THE STORY TAKES ROOT
DEVIL'S SOUL
Alvin blinked open his eyes, greeted by a blinding white expanse. He sat up slowly, piecing together the fragments of his memory. A wave of regret and despair washed over him. He clenched his fists, blaming himself for his actions. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he knew crying wouldn't undo what was done.
Suddenly, a shadowy form materialized in the distance – a foreboding structure that resonated with Ours Truly's description of the "Dungeon of Sins." Hope flickered briefly before being extinguished. He shouldn't have looked back. He shouldn't have listened.
A voice echoed in his ears, heavy with disappointment. "Alvin, you betrayed my trust. I believed you had the potential to be a loyal son."
Alvin froze, the words like burning embers searing his soul. He had made a terrible mistake. He whipped around, his eyes widening at the sight of a massive metal door inscribed with a single, chilling word: αγωνία {anguish}
He screamed, a primal cry of terror. He kicked and flailed, but his efforts were in vain. The roots dragged him, inch by excruciating inch, towards the gaping maw of the doorway. Finally, with a sickening thud, the door slammed shut, plunging him into darkness.
For a moment, Alvin was lost in a daze. Then, consciousness slowly returned, revealing a pitch-black chamber illuminated only by a strange, shimmering tree. It was a real, living tree, unlike the pentagonal symbol Leviathan had encountered. Foreign symbols were etched onto its branches, but they were beyond his comprehension.
A voice boomed through the darkness, as heavy as the rumble of thunder. "A human? Who dares enter this realm?"
Alvin remained silent, fear paralyzing his voice.
"You're aware," the voice continued, "that you have died."
A choked whisper escaped Alvin's lips. "I... know..."
This was the voice that had spoken to Leviathan – the voice of the Devil.
"A young death, wasn't it too early to leave that world?" the Devil rumbled.
Alvin slumped to the floor, defeat heavy on his shoulders. Tears welled up, spilling down his cheeks. He trembled for a long time, before a defiant spark ignited within him. The burning fire grew wilder and wilder inside him and at last it all came out with a burst of unstoppable tears.
"I want to live!" he roared, his voice raw with emotion. "There are people waiting for me – my sister! She needs me! I can't die! Not for myself, but for them! I want to live!"
A chilling chuckle echoed through the darkness. "You should have considered that before attempting Soul Interfusion."
"I wasn't given a choice! It was forced upon me! You can't just take my life! I didn't choose this! GIVE ME BACK MY SOUL! I demand it! You have no right to take anything from me!"
Alvin's voice cracked with desperation, tears streaming down his face. A tense silence followed, broken only by his ragged sobs. The Devil remained silent, a malevolent presence in the inky blackness.
"You can survive," the voice rasped, "but not as a human."
Alvin, clinging desperately to the remnants of his emotions, rasped back, "What do you mean?"
"Your soul," the voice explained, "is lost. However, I offer you a deal."
"What kind of deal?"
"If you choose life, I can offer you a fragment of my own essence, my own soul . . . but you'll lose your humanity. Your emotions will be snatched – your appetite insatiable, and your feelings... numb. You'll become a shell, an immortal being unable to feel pain, grief, anger, or joy. But only if...only if you succeed in something I demand. You must find the missing component, and only then I will return your soul in you.
A chilling silence descended as Alvin grappled with the weight of the offer. Tears welled up in his eyes, but they dried as quickly as they formed. His mind raced, his thoughts a cacophony of options. After an agonizing half hour, he lifted his head, his voice firm.
"I can do it," he declared. "I'll find the last component, no matter the cost. I'll survive. Not for my soul, but for the souls of others! For my sister! For the dead!" A desperate plea echoed in his voice. "I AGREE! I AGREE!"
The voice chuckled, a malevolent sound that sent shivers down Alvin's spine. "Then brace yourself," it hissed. "For the most agonizing pain, the most overwhelming joy, the deepest sorrow, and the most blinding rage! Prepare for an eternity of muted emotions!"
