I Guard The Book That Slays Gods

Odard and Chrono lingered behind the entrance of the circle with four comrades who bore Chrono's luggage, while Raiden let his aether cigarette rest between his lips, smoke coiling lazily from its tip. Noelle, taking her own taste of aether, held Ash's hand as they stood together, facing the group.

"As you all know, I'm practically blind now." His gaze swept over their faces.

"I have to constantly channel mana into my eyes to see anything, which means this journey is going to be much harder than we anticipated."

He rubbed his forehead as the question of how they would actually reach the Isle continued to trouble him.

"Like Chrono said, we're going to need a lot of mana to pay for the leviathan's passage and fuel our journey to Solace Isle."

Levi smirked. "You realize he's using us, right?"

Raiden shrugged. "That's all we've got." A twisted grin followed his words. "But I guarantee this bargain will work out in my favor."

Levi giggled as he noticed Leo's expression darkened while he adjusted the weightless luggage in his hands."Why bother with the Solace Isle at all if we're only going there to form a contract?"

Noelle cleared her throat. "We can't." She said, capturing their attention. "Based on what Chrono told Raiden, it's our safest route between the absolute domains—and it gives us better leverage if they choose to betray us."

Raiden nodded firmly, approving her words. "That's precisely why I need your help."

His voice grew somber. "If I drain too much mana, I won't just go blind again, and I don't want any of you witnessing what comes next."

"Alright! Leave it to me," Soul called out from where he stood apart from the group, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "I'll help."

Pride surged through Raiden suddenly, his eyes brightening. His carefully planted seeds were finally bearing fruit.

"Thank you, Soul." The relief in his voice was unmistakable.

"You're wasting time," came Odard's cold, nonchalant voice from behind them.

Raiden's face twitched with irritation as Odard's voice began wearing on him more and more. Whenever he spoke, it was as though he were addressing inferiors: no respect, no courtesy.

"Just so you know, this could be extremely dangerous," Noelle warned while Raiden was still fixated on Odard's attitude.

The others nodded in understanding while Freya sneered. "Who gave this bitch the right to speak anyway?" She walked forward, dark eyes blazing as they met Noelle's deep violet gaze.

For a tense moment, they battled with glares alone until Ash tugged Noelle's arm, breaking the standoff.

"You're not worth my time, little girl," Noelle said with a smirk, then turned and walked toward

Raiden looked between them in disbelief, wondering why they were still feuding over a duel from ages past. Then Freya extended her hand, offering him eight enchanted seals.

He was momentarily confused by her gesture, but after glancing at Soul's overwhelming aura, he understood what was happening.

He took the seals and headed toward Soul while the others moved to join Chrono's group, leaving only Speed to wait for them.

When Raiden reached Soul, the young woman beamed at him with eyes squeezed shut in joy. "I'm so happy."

Raiden smiled as he moved behind Soul and began placing the seals over the existing ones. "Is that so?"

"Yes… now I know I can actually help you," Soul said with pride. Raiden smiled and gently patted his head.

"I'm glad you're happy, Soul."

"Me too."

As soon as Raiden secured the final seal, Soul's aura compressed dramatically, now contained within a three-foot radius of his form.

"Thank you," Soul said softly. Raiden extended his hand, and Soul clasped it as they moved to rejoin the group with Speed.

But Speed's expression spoke volumes, contrasting sharply with his sister's cheerful demeanor. "Just so you know, I caught Aeris in some kind of secretive conversation with Odard last night."

Raiden's pulse quickened as he faced him. Was she already planning to betray them?

"Understand this now: if she so much as causes Soul pain, I'll end her. Then I'll come for you." Each word dropped like ice, leaving no room for doubt about his intentions.

"You forgave her for betraying us in the beginning." The pause was deliberate, calculated. "Which makes you complicit in whatever carnage follows."

His hand shot out, yanking Soul away from Raiden as they headed toward the others. Raiden stood there alone, hands covering his face.

Why betray them again? What had Chrono promised her?

He sighed, then straightened. His lie detection would cut through whatever story she'd prepared. Time to get answers.

As he approached, Chrono motioned for one of his subordinates to begin drawing a teleportation circle.

"You sure did take your time," Chrono said, leaning back slightly with a smirk.

Raiden's voice stayed level. "Is something wrong with that?"

Chrono shrugged, a thin smile playing at his lips. "Depends what you two were chatting about, buddy."

Raiden's eyes narrowed as he fixed Chrono with an unreadable stare. What were they really planning? Secrets were one thing—he could understand Chrono keeping some things hidden. But their core strategy? That was different.

While he was still processing his thoughts, he noticed a figure at the mountain's summit, waving frantically toward Dark City.

The smallish figure struck him as familiar somehow. He activated Gaze Beyond, sharpening his vision. What he saw was unexpected: someone with no mana crest or aura, but whose blue eyes blazed with excitement above a triumphant grin, a bulging sack clutched in their hands.

Raiden's expression softened into a smile as the memory clicked. Nico. The same kid who'd traded directions to the Apex circle for a simple drink of water.

Without thinking, he found himself waving back, which made Nico's grin grow even wider. Perhaps it was Raiden's way of saying goodbye to the kid who had started it all.

"Come on, Raid, let's go," Noelle called out, snapping Raiden's attention away from the mountain.

The teleportation circle was complete, and everyone stood within its boundaries waiting for Raiden. Without hesitation, he stepped inside to join them.

This was it, the start of their hunt. Obstacles would come from all sides, enemies and allies alike. His fists clenched as he hardened his resolve. Anyone who stood between him and home, between him and his brother's vengeance, was expendable.