Scene: The Divine-Hell Paradox
Nero's consciousness split like fractured light:
Hell Gate: A vortex drinking despair from chained prisoners
Divine Gate: Radiance healing a slum child's fever
"Two sides of the same coin," he mused, scaling Aryavarta's obsidian walls. "Creation and annihilation... born from an endless universe."
Soul Library Revelation:
Past Legends: Sword-saints, archmages – their skills now his fingerprints
Present Arsenal:
Primordial Cage (Reality's shackles)
Devil's Eye (Eri's borrowed vision)
Million Strikes (A storm given form)
Scene: Academy Whispers
Eri watched Saki trace Nero's name in a dusty textbook. Kana's voice trembled: "He was kindness incarnate... until they called him traitor."
"Why does she mourn him?" Eri asked.
"Inspiration becomes obsession," Kana whispered. "She wanted to be his equal. Now... she's a ghost chasing his shadow."
Eri approached Saki – not with pity, but shared silence. When Saki's tears fell, Eri handed her a crystallized blue flame. "He'd want you to burn brighter."
Scene: Castle of Horrors
Nero phased through research labs, disgust coiling in his throat.
Level 1: Monsters dissected for weapons
Level 2: Humans fused with demonic cells, screaming into gags
Level 3: A portal thrumming with Saigo's Barrier Sigils
"Child's play." Nero's third eye (Eri's power) unwove the magic. Beyond it: political prisoners – rebels who'd challenged Fernando.
"Deal?" Nero's voice echoed in the dark. "Freedom for loyalty when the hour comes."
A scarred woman spat blood. "Why trust you?"
Nero's palm ignited with twin gates – hellfire and starlight. "Because I'll burn this kingdom to save one child."
Scene: Hell's Threshold
Simultaneously, Eri found Tessa Akihiro's hidden portal. Her alchemical clone descended into sulfurous winds, tailing him to a bone citadel. There – Zornak the Curse-Weaver, whose whispers could unravel souls.
"Fernando demands more sacrifices," Zornak hissed. "The Primordial One's power requires royal blood."
Eri's breath hitched – too loud.
Zornak's curse-lash vaporized her clone. In the academy, real Eri gasped, veins blackening briefly. Nero... they're harvesting royalty.
Scene: The Genius Gambit
Cornered by Mari in the castle, Nero spun lies silk-smooth: "Barrier project, was it? Lead on."
Saigo sneered at Nero's "20 minutes/day" offer. "Stabilize the nano-barrier now... or Mari loses her career."
Nero floated cross-legged before the fractured cube. The Wisdom of Saraswati – a halo of golden equations – blazed behind him.
Tick. Tock.
2:47. The cube hummed perfect harmony.
Saigo's arrogance crumbled. "How?!"
"Saraswati favors those who honor women," Nero nodded at Mari. "Not belittle them."
Scene: Bonds and Blades
Mari's Heart: Fluttering as she invited Nero to tea (Is this how Saki felt?)
Darky's Hunt: In Ilena's training dungeon, he dangled a demon over lava. "Fernando's ceremony... details or sizzle."
The Revelation: "The king sacrifices his own niece next moon! Princess Ayumi dies to awaken the Primordial!"