Suddenly, like a flash, the branches of the tree whipped around him, digging into his body, in each organ, in a million places. Alvin screamed in hellish pain, his whole body twisting and turning. It was horrible, but then just as fast as it started, it stopped. The branches went back to normal, and Alvin wasn't in pain anymore. The blood that had come out of him was gone too, like it never even happened.
Alvin's mind reeled, struggling to grasp what had just happened. The voice echoed once more, its tone flat. "I now reside within you."
"You, boy," the voice responded, a hint of amusement laced with condescension, "are permitted to live because a day has been promised. This is the blessed year . . . that I've found the person who has promised that day to arrive soon , anyone who now does the soul interfusion and if he possesses the final component within their soul will return back alive."
"You mean… my soul holds this final component?" Alvin stammered, a sliver of hope flickering within him.
The voice merely hummed in response.
A jolt of terror sent Alvin back to consciousness, a gasp escaping his lips. He found himself back in the real world, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his body trembling with dread. The thought of no longer being human gnawed at him. He slowly regained his composure and took in his surroundings – the room was empty except for himself. Then, a voice, seemingly from within, resonated in his mind.
"Your destiny awaits, Stone-Cold," it rasped. "You may call me Devil, or any other demonym you wish, but Devil will suffice. As for you, you're my slave now. Remember the moment you disobey me, I'll leave your body, and you'll die in that very instant.
THE JOURNEY STARTS
Alvin bolted from the room toward the exit, but he was unable to tell day from night because the room was dark and had no windows. It was getting close to daylight as he emerged from the mansion. He descended from the wall from which he had entered the place before and rode on his bicycle.
Just as he reached his house, he saw that the sun had completely come out and was now shining on his head. He got off his bicycle and headed inside. Alvin knew that Nathaniel would be awake due to his morning routine, so he thought of an acceptable excuse to make when he'd encounter his father, and the exact thing happened as Alvin had thought, but much to his surprise, Juvia was there too. The moment her eyes took notice of her brother, she burst into tears and hugged him while weeping. Alvin was totally out of touch with what was happening. Nathaniel, too, looked pale-faced. He, in a relieved speech, said, "Thank God, Alvin, you've returned. Where have you been?"
,"Me? I just went for some morning exercise." Alvin faked out his sentence.
But on further queries and questions, Alvin detected that a whole day had passed. He couldn't swallow the thing, and for that, so that no one doubted him, he made a falsehood that he had been out with a friend of his, so Nathaniel thought that he should inform his elders first so that he would arrange security for him. Alvin apologized and told Juvia to follow him. He took her to his bedroom and made sure that no one heard them by locking the door. Then, blow-by-blow, he told her all about the incident that came down on him, with teardrops moistening his eyes and cheeks. Juvia was so shaken up by his statements that she couldn't help but from weeping hardly.When she heard that he had performed Soul interfusion, she went down in the mouth, and then they both began to cry unstoppably, but Alvin gave her hope, saying, "Don't worry, Juvia. I'll accomplish what I want. We'll feel happiness again together."
Soon Nathaniel too was informed about the tragic incident, and he promised to keep it in the shadows. Then, from that day on, Alvin began to search for rare Soul Interfusers to gain knowledge about the Last Component. Accordingly, he joined the military's Black Storm Corps because he thought finding such a person would be as easy as finding one in the military's Interfuser Corps. The Black Storm Corps was connected with all the Interfusers around the world.
RETURNING TO THE PRESENT
Thus, this was the miserable background of Lisa Bernstein and The Valiant Kin. Juvia and Alvin were given the moniker "Valiant Kin" by the military in recognition of their unwavering bravery and tenacity. And one more thing to mention is that Aldrich was also aware of the fact that Alvin had performed Soul Interfusion because Alvin desired an Elder that could help him make his goal easier, and so he explained everything to the colonel and the Lt. General.
Now coming back to the present time It was day time.Alvin was sleeping soundly. The time was 3:00 p.m. At the time, he was sleeping like a log. Then suddenly Juvia threw a pillow on his face, and he immediately woke up, getting alarmed but going calm after seeing Juvia.
