Endside (Part 2)

I walked in, trying not to touch those objects even though I really wanted to. But I won't repeat the same mistakes as I did in the Underworld.

Moreover, the owner of this place surely has something far more impressive than an electric Crossbow. I don't want to end up with my head suddenly in a jar and become a living display.

I created a distraction by wearing headphones and playing music to divert my attention from all the objects here.

But as my gaze met a simple silver bracelet with no decorations, I don't know why, but I strongly felt the urge to take it. The bracelet floated above the altar, rotating slowly, as if inviting me to keep it.

We continued walking, and as soon as we were close enough, I quickly took it and kept the bracelet in my long pants pocket. Then I shook my head again to follow the rhythm of the music.

Just like that. It was so easy and harmless.

I thought I would experience something much worse. Turns out, I was a bit paranoid-

Suddenly, I found myself in a completely white room with no furniture at all. It was as if I had entered a different world, a world that was...

Empty?

I don't know how to explain it, but this place made me feel uncomfortable.

Rayven stopped walking. In front of him, there was an old woman in a shimmering purple robe, carefully observing a crystal ball.

"This is where we are, the best place in Endside when you need something a little out of the ordinary. Like healing from dark magic," he said, extending his hand as if he were a tour guide.

They stopped walking and looked at large wooden shelves filled with various peculiar objects that were so inviting to touch. It took a lot of effort to resist the temptation.

"Um, where is Zent?" Rayven asked, confused.

They turned back, surprised to find the white-haired man had disappeared just like that.

Celine was about to step into the previous room, looking for Zent, but was stopped by an old woman in front.

"He is here," the woman said.

"W-what do you mean?" Celine asked cautiously.

The old woman raised her crystal ball, showing the figure of Zent dancing in a vast white room, as far as the eye could see. He seemed completely unconcerned about his situation, even smiling happily as he moved his body to the rhythm of the music.

"Your friend is... quite intriguing," the old woman remarked.

Celine approached, asking, "Why is he there? What have you done to him?"

"Calm down, Your Highness. He's perfectly fine. Can't you see he's dancing?" the old woman grinned. "But I had to do it because he took something. If he hadn't done that, I wouldn't have imprisoned him in that world of torment."

"WHAT!?"

The others were taken aback as they saw Celine slamming the table and had to be restrained by Rio to prevent her from doing something far worse.

Celine would always lose control when it came to Zent.

"Indeed, a world of torment," the old woman repeated. Only she remained unfazed. "Normally, someone would suffer in a white empty room, where you can't do anything and have no idea how much time has passed. Some can endure it, but not for long.

But he...

He's different. I can't feel any fear from him. In fact, I can't feel anything. He's truly intriguing."

"Release him."

"I can't do that."

"Why!?"

The old woman sighed, shaking her head. "You need to keep your heart from anger, Your Highness. Alfcity could end up much worse if you continue like this."

Slowly, they turned their attention back to the crystal ball, listening to the music from within and finding Zent already on a stage with large subwoofers on each side.

The fog machine was running, filling the stage floor illuminated by laser beams of various colors. Moving spotlights followed the rhythm and the powerful bass, causing the table of the old woman to vibrate.

"How is this possible? Our world and that world are so far apart. It would take an incredibly immense power to do this," the old woman said in disbelief, questioning her own sight and hearing.

"He possesses Glory. Anything can happen in there," Rio replied and was then elbowed by Rayven.

"Impossible. Glory could never be stronger than magic. What he's doing now is much more powerful than any magic," the woman turned to them, her once friendly face now stern. "Rayven! Who are they!?"

He quickly raised his hand to show that they had no ill intentions. "Calm down, Mary. We came here because we need your help."

"You never said you knew someone as powerful as him."

"We just met him too, Mary. Three months ago, he arrived in this world, helped us save the kingdom, and then he disappeared. We only met him a few hours ago," Rayven explained gently, trying to calm her down.

Mary took a deep breath, returning to her usual self. "I apologize for my earlier behavior. Someone caused trouble not long ago, and I'm still haunted by it. So, you mean that the man is someone who didn't possess any power before but now has it and it's much greater than anyone else's?"

Rayven nodded.

Before Mary could say anything, Rio spoke up, "Wait, are you saying that Zent's power is much greater than both Angel and Demon?" She asked curiously.

Mary glanced at the crystal ball, observing the white-haired man who was enjoying life. A smile formed, a smile hidden from all of them and quickly erased by Mary. "Yes. He is far stronger than them."

Rio's eyes sparkled upon hearing this.

"It seems I still need to study Glory further. That cube contains a great secret that nobody else knows except for all of you," Mary turned to face them again. "But I'm worried that if this news gets to others, Alterra could fall into great chaos."

Mary took another deep breath, imagining what could happen in the future if the Natural found out. Not to mention the GH and the Heretics. A large war could erupt solely due to the Glory hunt.

"May I know how much Glory you all possess?" she asked.

They exchanged glances, unsure whether to tell her or not. They looked to Rayven for a decision, as he was the only one who knew this old woman named Mary.

Rayven was also worried. Not because he feared Mary would leak the information, but because he was concerned that something bad might happen to Mary.

"Alright..."

He sighed, preparing himself for his decision.

"We have four," he said.

Mary's eyes widened.

She never expected that the people in front of her would possess four Glory, while others were risking their lives in battles to obtain them. "In other words, there are only six more Glory left..."

Mary thought for a moment. "Why you all gathering the Glory?"

The question surprised them, making Celine wary of the figure in front of them.

However, Rayven shook his head, asking her to calm down first. "We can't tell you unless he gives us permission. He is our leader," he replied, looking at the colorful crystal ball illuminated by spotlights.

Mary looked back at the ball, observing the man who was still dancing without caring about his current state. "He's your leader?" she asked in disbelief. "I know he's eccentric. But making him a leader?"

"He's much more suitable than all of us. Although now..." Rayven couldn't continue his words, seeing Zent, who was completely in the trance by music.

But, there's no denying that the music was excellent, and it had made his fingers tapping his thigh since the beginning. If it weren't for being in front of Mary, he would have danced like crazy, just like Zent.

"By making him the leader, you also entrust your lives to him, right?" Mary asked, ensuring they didn't make the wrong decision.

"Oh, believe me. We've done crazy things and should have been dead. Somehow, we're still alive," Sheila proudly replied, then grinned widely as she looked at the figure inside the crystal ball. "Perhaps, you can call it his... 'gift?'"

Mary looked at the man again.

This time, she didn't hide her smile. "You will have such an intriguing life with him."