Step to paradise

Dante, with his staff in hand, seemed to have created an arbitrary space where all the rules of nature were changed. The mist swirled around, stretching and swirling, as if it was engulfing everything, including Flauros.

"Do you think you understand everything?" Dante spoke, his voice echoing in the space.

"What you know is just the tip of the iceberg. Don't forget, this world is not everything, Flauros."

Flauros stood still, his eyes still cold but not hiding his vigilance. He noticed the obvious difference in this space, and there was no guarantee that Dante wouldn't change everything around him to take advantage of the situation.

"Are you testing me?" Flauros said, his voice no longer as patient as before. "If you want to test me, then I won't refuse."

Dante chuckled, but his smile this time held an inexplicable mystery. "You are still young, Flauros," he said, his eyes shining with excitement, as if he were waiting for something great to happen.

"The game has begun, and you are but a pawn in it. But do not worry, I will help you understand this game better… if you are smart enough to play it right."

He swung his staff, and the wall of mist around him began to crack, creating a glowing passageway like a new door opening before Flauros.

"Let us go, Flauros."

"Follow me deeper into this world, and you will see."

"I don't want to be anyone's puppet anymore." Flauros gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with fire. "I will decide my fate."

Dante looked at him, his gentle smile gradually fading, replaced by understanding and patience. "Yes, Flauros. In the end, that's what matters most."

Dante seemed to have finished his work, standing up from the chair created by the fog at some point. He picked up the wand dangling with purple gems, tapped it lightly on the floor, and the fog cleared, leaving behind a natural scene. The two had already left the tower at some point.

"I've said what I should have said, I must go now."

"I look forward to your choice, Kaiden."

Flauros stood still, his eyes following Dante's figure as he slowly disappeared into the air, feeling once again pulled into the vortex of fate that he couldn't control.

As Dante disappeared into a flock of crows, a wave of chaotic emotions came over him. The name Kaiden, his old name, echoed in his mind, a reminder of the past and present intertwined.

"Kaiden..."

Flauros silently repeated that name, a name that no longer completely belonged to him. Everything, since he had crossed over to this world, had changed to the point of no return.

But why did that name echo in Dante's voice? Was it the truth or just a part of this cruel game?

A feeling of helplessness enveloped his mind. Dante's words were like a curse, reminding him of the choice he had to face. What he had done, what he would do, would all lead to irreversible consequences.

With each gentle breeze blowing, Flauros stood in the middle of the desolate nature, feeling the silence around him, but inside him was like a storm that would never stop.

"You won't just be a puppet in this game, right?" Flauros asked himself silently.

But no matter what decision he made, perhaps one thing was certain, he couldn't go back. He couldn't go back to his previous life.

A faint light flashed in his eyes. He wouldn't allow himself to become a pawn in anyone's hands.

"I will find my path."

Flauros' face gradually became cold under the scarf that covered half of his face. If there was only one person who could pass through that gate, reach heaven, and return home, Earth, then that person had to be him.

"Killing everyone is the last resort, I have to be the strongest..."

A seed had been planted in his barren soul, the seed of purification.

The dark wizard stood facing the crystal ball, his hand tightly gripping his long wand, his eyes flashing with hatred as he looked at the image of Flauros standing silently in nature.

The other balls on the table also reflected the images of other candidates, each with their unique appearance, but all within the plan he had carefully prepared.

He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger rising in his heart. Dante, that hateful name, dared to interfere with his choice.

He knew, if Dante did nothing, everything would go according to his plan. But now? He had not expected Dante to appear and cause chaos.

"Dante... You appear at this time." He whispered, his voice filled with hatred. This name had hindered him many times, and now it continued once more. The legendary wizard, who never stood aside, even when everything was peaceful.

"It was all just a game from Mother. But this time, you dare to ruin it all." He thought to himself, his eyes turned to Flauros in the crystal ball, and he was an important part of his plan.

However, he had to quickly adjust everything before Dante could influence the flow of events further.

The light from the ball suddenly sparkled more as he moved his hand, pulling out an old jade pendant, touching it to activate the sealing spell.

Each word flashed on the jade surface, reflecting in the darkness of the room. It was time for him to act, and he could not afford to lose any more candidates.

"Flauros... Even if you and the others are the chosen ones to reach heaven, you will not survive..." He laughed coldly, his voice resounding like a cold, haunting curse.

He turned around, his eyes as sharp as a knife, looking straight at the subordinate standing beside him. This man wore black armor, holding a long staff in his hand, his eyes devoid of any emotion, as if he had been completely manipulated.

"General, have the skeleton and dragon legions reached Ozone yet?" He asked, his voice cold, as if nothing could disturb him at this moment.

The subordinate, although a ghost that had been revived through forbidden magic, could still understand and answer

"My lord, our legions are ready, they are awaiting your orders at Ozone. All are there, ready to attack."

