him" Duke Agares answered her question, although it was the truth. Gremory still felt he had an agenda of his own, otherwise, he would not have reached the height of Duke despite his lack of power compared to the other seventy-two pillars.

"Has anyone else agreed to join our cause?" Duchess Gremory asked while her eyes swept over the number of soldiers, "We managed to have a few agree to join our fight, Marquis Phenex has already sent his reinforcements. Marbas agreed to hit Solomon's supply lines, Valefar took his legion of thieves to rob his castle. As for Buer, we are lucky that crazy alchemist agreed to supply us with herbs and healing support or we would not be able to handle this war" Duke Agares answered Gremory with a wry smile,

In front of them over the horizon, they could see shadows of darkness were slowly rising step by step, forming a perfect line till they reached close enough to see columns of soldiers moving in a singular formation. "They have arrived" Duke Agares announced, but the vision Gremory has shown Matteo stopped there and they were once again in the chamber where the "Last Trial" would have taken place.

"So what is it that you wish to show me?" Matteo asked, this vision was too short and did not give much information except for the fact Solomon turned against the Seventy-two pillars because of a third party that fed him with information that was false according to the opposite party. "This is but a part of my past boy, as you can see an entity much higher than us manipulated Solomon. Turning him against us" Gremory spoke as she stops right in front of the withering tree, "The war we fought cost us greatly, at the last moment where we would have won against Solomon... The other pillars who did not get involved at the start, suddenly became proactive..."

Gremory turned towards Matteo, "The same thing is about to happen... Under the guidance of this third party, they intend to awaken Solomon because they mistook his existence for some kind of hero" Matteo's brows furrowed and his face became serious while he listening to Gremory who continued, "The reason my future self probably came in contact with you is that... If they managed to awaken Solomon, the seventy-two pillars will all come down unlike the usual period it takes for heretic gods to appear. If Solomon comes down, he will use his divinity to summon the rest of us"

"And you want me to stop it?" Matteo spoke, he could more or less piece the story together. Gremory smiled as she nodded her head, "Yes, I want you to prevent them from Summoning him... You can imagine the amount of blood is being spilt if Solomon is successfully summoned" Gremory took a deep breath, "For you to to complete the second trial... That is to kill the Great Demon King before he destroys me. Just so that you know two others have passed by, one of them is exactly your target... Good Luck... Matteo"

Suddenly the surrounding warped, Matteo felt his stomach was turning as the surroundings turned into a Botany Garden with a tea house in front of him. The tea house was built from white wood decorated in ancient patterns, and inside sat the Red-Haired Woman. Opposite her stood a man wearing silver-plated armour, he appears to be in his mid-thirties with a light brown skin handsome face, black curly hair and a short trimmed beard.

"You should have agreed to join us Gremory, why would you stand against us" Emperor Kanishka muttered as he looked at Gremory with regret in his eyes which betrayed his lust he held towards her body, "I never imagined that you a Demon King who slaughters Gods would attempt to summon Solomon of all choices... Why?" Gremory asked as she pours herself some tea, Emperor Kanishka smirked "So I can have his Authority"

"You cannot lie to me Emperor Kanishka, You should know better than anyone else since you came here knowing who and what I am" Gremory muttered while taking a sip of her tea, "Hmph! What should I say since you already know the answer huh? Ever since the Clavicula Salomonis Regis Cult was decimated we had to hide within varies religions, we planned to revive Lemegeton in order to summon Solomon. For that, the pillars like you are required"

Hearing what Emperor Kanishka said, Matteo came to realize he was up against a Demonic Cult. "I am afraid that you will fail today" Gremory spoke as her eyes locked onto Matteo's, he could see a trace of mischievousness as she smiled causing Emperor Kanishka to feel disgusted, "We already managed to kill three of your kind so far, are you certain you want to take this path?" Emperor Kanishka asked Gremory who smiled at him, "Yes"

That one word was enough to seal the direction things were heading, Aika tugged on Matteo's hand as he felt a wave of warm energy pulse streaming throughout his body. "Master, I have restored your authorities" Aika muttered but her smile was somewhat sad, Matteo could guess the cost in doing so depleted her personal energy which allowed her to sustain her current form. "Master, will you call me out in the future?" Aika asked as she glances at Matteo with a bit of hope lingering within her eyes.