"Al! "Are you going to spend the entire day in bed, or would you prefer to wake up now?" said Juvia.
"What happened?", replied Alvin. "At least let me sleep today. I'm off today, don't you know?"
"General Aldrich has called us right away."
,"What!!! That man won't let me sleep even on Sundays!" Alvin cried out in a helpless tone.
LABORATORY V.U
Fury crackled in the air as Valiant Kin stormed into Aldrich's office, Alvin's hand slamming down on the desk. "What's so damned important it couldn't wait?" he roared, sleep clearly a distant memory.
Aldrich flicked him an unbothered glance. "Temper, temper," he drawled. "Save it for something else."
Alvin and Juvia, perched nervously on the sofa, watched the exchange unfold.
"The General," Aldrich began, his voice dropping a notch, "the one you, uh, dispatched – well, the news has gotten around. Thankfully, no one knows who the killer is. But," he continued, leaning back in his chair, "if anyone finds out it was you, Willed-Head, you're toast. And believe me, I don't want to be involved in it."
Alvin's face flushed crimson. He sputtered, his voice laced with panic, "What?! No! You can't be serious! I told you it was an accident, and I did it on your orders! How can you just abandon me like this?"369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QUZ086tee
Aldrich watched with a detached amusement as Alvin ranted. Once the outburst subsided, a slow smirk spread across his face. "Just testing you, old boy," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "All the witnesses have been silenced. Turns out, they weren't exactly innocent themselves. Consider it a presidential pardon, courtesy of your father. After all," he added with a shrug, "why would he want his own son hanging?"
Relief washed over Alvin's face as Aldrich elaborated. Sitting back, Aldrich couldn't help but add a smug remark, "Of course he wouldn't. Blood is thicker than water, wouldn't you agree?"
Juvia, always curious, asked about what would happen to the General. "Trial in court and punishment," the Lieutenant General replied simply.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmdejwzvVS
Just then, the office door swung open with a bang. Aldrich groaned inwardly as Major Sebastian C. Adolf, his boisterously frank friend, barged in with a wide grin. "Good news, Valiant Kin!" he boomed, completely opposite to the current tense spread in the room.
"Here we go," Aldrich muttered under his breath.
"I've found a lead," Sebastian continued excitedly. "An experienced Soul Interfuser who could be our guide!"
Alvin shot up, hope rekindled in his eyes. "Really? Where?"
"Mexico!" Sebastian declared.
Juvia and Alvin exchanged wide-eyed glances. "That's far," Juvia pointed out.
"True," Sebastian conceded. "But there's another option! This Interfuser used to live in Mexico, but he's deceased now."
"Dead?" Juvia echoed.
"Yes, dead," Sebastian confirmed. "But his lab, V.U., is in Germany. He built it during a previous stay there. It's said to be a sacred place."
"Amazing! Thank you, Major!" Alvin exclaimed, taking a step forward before pausing. "But where in Germany? It's a huge country."
Sebastian chuckled, a hint of mischief in his voice. "Unfortunately, I don't have that information."
Alvin and Juvia gaped at him. "So we're supposed to search the entire country?" Juvia cried.
"My job was to inform you," Sebastian shrugged. "If I find anything else, you'll be the first to know."
With that, Sebastian took his leave, leaving the siblings to contemplate their next move. They decided to head straight to the Interfuser's German lab, a glimmer of hope guiding their path despite the remaining uncertainty.
A FATHER IS THE BEST ALLY
The dinner table bathed the room in a warm glow as Nathaniel, Juvia, and Alvin shared a meal. The silence between bites was broken by Alvin's determined voice.
"Father," he began, "I need a favor."
Nathaniel, ever the doting parent, responded warmly, "Anything, son. Just ask."
"Men," Alvin stated, his eyes glinting with purpose. "I need men."
"Men? For what purpose?" Nathaniel inquired, a furrow creasing his brow.
"Major Sebastian discovered a Soul Interfuser's lab," Alvin explained, "but its location remains a mystery. Spreading out a search party seems more efficient than just the two of us."
