The place was Capital city Kazakel, within a laboratory with a single window allowing a few rays of light inside.

Night was on the verge of falling, the sun already beginning to dip below the horizon.

"Your toys were useless in the end… but you don't seem disappointed?" asked Beliel, his hands behind his back, adopting an authoritative posture.

The demon in front of him lifted his head and smiled. He wore a crown atop his head, and from it fell a long river of dark hair. "Disappointed?" he exclaimed. "The experiment was a success! Words and Skills, simultaneously, this is revolutionary!"

Beliel took a few steps toward the entrance of a certain room. "Hm…When can you make one that isn't completely useless?" he asked.

Beliel was clearly impatient, but he did his utmost not to let it show.

"Well… I do have a new prototype here, better than these pale imitations, but I can't simply send it to die now, can I? That would be a waste."

Beliel glanced back over his shoulder. "What are you saying?"

The demon shrugged. "I'm saying you'll have to wait until I have something more concrete."

Faster than the demon could follow with his eyes, Beliel grabbed his throat, and he squeezed hard.

"You've spent too much time hunting humans…" The demon said, smiling.

Demons did not need to breathe, and it was difficult for them to feel pain, so choking was perhaps the single worst attack on them.

Beliel squeezed harder. "Invade."

Dark energy began seeping into the demon who wore a crown, and the latter let out a strained laugh.

"As impulsive as ever…" He said with difficulty, then shrugged. "Sure, kill me now, but your mission from Lord Kazakel still stands. One way or another, you will have to kill the King of Fools… but if you mobilize demons to do it, he will know, and if you fail, he will know too."

He continued speaking as Beliel's energy burrowed deeper into him. "Of course, you could go yourself… ensure victory, or die trying… but you're too much of a coward for that. That's why you need me… and you especially need these 'toys' of mine…"

Beliel squeezed even harder this time, but then he clicked his tongue, and flung the demon away. "One day these provocations of yours will cost you your life."

The golden sigil on the demon's head pulsed wildly, and he healed himself, stretching as he stood back up. "Sure~ but for now, I live." he then bowed mockingly. "I will work as fast as possible, Lord Beliel, please await my good news."

Beliel threw him a scornful gaze, then glanced at what lay beyond the door, sensing its energy, and finally walked out of the laboratory, his fist clenched. "For now, you are useful, but when you are not, do not expect to die easily." he said as he walked through the exit

"One day…soon, very soon." he muttered under his breath.

—

Two months after the first excursion into the Dead Zone.

"That's all for today." Verity shouted, ending the sparring session with his students.

He planted his spear into the ground and leaned against it. "You've gotten a bit better, but you all still have a long way to go."

He performed slow motions with his arms, as though he was holding an imaginary spear. "The point of these training sessions, as I've told you many times, is for you to understand that flashy, large attacks are… cool… but not always necessary."

He swung. "When you're out there, fighting hordes of monsters, or even demons, you need to be able to kill with the least effort possible. That's why the basics are important."

"Why waste sword Aura if the enemy can be killed without it? Why fry your brain with a big spell if your opponent will die with just a single Wind Blade?"

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Arthur sheathed his sword. "I understand the concept…. But if I can kill my enemy faster with a powerful attack, why not just do that? Extended fights also consume energy unnecessarily."

Verity swung again. "That is true, but how would you know that? You're not at a level where you can gauge your opponent's strength accurately. What would happen if you exhausted yourself by using your strongest attack and your enemy survived…. ? Or when an even stronger opponent follows suit?" Verity swung again, this time his pretend spear pointed at Arthur's neck. "You'll quickly realize that most battles out there are a marathon, not a race. You should never open with your trump card."

Verity then pointed out their flaws before ending the session, and gave them homework

"Arthur, your mastery over your Aura has gotten better, but you need to master fighting without it. It won't always be available when you need it. Go to the training grounds and spar against Aura users without using yours. That'll be a good challenge for your skill level."

He turned to Mavis. "Your use of utility spells is impressive, and extremely disorienting. You fight well. However, I'm not sure what it is, but you seem afraid to use offensive spells. Practice that in the training grounds."

