Wang stands before Raymos, his features pale as he places his hand on his master's shoulder, trying to quell his rising rage that surges like flames. In a low, pleading voice, he repeats, "Please calm down a little, my lord. Baryon is extremely dangerous; do not underestimate a man who left nothing behind but ashes." Meanwhile, Raymos was clenching his fist so tightly that his knuckles turned white, the veins in his neck bulging from sheer indignation. He shouted in a voice trembling with hatred, "It does not matter! I will eliminate him to avenge my father and my people. That scoundrel humiliated us and made us taste the bitterness of disgrace. Now the opportunity is right before me. I possess the power, I possess everything, and I will never back down from shedding his blood. Now I have the chance to kill him!"
Wang lowers his head, burdened with worry, and says in a cautious tone, "I fear that, my lord. In truth, Baryon is one of the Five Strongest in all of existence, and I regret to say he is even stronger than my father, the Master himself." At that moment, Raymos's features froze, his pupils dilated from the shock of what he just heard, and his mouth fell open in astonishment, "What?!" Wang immediately pulled out a stack of wanted posters stamped with the seal of Cosmic Justice and began slowly spreading them out before Raymos, pointing to them and saying, "These three belong to the Five Strongest: Celes, Dazai, and Baryon. As we know, these three rival my father and Lord Karma in power. Along with my father and Lord Karma, they all form the Five Strongest of this era. In the previous era, there were differences, but currently, these are the strongest in all of existence. However, there are other names put on the table despite not being technically recognized, such as Lady Nahira. Although she is a Ruler of Destruction, she is considered the strongest among them, and on top of that, I heard a rumor that she is close to my father's power, though I do not believe so."
Raymos felt a chill run through his body and asked in disbelief, "What?! Are all of these considered the pinnacle of power?" He then bent over, looking closely and carefully at the wanted posters laid out before him. He started with Celes, nicknamed the Silver Thorn, whose features in the picture conveyed a deadly coldness. He read her bounty amount, estimated at around ten octillion, and found written underneath in bold red font: If you see her, run immediately; she does not even spare her own shadow. He then shifted his gaze to the poster of Dazai of the Polar Eye, whose bounty was estimated at around eleven octillion, leaving him shocked by the sheer size of the difference. Beneath it was a strict warning: Beware of him; he may seem kind, articulate, and handsome, but he is more insidious than demons if he targets you.
However, the greatest shock came when his eyes fell upon Baryon's poster. Raymos froze in place, the blood draining from his veins at the number he saw before him: a bounty worth ten nonillion—an astronomical figure that no human or Celestine mind could comprehend. His eyes then caught a note at the bottom of the poster, written in a dry and harsh language: If you see or face him, you are dead without argument. Surrender to your inevitable fate and do not resist, or you and all of existence will perish. Tension began to creep into Raymos's breaths, which grew rapid, and he said in a trembling voice, "Is this thing truly that terrifying? Is there anyone with a bounty higher than his?"
Wang answered him with a haunting calmness as he gathered the papers, "No, this is the highest bounty ever recorded in history. For millions of years, no one has been able to surpass Baryon, and no one ever will. Calling this person a demon or a criminal is an understatement. That is why Lord Karma knows what is best for existence, and thus decided to isolate our worlds from that realm so we may live in peace and safety, far from their tyranny." Silence swept over the place, and Raymos felt a moment of paralysis, as if time had stopped. He began to think bitterly within himself how such a entity could have once stepped on his planet and entertained the idea of eradicating his people with such simplicity and ease.
Meanwhile, Mythos was watching the scene from afar. He decided to pause his training, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and stepped toward the two with curiosity. The moment he saw the bounties, he too was shocked by the sheer horror of what he witnessed. Feeling a tightness in his chest, he complained with a wave of his hand, "Why is it always the criminals who get all the attention?" A heavy silence fell once more. Raymos rose automatically and left the arena, returning toward the palace with heavy steps and a bowed head, thinking with absolute seriousness about how he would face such terrifying entities in his future life and how he would bridge a power gap that seemed like a bottomless abyss.
In the heart of the tranquil World Zero, the Black Eye sat at the edge of a stagnant lake, kicking small stones with the tip of his foot to create consecutive ripples on the water's surface. As he sank into his thoughts behind his silent mask, Izola treaded lightly and quietly behind him, then raised her hands to cover his eyes—which were already covered by the mask. A brief silence ensued before he spoke in his deep, cold voice, devoid of any wonder, "I know it is you, my lady."
