Pushed back three steps. Blood painted the ship deck as I glared at Alosrin, poised for another strike. One step forward, he dashed and thrusted his Rapier towards my neck. Pain hammered my core, pushing me to react, but I dared not show weakness.

Observing his step, his off-hand grip, the slightly uplifted smile, and the contractions of his muscles, I took a step forward. Meeting him head-on with Ren Shii in my heart, Noctem hissed like a cornered snake and rushed upwards.

"Enough!" A dreadful voice resounded, pushing both of us back a dozen paces.

I coughed up a mouthful of blood and growled, falling to one knee as the pain turned to a numbing sensation.

"I can't believe it, Mephisto. You are really training him." The voice of Zariel said as I looked up, unable to see his features clearly. I had lost too much blood. Not to mention my soul had taken a beating.

Struggling to rise, Zariel approached, jerking me to my feet. "You just love getting your ass kicked, don't you." He said with a small smile.

"What are you doing here?" I softly asked, drawing Abyss to mend my wounds. At first, calling upon my attunement was as difficult and painful as a battering ram to the balls, but now.. Now it felt like nothing. Like it was a part of me. I could attune myself as long as I wanted to the darkness or the Abyss. Indefinitely.

"I called him," Mephisto said, with the same hoe-ish smile I dreaded. That bastard was planning something. I've fought hundreds of demons, devils, crossbreeds, and more. At this point, nothing could surprise me! I was as seasoned in battle as god damn Asmodeus.

"For?"

"What? You don't want to see your little bro?" My brother joked and glanced at Mephisto, next to a snow-white fairy.

Her eyes, complexion, brow, and clothing were as white as snow. It felt as if she was outside the domain of everything. As if she exuded a noble bearing that seemed to devour life and death within her presence.

"Eh? Is.. Is this our sister? Her real form?" I couldn't help asked, noting she kind of looked like Zariel. Even the clothing matched. Was this Zhu?

"Her? I've never seen her before." Zariel admitted shooting an indifferent glance her way. "Although she does look familiar. Mh. I don't care. You figure it out."

"Nice to see you not giving a fuck."historical

"One hundred percent. Now then. You two close your eyes and seal your senses." Zariel coldly demanded, glaring at Mephisto and the stranger."

"I have a name."

"And why don't we take a poll to see how much fucks I give? It's zero."

Jesus.. And they say I have no chill.

"Might I ask why?"

"You ask for my help. And honestly, despite everything, Mephisto.. you are the only Fallen/Angel I trust. Not fully, but unlike the others. You don't have a killer instinct."

"Excuse me?' Mephisto frown.

"Am I wrong? I have never seen you take the life of anyone you have bonded to. Even the Father said you are lacking in this regard. Although I'm sure you could.. If you had the right initiative."

"I killed Michael."

'And brought him back." Zariel replied, uplifting his lips. He stared. "You're a real monster. That will break a man before killing him. For you, it's never about death. It's always been about control."

Mephisto paused, the frustration over his face dissipating as he pondered what Zariel had said. He nodded. "I never thought about that. It is a fair assessment. But why bring it up."

"I consider you a friend.. a friend adjacent? A frenemy. Is that a word? No. You are something. You've earned that."

Mephisto chuckled, but I could feel his confusion. But I couldn't tell if this was real or not. I knew Zariel could tell. He had the weave, but I couldn't.

"Safi, do you mind?"

"I'll be leaving my body open for attack." The mysterious goddess spoke, and a tremor ran through me.

I know that voice! Despite sounding different! I know it! AHHHH! What's the name? Damn it!

"It's fine. After all, he is the God of Order—"

'And chaos. He's a liar." She added

"And despite everything that bastard right there has done. Mephisto has never once lied to me. Lucifer, Gabriel, Ariel, Azazel. All of them have lied at least once. Mephisto hasn't." Zariel remarked.

The snake smiled. "I find the truth to be more corrosive than a lie."

It's weird for sure, but I never knew Zariel and Mephisto had such a relationship. I thought Zariel might hate him or at least tolerate him. Seems it's everything. How does that even work?

Safi stared my way for a while and nodded. "Fine." She said and turned her back alongside Mephisto as we watched them seal away their senses.

"You can fuck off," Zariel said to Alosrin, who vanished into a sea of mist.

"You two are friends?" I said with a smile. "You know he tortured you in hell, right?"

"Mephisto is a man you can expect to betray you. He's quite open about that. But aren't we the same? He'll piss you off one day. And the next, have a beer and smoke with you. That's the chill Mephisto when he's not scheming. Shit. Let me ask you who is your favorite Fallen. You've met a lot by now."

"True.. Mephisto. Despite his schemes.. I actually had.. aw shit."

"You had fun. Shit is weird, huh." My brother said, chuckling. He placed a finger over my brow, carrying a drop of blood, and spoke into my soul. "I placed a seal on your soul for your adaptation. That requires three bloodlines. Our Sister, Mine, and Aurelia. We'll change it later when you gain a Heartstone."

"Why?"

"The bastard behind us is still dangerous and is the most curious out of everyone I know. He will screw you over. Remember that. The seals are a tool to keep everyone away. Your adaptation forced me to sacrifice my Immortality. It's a powerful tool."

"I don't.. I don't understand. Your Immortality?"

"I'm the Father's protector. It comes with a plethora of perks. True Immortality is one. You can adapt to anything within the Myriad Heavens. Something that puts you ahead of everyone at the peak given time. Such a tool costs."

"What else did you give up? Your kids, your Immortality. I'm sure there's more."

Zariel grew silent. And shook his head. "Water under the bridge. I've paid back most. Get stronger, and we'll talk about it for now; before I seal away your adaption for this training, why don't you tell me where your shadow is?"

"My Shadow? Oh! That? It's in another Realm. With the Black Family. I wanted to kill their first son and the second consort bitch. But I decided against it. Had a feeling that something was going to happen.

A/N: Arsene did this two volumes ago in the Abyss.

"Something? Same. Just be prepared. Mephisto is probably the one behind it."

Unsure how to feel, I spoke, "You two are weird."

"You eat people, and your wife is currently preparing an abyssal assassin to kill all your lovers. And you call us weird?"

'..."

"Eh?"