He pointed to Igor. "Your issue is quite the opposite. Your tactical mind is impressive, really, but... Your skill, [Rally], I've seen all its variations, and for some reason, you are obsessed with offensive buffs. When your team is struggling, a defensive buff can make a whole world of difference. Your homework is to research the skill, and be more flexible in the way you use it."

It was now Fabio's turn, who smiled when he sensed the attention on him. "You are… annoying, I'll give you that, but also too obvious. You only aim for vitals, which makes you predictable, and you only use your invisible arrows when I'm in a pinch, which makes it even more predictable. Vary your attacks, and… use your other skills. Remember, you're a hunter, not an archer."

And finally Apatia. "Your basics are the best here, without a doubt, but you don't trust your skills. You consistently take on a supporting role in any offensive play, allowing Arthur, or sometimes Fabio, to go for the kill… build up your confidence. Enter dungeons, the Arenas. Fight and win."

He clapped his hands. "That's all… I'll see you all next week… maybe."

After the students left, Verity looked down at his phone.

Yes, he had a phone.

Anna

3 weeks ago

[Hey! It's been a while.]

[We should do something! I know this really nice sushi restaurant near the Liberator's Plaza!]

Last week

[You haven't forgotten about me, have you lol?]

Yesterday

[Did I do something wrong?]

Verity pinched the bridge of his nose. He'd completely forgotten about her due the added workload of training the Nexia students.

'What should I say?' He wondered.

He wasn't against the idea of seeing her.

Her intentions weren't pure, but Verity did not mind that. He was aware that she was only interested in him to get closer to the King of Fools… not knowing she was speaking directly to him.

Still, was there any point in seeing her at this stage?

He'd already ascertained that she hadn't made any progress in the past few months, and that she likely wouldn't make any even if he stopped confusing her and leading her astray.

Verity weighed his options carefully.

He then took hold of his cellular device and typed.

Anna

Yesterday

[Did I do something wrong?]

Today

[I was busy, sorry.]

[How does tomorrow afternoon sound?]

Anna is typing….

'Woah, that was fast…' Verity thought.

[Yes, that's fine with me!]

[Are you okay with sushi?]

[The popular one near the Plaza! Can't miss it!]

[Sure, let's do that.]

[Great! I'll make reservations for 8 p.m!]

[See you then.]

[Yes! I'm excited! ;)]

Perhaps Verity would have felt guilty about behaving like this… if Haneul had actually been interested in him.

But she wasn't, so he didn't.

He stuffed his phone back in his pocket, took hold of his spear, and he sat down.

He closed his eyes, and he fully entered his mental world, or what it had become after Muriel had given him the enigmatic skill, [Beyond the skies].

He sighed, holding the obsidian dark spear within his mental world.

The pristine white wall was now rugged, uneven, and unsightly.

Of course, it was nothing like Muriel's had been, but anyone looking at Verity's might not be able to guess this wall once was smooth and without a blemish.

No matter the time of day or night, no matter what else he was engaged in, Verity was always striking this wall. Relentlessly, restlessly, he had struck this wall for four years.

He approached the wall, and he pressed his hand against it, as hard as he could. It wouldn't budge no matter how much pressure he applied.

He then lowered his stance, and thrust his spear. A new spear mark had now appeared on the wall.

Verity looked behind him.

In this mental world of his, there was nothing, there had been nothing. For as far as they eye could see, it was a pure white world with nothing in sight.

Now, there was a wall in front him that refused to fall, no matter how much Verity unleashed his wrath on it.

He recalled what he'd told Muriel all those years ago.

Then…. Why don't you just walk the other way? Walk until you can't see the wall anymore! Why do you have to go through it!?

Ironic.

Now it was Verity who refused to walk away, yearning to see the other side of this wall.

No… not yearning.

Verity wasn't sure why he wanted to see the other side. After all this time, Verity felt a faint sense of what might lie beyond, and he didn't feel it would necessarily make him stronger.

Greater strength was all he cared for now, and yet, despite this feeling… he still wanted to know.

It was strange.

Within, Verity took his stance, and he swung his spear.

Again, and again, and again, and again…

He opened his eyes, and exited the training room.

Night had fallen.

Someone was there, waiting for him. Their figure illuminated by the faint glow of moonlight.

There was only one person who'd come find him here.

"Felicia."

She smiled.

"Verity."

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