Izola smiled from behind him and said, "Dear, and who am I?" He replied flatly, "The Vice President." At that moment, Izola's features frowned slightly, and she surprised him by lifting the mask from his face to reveal his features clearly. She then said in a firm tone tinged with reproach, "Do not call me that again." He cast a puzzled look at her, feeling the cool air touch his exposed face, and said, "I always call you that. What changed now?" She stepped closer until their breaths almost met, saying in a low voice, "Don't. Call me 'my dear' or use my name instead, understood?"
He looked at her in silence for a few seconds, as if trying to digest this strange request on a tongue accustomed to formal titles, then said with great difficulty, as if tearing the words from his chest, "Alright... I am sorry, my dear." The moment he uttered it, Izola rushed toward him and hugged him tightly, pressing him to her chest. The Black Eye felt his body stiffen from this sudden intimacy, as she rarely displayed such overwhelming emotion. He asked her calmly, "Did something happen?" She replied while still clinging to him, "No, it's just that I want to spend some quality time with my husband, that's all."
He pulled her back slightly and looked into her eyes, saying, "Strange, we don't usually do this. Is this a good thing?" She laughed softly as she pushed back a strand of her hair, "Of course it's a good thing! Spouses spending enjoyable time together is good—in fact, excellent—for the relationship." He thought for a moment and then asked seriously, "Are we going on a mission or something?" Izola burst into laughter and said, "No, it's more like going out for a walk together!" He nodded in agreement and said, "Alright, but I will go check on Dazai to see if he wants me to go on a mission." She quickly grabbed his hand tightly and said in a commanding tone, "Forbidden! There are no missions, and besides, I am responsible for you, not Dazai."
He complied with her request and said, "Understood. Tell me what you want." A broad smile spread across her face as she said, "Alright, come with me." She pulled him by the hand through the long castle corridors until they entered a spacious area. The Black Eye was surprised to find himself in the middle of a grand royal kitchen filled with pots and equipment. He asked in astonishment, "Why did we come here?" She replied enthusiastically, "In truth, I want to prepare lunch for us. Do you agree?" He looked at her with cold, bewildered features and answered, "Alright." She pulled him toward a comfortable wooden seat and said, "Rest, my dear, and let me dazzle you with my skills." He sighed while watching her movements and said, "Since when do you cook?" Izola began bringing out plates and ingredients, saying while busy preparing, "In truth, you spend a lot of time outside doing missions, while I am here doing these things sometimes just for entertainment."
The Black Eye sighed with his usual coldness and leaned back against the seat, watching her move lightly between the stove and the table. After a considerable amount of time, delicious aromas began to waft through the air. Izola placed several carefully decorated dishes, sat beside him, and said proudly, "What do you think?" He looked at the food, which appeared perfect in form and arrangement, and said, "It is truly excellent." She replied enthusiastically, "You haven't tasted it yet!" She then picked up a piece of chicken with a fork, brought it close to his mouth, and said, "Open your mouth and tell me your opinion."
The Black Eye felt flustered, hesitation showing on his face as he wasn't used to such gentle gestures. But he eventually surrendered and opened his mouth to take the bite. He closed his eyes slowly as he chewed the food, then said in a sincere tone, "This is truly special." At that moment, amid the warmth of home-style flavor, a quick tear slipped from his eye and made its way down his cheek. Izola noticed it immediately and said in astonishment, "Your eyes!" The Black Eye panicked and touched his cheek to see the trace of the tear, saying in shock, "What is this?" Izola laughed with a bitterness mixed with joy and said, "This is the first time I have seen you cry." He looked deeply at her and said sincerely, "It feels really good."
He then grabbed the fork, picked up a piece of food, and asked her to open her mouth so he could feed her just as she had done for him. Izola felt overwhelming joy and opened her mouth to taste what he offered her. As she chewed happily, she said, "My, what a skilled cook I am!" The Black Eye smiled a faint smile and said, "Yes." Izola exclaimed in shock, "Did you see your smile?!" He began to stammer, trying to hide his facial expression, saying, "Not true, I didn't smile at all." She laughed and said, "Finally, what I wanted has come true—to see a smile I have never seen before! I thought you were a ghost, my dear." He whispered softly, "Thank you very much." They then continued eating their food in a peaceful, satisfied silence.
In the adjacent spacious hall, Arlin sat opposite Dazai, who was leaning back in his chair with dignity as they discussed various matters. Dazai broke the silence and asked her calmly, "Tell me, my dear, do you truly want to see your sister?" Arlin looked at him with a gaze filled with sorrow and said, "Yes, I do. It is clear that I do not have much time left to live, and I need to see her to get many answers. Also, I would like to meet her as a true family reunion."