He smirked, nodding in satisfaction. Ozone was a strategic area, and now was the time for him to act, to bring the strength of the skeleton and dragon legions to mount a devastating attack on those he considered obstacles.

"Good." He spoke briefly, his voice cold and emotionless. "Prepare for a great battle. And remember, we must not let anyone escape."

The subordinate nodded, bowing once more before quickly leaving. He watched the general, wondering if Flauros had realized the danger that was approaching.

'Flauros, even if you want to open the gate to heaven, you will die when you know it...'

He had originally intended to test Flauros, but since Dante had intervened, Flauros had to die.

He stood still, his dark eyes looking at the crystal ball in front of him, where Flauros's silhouette vaguely appeared, like a flow of fate.

Deep down, he knew one thing, that gate would open, and when the chosen one stepped through, this world would fall into chaos. But that was the reward, the fairness of the game that Mother had created.

Therefore, he could not pay attention to what happened in this world. This world was not his. He was a guardian in the great game that Mother had initiated.

And his job, along with the other five, was to guide or deceive the chosen candidates, leading them down the path the game required.

Mother's choice was never wrong, and guardians like him had only one task, to ensure the operation of the game.

"Just keep the candidates on the right path, even if it is the darkest path." He told himself, his voice as cold as ice.

The darkness began to close in as he remembered Flauros and the words of Dante, the legendary sorcerer and other guardian among them, who might be subtly manipulating things.

But Flauros had the special tattoo and necklace, the signs of a chosen one.

And something was pulling him into a battle, not because of his own will, but because of outside forces. Mother had chosen Flauros, but that did not mean he would let him off the game so easily.

He gripped his staff tightly, powerful mana surging, as if preparing for a match.

He knew that the final decision would not only be Mother's, but also the choice of the chosen ones, the ones he and the other guardians would have to guide or deceive.

He gritted his teeth. The game would soon begin, and everything would change.

"To play or not to play, is that my choice?"

Even though he knew the loser among the five of them would die.

Turning towards Flauros, he quickly dashed back to the city when he discovered that his pursuers were completely trapped in the tower.

Quickly jumping on the roof as the dawn light gradually appeared, and jumped down the familiar alley.

Flauros gently landed on the ground, his feet touching the ground without making any sound. His dexterity and ghost-like speed quickly made him blend into the darkness of the familiar alley.

The feeling of the city began to change, and the deserted streets gradually awakened to the life of the morning. The noisy sounds of the city, the sound of horse carriages, and the laughter of merchants and traders rang out again.

He paused for a moment, his eyes still glued to the necklace around his neck, feeling strange as the object began to emit a powerful energy, as if it was connecting him to something far away, a lost memory, or maybe a curse that had begun to take effect.

"The stalkers… have fallen into a trap,"

He told himself as his footsteps slowly took him towards his house. But then, an uneasy feeling still lingered. As if someone was watching his every move, even though he couldn't see it, he could feel it.

The Black Crow was still the same as always, with a dark, yet somewhat refined and artistic atmosphere, the dim light from the candles shining everywhere. It felt like everything was a bit off, but he was used to the strange tones here.

Flauros entered and approached the reception desk, where a cold-faced receptionist looked up at the sound of his footsteps. She looked at Flauros for a moment, then asked in a calm tone.

"Do you have anything to do with Mr. Leif?" she asked.

Flauros nodded slightly, nothing but coldness in his eyes. "I need to see Leif."

"Okay." The receptionist didn't ask anything more, just turned around and gestured for Flauros to follow.

Walking through the dark hallway, Flauros felt the tension in the air. Something was wrong, as if this space was always watching his every move.

Finally, after a long walk, Flauros was led into a luxurious room, where Leif was sitting, lit a cigarette in his hand, his expression the same as always.

"How is it? Is it going well?"

"..."

Flauros coldly placed the necklace on the table. Leif smiled at him, colder and more murderous than before.

"What's wrong? Want to break the contract and kill me to get the holy relic?"

"..."

"Think whatever you want."

Flauros couldn't help but sigh. This guy was extremely sharp and perceptive. If all the forbidden magic users were transmigrators, all of them were enemies on the way back to Earth, then just kill him. But anyway, the Black Crow was still a troublesome bug.

Flauros didn't waste time beating around the bush, his gaze still unchanged.

"I need information about the people involved in the forbidden magic," Flauros said, his voice low and decisive.

Leif didn't rush to answer right away, instead, he just gently tapped the cigarette ash into the ashtray, his eyes slightly tilted, observing Flauros for a bit.

"What? You want to find a way to access those things again?" Leif asked, his voice slightly sarcastic, but not without caution. "You know, forbidden magic isn't something that just anyone can play with. You want to find them, are you ready to pay the price?"

Flauros didn't respond immediately, but instead looked straight into Leif's eyes, his hand lightly gliding across the edge of the table, as if searching for something to use as a fulcrum.

"My price may be death, but that's my choice," Flauros said, his eyes sharp and unwavering. "Now, Leif, I need that information."