Arc 2, Interlude

Sarandel, the goddess of Aetheria, was in her room located in the divine realm. A mixture of emotions washed over her as she felt one of her Chosen passing away. Sadness gripped her divine heart, for each Chosen held a special place in her divine plan, and their loss weighed heavily on her immortal soul.

But amidst the sorrow, a subtle undercurrent of relief tugged at her emotions. The thing that should not exist, an anomaly that defied the laws of existence, had inexplicably vanished from her divine sight. Concealing itself with unparalleled mastery over its extraordinary abilities, this enigmatic entity had slipped beyond the grasp of even a goddess's divine perception.

The very thought of its elusiveness troubled Sarandel, yet there was also a glimmer of contentment in her heart. She couldn't help but feel a certain degree of relief that the being was no longer present to challenge the natural order of her realm. The coexistence of conflicting emotions made her divine thoughts a complex labyrinth of feelings.

To her knowledge, none of the others were aware of the existence of the enigmatic being that should not be. She hoped fervently that it would remain that way, hidden in the shadowy recesses of existence, and that it would never return to disturb the delicate balance she maintained.

As for her Chosen, Takeshi Genji, a hint of regret tinged her thoughts. She wished she could have protected him more, perhaps even spared him the gift that destiny had bestowed upon him. But her divine powers only allowed her to give, and she could not undo what fate had woven into the tapestry of his life.

Yet, an unsettling feeling gnawed at her divine intuition. Something was amiss with Genji's soul. Normally, upon death, a Chosen's soul would either return to her or be set free, but now she could no longer sense it. It was as if his soul had been destroyed?

She pondered the perplexing mystery surrounding Genji's soul. Only a select few individuals knew about the Soul Destruction spell, and even fewer possessed the knowledge of how to utilize it. The fact that it was employed on Genji didn't make any sense, especially considering he was in Ironhelm, a city where magic was strictly outlawed. How could such a spell be cast within those confines?

Curiosity and concern gnawed at her, compelling her to take a closer look. With her divine eyes, she peered into the heart of Ironhelm, hoping to uncover any hidden truths and shed light on the enigma surrounding Genji's fate.

As soon as she looked into the city, she felt an emotion that she thought she would never experience again take hold of her. She immediately stopped using her divine eyes as she saw something in complete opposition to the divine – someone that made most gods and goddesses feel fear: The Demon Lord Ercale. Her heart pounded with trepidation, and a sense of overwhelming malevolence emanated from him.

She hoped that he hadn't noticed her probing gaze, as drawing his attention would be disastrous. If Ercale spotted her, there would be little, if anything, she could do to protect herself.

But how could he be back? From what she knew, Winter had killed him 500 years ago. There was no possible explanation for Ercale's return, especially in a new body. She had witnessed Winter's reaction after the supposed death, so there was no way Ercale should be alive. Whose body was he occupying? The sensation of two souls within one body perplexed her, adding another layer of mystery to this puzzling situation.

Could he be the reason Genji's soul was destroyed? Ercale would undoubtedly possess enough magical power to accomplish such a feat. From her knowledge, Ercale was one of the strongest Demon Lords to have ever existed. 500 years ago, he had rampaged through her world, leaving devastation in his wake. And now, inexplicably, he was back. But why? What could possibly drive him to return after all this time? Was his hatred for her so immense that he would still seek ways to harm her even now, after centuries had passed?

Now her thoughts turned to him, wondering what would happen if he were to find out about Ercale's return. The consequences for the divine realm could be catastrophic. This burden was no longer hers alone to bear. As much as she wanted to prove herself to her beloved, she knew that she couldn't face this threat alone. After everything that had transpired, she had to acknowledge that she needed help from the others. Without their cooperation, her entire plan could be shattered.

With a heavy heart and a reluctant resolve, she acknowledged that seeking help from the others was her only option. Despite her deep reluctance, she knew she had no other choice. After casting one last glance around her divine abode, she left the realm and ventured towards the others, hoping they would understand the gravity of the situation and offer their assistance in facing Ercale.