Dazai sighed deeply and said, "Truly? Do you not want to regain your youth again? Even though it is difficult, it is possible if we find what we need." She shook her head in refusal and said in a sad, philosophical tone, "No. The era of immortality and long life has consumed my humanity. I have lived long enough to realize that eternal life is nothing but an illusion leading to the denial of natural instinct. What we live now is merely illusions, and real life begins after a person departs and leaves this primitive, degraded existence." Dazai looked at her deeply, a mysterious smile tinged with admiration and astonishment gracing his lips, before saying in a calm tone, "What a strange old woman you are, carrying thoughts in your mind that cross no one else's! Very well, despite that, let us move to speaking seriously now. Tell me about the Treasury of Knowledge that Karma possesses."
Arlin's features suddenly shifted, caution appearing in her eyes as she cast a scrutinizing look at him, asking, "And what do you want with it?" Dazai sat up straight, interlocking his fingers, and said in a decisive tone, "I need to know everything about it because I am going to visit it. I will breach its strongholds and uncover what it hides."
Arlin shook her head in disbelief and said warningly, "That is impossible. That treasury is not just a room or a storage unit; it is an entire world of existential secrets and mysteries. It holds all the secrets of existence since its beginning. What would you gain from it? And what are you searching for in an endless ocean of information?"
Dazai tilted his head slightly and said confidently, "My dear, do you know what is better than possessing power?" Arlin paused for a moment before answering with certainty, "Possessing knowledge and information." Dazai smiled a broad smile that revealed a glimpse of his wild ambition, saying, "Exactly! With information, you rule everything, and with it, you topple thrones and build new ones."
Arlin asked him, her voice filled with doubt, "Is your goal to rule existence?" Dazai burst out laughing, a laugh that echoed through the hall, and followed up, "No, what nonsense! It is true that our goal as an organization is expansion and growth, but my true goal—the driver of all my actions—is completely different from what you think."
Arlin was surprised by his words and leaned toward him, asking, "And what is your goal then?" He answered her with firmness and clarity, "Frankly, my goal is to know how to break the boundaries between worlds." Astonishment took hold of Arlin as she heard words no one had dared utter before. Dazai continued explaining his vision, "In reality, World Zero is unique and vast, but it is wronged by the idea of isolation and rejection from the rest of the worlds under the pretext that it is a world for scum and criminals. My goal is to break those artificial boundaries between all worlds so that people have the freedom to come and go wherever they wish. Matters like restriction and absolute authority that choke one's breath—I see them as nothing more than a grave error against the concept of existence itself."
Arlin interrupted him, saying in a realistic tone, "Supposing there were no authority, you would not see order and moderation; chaos would reign everywhere." Dazai replied with the calm of a sage, "I know that. Authority is merely a cornerstone for the concept of law that regulates individuals. However, at the beginning of existence, there was no authority this harsh. Or rather, there was authority, but it gave every individual their right and freedom, unlike our current extremist system—the corrupt rulers' system that robs people of their will. Everyone should have freedom of expression and freedom of decision-making, governed by a fair law. The problem is not with the law; the problem lies in who leads this law and directs it for their own personal interests."
Arlin narrowed her eyes and asked, "What do you mean by that?" Dazai looked at her with a piercing gaze that signaled the danger of what he was about to say, "I will tell you something important. To ensure I achieve my goal, I will address three matters on my mind, one of which is getting rid of Karma himself."
Arlin froze in place, shocked by his audacity, and shouted passionately, "Nonsense! You are not at his strength. Even if you are powerful, you are still far below his monstrous level!" Dazai nodded in agreement and said in a cold tone, "Yes, I know. He is on a completely different level, and I frankly admit that I am very weak compared to him right now. But I have many plans and measures that will allow me to surpass him and attain my desire. Before every step, one must calculate the possibilities that will occur before advancing. I will tell you the other two matters so you understand how I will shatter this existence and rebuild it."
On the other side of existence, deep within the First World, the heavy night hours passed, and early morning arrived with its pale light. Clarisse was moving with frantic activity, gathering all the ancient and forbidden spirit books that Nahira had previously used in her rituals. She scattered papers and searched through shelves with eagerness and cold madness. During this, Nahira entered and said firmly, "Stop for a moment. The matter is complicated and not as simple as you imagine; the rituals require utmost precision."
Clarisse turned to her, her eyes gleaming with a strange fervor, and asked in a dry voice, "What happened regarding what I asked of you?" Nahira sighed and said seriously, "In truth, it will take a full month. There are vital elements and rare materials that must be brought besides the sacrifices. So be patient and do not rush the results."
Clarisse's face flushed with agitation, and she said emotionally, "How can I be patient while time slips through my fingers?!" Nahira grabbed her firmly by the shoulders, looked into her eyes, and said, "Endure if you want to attain your goal and fulfill your purpose, understood?" Clarisse went silent for a moment, clutching the books tightly in her hands, then submitted, "Fine, I will wait a month. By then, I will have studied these books well and understood all their symbols to be fully prepared for the day of execution." She then left the place with quick steps, carrying the heavy books.