A slow smile spread across Nathaniel's face. "Excellent thinking, son. I'll dispatch teams of twenty to twenty-five men to each state. If needed, we can always send reinforcements. Now, what's the name of this lab?"
"V.U.," Alvin replied.
"Consider it done," Nathaniel confirmed.
A flicker of restlessness crossed Alvin's features. "But Father, I can't just sit around. Juvia and I want to be part of the search too."
Nathaniel chuckled softly. "As you wish, my son."
A wave of gratitude washed over Alvin. "Thank you, Father. You've always been a pillar of strength."
Nathaniel's smile deepened, a hint of sadness lingering in his eyes. "There's no need for thanks," he said. "Since losing my son, I feared happiness was lost forever. I blamed myself, believing I wasn't the father he needed. But then, you and Juvia entered my life, showing me it was my son who was astray. Now, I simply strive to be the best father I can be, for the son and daughter I have now."
The last words were spoken with a warmth that illuminated the room, giving radiant smiles from his valiant children.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21bSV5nU6c
SOMETHING FAMILIAR369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyNyCXmfzw
The next day, a flurry of activity swept across Germany as twenty to twenty-five men were dispatched to each province, tasked with locating the elusive V.U. laboratory. Meanwhile, Alvin and Juvia sat at a cafe, sipping lemon tea.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCSRDxGeqf
"Father sent search parties," Alvin said, setting down his cup. "But we can't just sit here."
"Even if we find the lab," Juvia countered, a hint of hopelessness coloring her voice, "what will it change? All the others were dead ends. This one will probably be the same."
Alvin frowned. "I don't know, Juvia. There's a feeling in my gut… a feeling that this lab might be different. That we might actually find something important there, something that…" He trailed off, his attention snagged by a boy walking past the cafe.
A silver chain glinted in the boy's hand, a pendant from which a symbol dangled – a unique X. Alvin's heart lurched. He'd seen that symbol before, in one of Aldrich's documents.
Juvia, noticing his sudden change in expression, inquired if something was wrong.
"Stay here," Alvin instructed, his eyes fixed on the boy. He rose from the table and hurried out of the cafe, determined to follow the boy.
The boy wore a black fedora tilted low over his forehead, obscuring his eyes. A black face mask covered his nose and mouth. He was tall and slender, with cherry red hair that fell to his shoulders. Alvin estimated him to be around nineteen or twenty.
Alvin kept a discreet distance, tailing the boy through the bustling streets. Then, in a blink, the boy vanished. One moment he was there, the next, he'd disappeared down a narrow alley.
Bewildered, Alvin scanned the alleyway, finding it empty. Frustration gnawed at him. He'd had the boy in his sights, and just like that, he was gone. Dismissing the incident for now, he hurried back to Juvia.
"Al," she said, concern etched on her face, "what happened?"
" You remember the X symbol in Aldrich's documents?" Alvin asked, his voice urgent.
Juvia nodded slowly.
"I saw the same symbol on a necklace in a boy's hand," he explained. "I followed him, but he… he vanished into an alley."
"Shouldn't we tell the Lieutenant General about this?" Juvia suggested, her eyes wide with newfound purpose.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvviSln4sFj
"Exactly what I was thinking," Alvin agreed. "Let's go."
They climbed into their car, Alvin describing the boy's appearance in detail as they sped towards Aldrich's office, the boy's disappearance leaving a trail of unanswered questions hanging heavy in the air.
DIGGING THE TRUTH
Aldrich, Lieutenant General of the Valiant Kin, was absorbed in the court orders for Lenz's case when a knock shattered the silence. "Enter," he boomed, his voice echoing in the chamber.
The Valiant Kin duo, Alvin and Juvia, entered the room. Aldrich set the papers down, his gaze fixed on them. They settled onto the sofa before him.
"Lieutenant General," Alvin began, his voice laced with a hint of nervousness, "I have a question if you don't mind."
Aldrich leaned back in his chair, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "Asking is always an option, son. But remember, promises and decisions are best made with complete information."
Alvin nodded, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper with a symbol sketched on it. "Can you tell me anything about this?"
