The Path of Truth: Darkness Rises

"Master, I have something to report about the Spirit Realm. There are two more Zodiacs of this Realm...We must get there before Kyria and her goons make it there." Mikoko bowed and looked at me.

"Yeah, there is no way we are letting some scum like her destroy the Zodiacs!" Shizaki smiled.

"We shall work together to complete this task." Kufka nodded and crossed her arms.

I looked at them and smiled then looked at the sky. Another war was amongst us, but this time this war will decide everything for real. Zofia sat near a tree with the Umbra Savior and talked to one another. I managed to hear what they were saying a bit.

"So mom is going to Earth to defeat the Unknown Order once and for all?" Zofia asked.

"Yes. Our meeting before we parted might be our last...taken we will soon be fighting a Goddess who has the power of all four major realms." He said and took off his mask and looked at the sky.

Zofia looked at him and held his hand. He looked at Zofia. She saw the sadness in his eyes. He wished to be by Stella's side at all times, but destiny has other plans.

"I have the Phantom Curse as well...if Nymphira doesn't kill me...the curse surely will." He said and reached in his pocket and handed her a ring. "That's why I will give you this. I hope you find love one day and give this ring to someone who you deem worthy of you."

"Dad..." Zofia looked at the ring. "I can't take this. You can't die."

"I wish things were different as well...from the moment before going the Holy Order. I wished I stayed by Stella's side. I regret working for the Emperor...I regret not being able to save my mother and sister.." He put the mask back on. "That's why I will stone for my sins and help Yufumi stop the threat. If this should be my last moments with you, know that I love you very much, my daughter. Protect Kufka always as she is your sister. Don't let her stray into darkness..."

Kufka heard him and looked back. She saw Zofia's face and it was the first she's ever looked so sad. I closed my eyes and the Aquarius Symbol glowed on my hand a bit.

"The Phantom Curse...My grandchildren fell pray to it. Roku and Milta died because of it...Zain will soon fall pray to it's inevitable fate. It's a wonder on how he's been able to survive for so long." Annette's voice spoke in my head.

"I can't help him? The curse isn't curable?" I asked.

"No. The cure was destroyed by Chaos a long time ago when Steven was alive. If you didn't know, the Phantom Virus used to be the Umbra Cure. The Umbra Cure was a medicine that could bring people back from the dead in perfect condition. Because of Chaos, that turned into a virus that killed many. Zain was unfortunate to be at the wrong place at the wrong time." Annette said.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. Sephora looked at me and knew I was talking to Annette. She looked at Gwyn who was sleeping with his head on her lap. Kanna walked up to me and pat my back.

"Heya chief! I got a question." Kanna smiled.

"Hm?" I looked at Kanna.

"Since we are in this war against a literal Goddess who created the Realms, how are we gonna beat her? She has power beyond our own comprehension." Kanna said.

"Well at the level we are now, we have no chance of even touching her. Plus we need all 12 Zodiacs to even open the Realm of Origin. Because we are in this war, Shirigon: The Dragon of Origin, will see us as an enemy...we have to train enough to be Godslayers. We have to kill the Gods of Origin." I said.

"But that seems kinda...impossible even if you're basically a Goddess now. Shirigon has been slain once, I'm aware...but he's way more powerful than before now." Kanna said.

"Even if we have Sephora fighting with us, our victory is not guaranteed." I thought.

"Have you heard of Ultima Relics?" Sephora asked.

We all looked at her. She looked at Gwyn and placed her hand on his head. She looked back at us.

"I take that as a no." She said.

"Well the strongest weapons I've seen was Ancient Arms." Zain said.

"Ultima Relics are the most powerful weapons in existence. Yufumi's sword is an Ultima Relic. That sword originally belonged to a God named Mikaboshi. The Kusanagi no Tsurugi is a blade that rivalled Nymphira alone. It's only one of the three equipment that allows the user to even stand against Nymphira. The sword, the mirror, and the jewel...all found in the Spirit Realm. Hidden in the deepest parts of a dungeon or a temple, guarded by an ancient Spirit. Only Yufumi can weild them, there are other Ultima Relics though. I'll help you find them." Sephora said.

We nodded and took this time to rest before pursuing the Zodiacs and the Ultima Relics. I looked at the sword in my hands and wondered who Mikaboshi was. His name sounded very important.

"Lionel! Why didn't you do your job and eliminate the damn Zodiacs?!" Kyria bellowed in his face.

"It'll be too boring to kill off small fry. I want a fair fight. Yufumi was just way too weak. Her skills are undeniable, but she's far too pathetic in power to be considered a warm-up." Lionel shrugged and leaned back in his chair.

"You useless bitch! We have a mission to carry out!" Kyria glared.

"Aren't you the same person who follows that dumb goddess's path? Why don't you eliminate me since it's your job to do so." Lionel said.

"Uh Lionel...you might now want to anger Kyria...because of her we are still alive." A woman said.

"Because of her? I'm only still alive because of myself. I don't need partners...I don't need Kyria. She can't kill me because she's too weak. She understands what will come if she dares to harm me." Lionel said.

"I will kill you here and now!" Kyria said in anger and summoned her lance and thrusted her lance at Lionel.

A pulse of dark energy blew Kyria away and she was sent crashing into a wall. Lionel glared at her and his dark aura disappeared. Kyria glared at Lionel and a marking on her forehead shined.

"Boss! I have a report!" A soldier said panicked.

"What..?" Kyria stood up.

"A strange man blew past our main defense!" The soldier warned Kyria. "From the readings he is a Dark and Space element! No one knows who he is-"

A large explosion sounded from outside. Kyria looked outside quickly and saw a person with a black cloak on and a single demon horn on the left side of his head. She squinted and the man looked at the window.

"You see something boss?" The soldier asked.

"...I thought he was dead...how could he still be alive..?" Kyria said.

The man saw the troops surround him. Kyria watched and the man took his cloak off and transformed into his Spirit Form. Kyria took a step back and her eyes widened.

Lionel rose an eyebrow and sat up straight. His partner looked worried and looked at Kyria.

"I-It's...D-Dark...n.." Kyria stuttered.

A huge explosion of spirit energy happened outside and the yells of the troops were heard even with the window closed. Kyria heard the door being kicked open. She looked at the door and summoned her lance.

"Don't even try fool." The man said.

They looked at the man and was shocked. The man walked in the room and sensed an attack from behind and dodged perfectly and grabbed the soldier's face and snapped her neck. He dropped the body and looked at Kyria.

"Who are you?" Lionel asked.

"My name is Darkness. I am a Fallen Legend and a Dark Zodiac. I am the Dark Zodiac of Gemini and I have come to complete one mission...kill Kyria." Darkness said.