Nahira stood watching her fade into the distance, then whispered to herself, "Alright, I will help her for now and see where things lead with this cursed woman who never tires of chasing illusions." Both Acropolis and Zarda entered with synchronized military steps into the throne room where their mistress, Nahira, resided. They bowed with deep reverence, saying, "My lady, did you summon us for an urgent matter?" Nahira looked at them with sharp eyes and said, "Yes, I want you to carry out a top-secret mission." Acropolis took a step forward and said in a loyal voice, "At your service. We will execute whatever you request, my lady." Nahira continued in a heavy tone that conveyed the gravity of the situation, "I want something extremely dangerous from you both. Are you up to it?" Zarda replied firmly and without hesitation, "Yes, we are at your command for anything. Our souls are a sacrifice for you, my lady."
Nahira smiled a faint smile and said, "Good. In truth, the mission I will assign to you is to infiltrate World Zero." As soon as she uttered the name of that world, both of them trembled slightly, a chill running through their bodies, but they quickly composed themselves before their mistress's majesty. Nahira continued, "I want you to enter the base of the criminal organization Gestoria and report their news to me as spies there. Most importantly, I want to learn the story of this Black Eye, discover the secret of his power, and find out what Dazai aims for with his recent movements. Are my instructions clear?" Both bowed deeply and said in unison, "Your orders shall be obeyed."
Nahira then added, "Your journey will take a full month to reach there. But do not worry; upon your arrival, you will find an acquaintance of mine who will greatly assist in facilitating your entry." They stood up and left the hall silently after receiving all instructions, while Nahira stood gazing out the large window at the distant horizon, whispering to herself, "Things will become even more complicated unless I obtain information about what is being planned in secret."
On the other side of existence, specifically in the castle kitchen in World Zero, Izola stood before the sink, quietly washing dishes. The Black Eye stood beside her and said in his calm tone, "I will help you." Izola turned to him with a gentle smile and said, "No need, I will handle it." He replied with quiet persistence, "No, I will help you. You are tired, and I should always support you." She raised an eyebrow in surprise and said, "Did you just say something?" He replied with his usual flat demeanor, "No, nothing."
They began washing the dishes together in a strange atmosphere of tranquility. Upon finishing, the Black Eye asked her, "Are there any missions I can undertake?" Izola replied as she dried her hands, "No, currently there is nothing. It is better for you to stay here for now. Too much movement will draw attention to you." He nodded in agreement and said, "Alright, I will try to do something I am good at." She asked out of curiosity, "Where are you going?" He looked at her and said, "I want to enjoy myself a little."
They walked together through the long corridors of the castle, and Izola said, "Alright, I will go review other files I haven't finished yet." But the Black Eye gently took her hand and stopped her, saying, "You need to rest. You are exhausting yourself too much these days, and I also noticed that your temperature rises a lot at night." Izola looked at him, completely astonished by this sudden overflow of concern, and asked in wonder, "Wait, how did you know about my temperature?" He felt slightly flustered and looked away from behind his mask, saying, "Never mind that." She insisted, "Did you come to my room every night to check on me?" He answered quickly, "No, it's just that I pass by and find you coughing severely, and I have a heat-sensing ability, so that's all."
Izola laughed softly, then rushed to embrace him tightly, saying, "I knew you cared about me so much that you came to look after me every night!" He tried to pull away coldly, saying, "No, it's not what you think." But Izola was overwhelmed with happiness, running off while cheering playfully, "My husband cares about me!" The Black Eye stood shocked by her reaction and thought to himself, What is with this crazy woman? Why has she started acting like a child all of a sudden?
At that moment, the child Dama, assistant to the facility scientist, appeared from behind him and said in a mocking tone, "I see she is happy." The Black Eye turned to him and said, "Ah, it's you. Where have you been all this time?" The child looked at him arrogantly and said, "I was playing nearby too. Call me Dama-sama, I am more important than you here." The Black Eye replied with boredom, "Alright, fine, whatever, Sama or something. Are you from Japan or something?" Dama asked in confusion, "And what is this Japan?" The Black Eye answered briefly, "Never mind that. What matters is that I have work; I will visit the world soon."
He then vanished from his spot in the blink of an eye, reappearing suddenly before the outer lake where absolute stillness reigned. He began walking with steady steps across the surface of the water as if it were solid ground until he reached the middle. Sitting down, he floated above the gentle waves and closed his eyes to begin deep meditation, detaching himself from the clamor of existence around him.