"I will" Matteo answered her while he caresses her hair causing Aika to closer her eyes in delight as she burst into particles entering his body, 'But I have to answer my father's suspicions as he will definitely be bothered about this' Matteo thought with a wry smile, when his focus turned to Gremory and Emperor Kanishka he realized that the Emperor already slashing down on her. Matteo clicked his tongue as several green coloured magic circles materialized in front of Gremory "Time Reflection"

When the sword made contact with the magic circle, Emperor Kanishka was not ready to face his full power attack which was redirected at him. Time Reflection was a fast rewind in time, this cause the attack to move backwards like now but it was coupled with Emperor Kanishka's strength along with Matteo's reflect. The power behind this attack was enough for the sword to slash Emperor Kanishka's head in half, the blood splattered all over the place and even some landed on Gremory's clothes although she did not appear to be the least bit bothered about it.

"You passed the trial" Gremory spoke as she places down the cup of tea, "I guess you have gotten the answers you had from my past self?" She continued as she turns to glance at Matteo, "Since I have passed the trial what is the reward?" Matteo asked out of curiosity since it was a norm that most trials would have a reward, "You sure are hasty, although the time you can spend in this time axis is coming to an end. I have blessed one of your girls who have talent in using Spirit Vision, what changes physically or magically it will bring will be left as a surprise"

"What about you?" Matteo asked, "I have already been killed by a Campione of this time but not in the hands of Emperor Kanishka, so even if you strike me down now it will bring you no benefit" Gremory answered, although she knew Matteo would not attack her since he was not certain if he would be locked in this time axis if he were to kill her. Slowly his body began to turn transparent from feet up, "Remember Matteo, the Demonic Cult wishes to resurrect Solomon. You must stop it if you truly love those two girls"

Matteo nodded before his vision went black for an instant before he found himself back at the entrance of Melikawat, the strange barrier no longer surrounded the area and disperse as if it had completed it's long objective at last. 'Demonic Cult that wants to resurrect Solomon from many years ago? It will take me a long time to investigate them' Matteo thought as he chanted the incantation to bring out his spellbook before he teleports back to the hotel.

>\/<

Entering his room booked in the hotel, "I'm back?" Matteo tilts his head when he noticed that Luo Hao was talking quite relaxedly with Erica and Liliana, hearing Matteo's voice the three girl turn to look at him with confused faces. "Matty, did you not leave for Melikwat Ruins?" Erica asked Matteo, he nodded as he took his seat between Erica and Liliana. "Yes, I have been gone for a long time," Matteo answered Erica's question as he felt something was strange until he remembered he was in a different timeline.

Matteo began to explain his trip and his meeting with Gremory along with her words, the two girls were quite shocked while Luo had a gaze of envy as she would have loved to visit the Han China period. "So did you kill her?" Erica asked, "No, she said she was already killed. But then again she might have been abruptly summoned again to attack the facility that tried to create Artificial Campione's." Hearing Matteo's words Luo shook her head, "Ye should just crush your enemies instead of trying to figure out what they want, all plans are futile in the face of absolute strength"

Matteo smiled wryly as he expected such an answer from Luo, "So for now, our mission is complete. We can go home in a few days" Matteo spoke to Erica and Liliana, "Ye will have to take this Mistress as well" Hearing Luo's words Matteo froze momentarily before glancing at Liliana who blushed and Erica who snickered. "Why mistress?" Matteo asked, "This is an agreement between me and the two girls" Matteo almost smacked his lips thinking that Erica would turn things around for him, when he turned to look at her, his answer was a mischevious smile.