Jason, ever stoic, scrutinized the symbol. The calm expression on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by a mask of seriousness. "Willed-Head," he said curtly, his voice filled with coldness. "It's best left undiscussed. It has no bearing on you, and frankly, it's none of your concern."
Alvin's brow furrowed. "But..." he began, only to be cut off by Aldrich's sharp tone.
"Enough," Aldrich declared firmly. "Stay away from this matter. I don't want to hear another word about it."
With that, Aldrich rose from his chair and strode out of the room, leaving the siblings alone.
A stunned silence descended upon them. Then, a defiant glint entered Alvin's eyes. "Initially, I wasn't particularly interested," he muttered, "but now, I'm determined to uncover the truth."
He stood abruptly and moved towards Aldrich's locker. Juvia watched with growing alarm. She understood where this was headed - searching the General's belongings was both unethical and illegal.
"Al! Stop!" Juvia cried. "That's wrong! He said it's none of your business!"
Ignoring her pleas, Alvin opened a drawer. "Staying away from something hidden is simply not in my nature," he explained. "Secrets eat me like some strwaberry cake!"
Juvia, unwilling to be dragged into this mess, declared, "I'm staying out of this."
Undeterred, Alvin continued his search, cautiously examining each drawer and its contents. Finally, in the fourth drawer, he found what he was looking for. A triumphant cry escaped his lips as he clutched the papers.
He carefully closed everything back and examined the paper with Juvia. Inscribed beneath the symbol were a series of numbers, all except one line. "Diabolical Area, Mannheim City, Quadrate, Street 101, Sacred Ally [Only Active at Night, X]," it read.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBirCV9AXNr
"Just an address," Juvia muttered, bewildered.
"An address thick with mystery," Alvin countered. "This situation is deepening. To get to know the truth, we need to…"
Before he could finish, Juvia interjected, "Don't tell me you're thinking of going there!"
Alvin met her gaze with an unwavering resolve. "Yes," he declared, his voice firm.
Juvia tried to persuade him, arguing that they didn't know if the place was safe. But Alvin remained undeterred.
"Juvia," he spoke with a newfound confidence, "fear has been banished. He who conquered death can overcome any danger."
Seeing the unwavering determination in his eyes, Juvia's worry started to dissipate. She knew there was no stopping her brother once he set his mind to something.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1owvLNXqgE
A NEW TASK369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjiAb7UiVh
Lisa, Edgar, and Norris huddled near a gurgling fountain in the verdant heart of headquarters. Their hushed conversation was abruptly cut short as they spotted Lieutenant General Aldrich striding towards them. Snapping to attention, the three saluted in unison.
"News has reached us," Aldrich declared, his voice firm. "An assassination attempt is planned in two days against a prominent figure."
"We're always prepared, sir," Lisa responded, her gaze unwavering. "Where will this take place?"
"Strausberg, Sector F," Aldrich continued, "Mansion number 1241."
A collective gasp escaped the trio. "Professor Tobias?" Edgar exclaimed, disbelief clearly visible in his voice. "They wouldn't dare target someone within our own community . . . inside the Military!"
"Their fearlessness has reached this far." Norris growled, his fists clenching.
"No matter how bold they become," Aldrich countered, his voice ringing with conviction, "justice will always prevail over tyranny. We stand for what is right!"
He lifted his head, a surge of pride evident in his posture. Then, with a commanding voice, he called out code names:
"Aetos!" Lisa saluted crisply.
"Tycheros!" Edgar echoed, his hand snapping to his brow.
"Voreios!" Norris followed suit, a steely glint in his eyes.
Looking them all in the eye, Aldrich continued, "My fearless wolves, together, we are an unstoppable force. Aetos, alert Theo Dory immediately. He'll play a crucial role in this operation. Prepare yourselves for a direct confrontation. Tycheros and Voreios, assemble the White Fangs at the den tomorrow night. We have a mission to complete."369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGcVnRBEhe
QUESTION OF THE CHAPTER:
Where do you think the address leads and what perception you have about the boy who ha recently appeared?
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