After the Cataclysm, the eternal daylight arrives, but the entire Scorched Borderland remains shrouded in endless gloom.
The Supreme Heaven, enraged by the fall of the Cardinal Deity, unleashes divine punishment on every soul. Even the demons of Hell cannot escape.
The Demon Lords who stayed out of the war retreat to their own provinces, clinging to survival.
The Acheron River, once flowing with the cycle of life and death, now lies silent.
No dead enter, and no new souls rise to its surface.
Everything sinks into everlasting stasis.
Only one soul still moves.
She carries a heavy coffin on her back,
steps into the Acheron River,
and walks toward the far shore.
Morigan, I know you're here!
She shouts toward the vast expanse of water.
Answer me! I need your help!
A moment later, a small dark shape darts from the dense trees, circles once beneath the crimson sky, and lands on the shore.
What are you shouting for, girl? Hell's already in chaos. Stop making it worse...
Before the raven can finish complaining, he senses something unusual emanating from Nirvatia. His grumbling instantly turns into stunned silence.
You go to the mortal realm for one trip and come back a Demon Lord? And in times like these, no less?!
I devoured Hanpa's soul.
Her answer is calm, offering nothing beyond the bare truth. She doesn't intend to explain herself.
That's not important, Morigan. I came here to ask you something else.
Do you know how to... bring a human back to life?
What in blazes are you talking about...?
As she speaks, Morigan finally notices what Nirvatia carries on her back.
The Living Dead! Nirvatia, you've brought one of the Living Dead into Hell in a coffin! And now you're trying to resurrect them?!
Do you even realize what you're doing? Even before the Laws of Life and Death fell apart, reviving a soul without judgment was a capital offense!
Morigan... this human means everything to me.
There's pleading in her eyes—something Morigan has never witnessed before. Not even in those days when Hanpa's demons mocked and tormented her had Nirvatia ever lowered herself like this.
I'm certain this human is our only hope to restore balance to the Three Realms...
Please, just trust me this once. Don't ask anything else.
...
Morigan falls silent for a long while. For once, the raven who always has something to say finds no words.
If there's anyone who could pull off something like that, it'd be the Lord of Death.
But as you know, since the Lord of Death's defeat against the Supreme Heaven, no one has seen Hell's ruler, and Hell has been in chaos ever since...
Still, I know you've kept something hidden, a last resort.
Heh, sharp as ever, aren't you?
Unlike you upstart lords who clawed your way up by devouring your own kind, we true-born Demon Lords were bound from the start to serve and guard the Lord of Death.
Morigan's tone grows serious, and the warning in those words is unmistakable.
Each of us carries a secret spell, a key that can open the only arcane gate. It lets us cross space itself and appear instantly before the Lord of Death.
But hardly anyone ever uses it, because...
Because no one knows if it's the Lord of Death's mercy or wrath waiting on the other side.
Caw! And let's not forget, I was the coward who bailed during the final battle.
Still, I don't regret it. Even Lustrous never made it back from that battlefield. Someone had to stay behind to clean up the mess.
Morigan doesn't dwell on the memory of that fight—one that left countless comrades obliterated, body and soul. He quickly turns his gaze back to Nirvatia.
Nirvatia, if you really wish to see the Lord of Death, I can open the arcane gate for you...
But I can't tell you what'll happen once you stand before the Lord of Death.
And honestly, I doubt Hell's ruler would care about the life or death of a human.
That's fine. I'll make an offer that can't be refused.
Morigan, please... open the gate for me.
Caw! You've already made up your mind, haven't you? Fine, I won't stop you.
The raven lets out a heavy sigh, then rises into the air, spreading his wings. The black tips slice through the blood-red sky, tearing open a wound that breathes fire and heat.
Go on, then. Step through, and you'll see for yourself: There are places even deeper, even darker than Hell.
With the coffin strapped to her back, Nirvatia steps into the whirling flames. In an instant, her figure vanishes into a lower realm of shadow.
She arrives in the endless Hall of a Thousand Demons. Every stair seems to descend further into the earth, yet somehow leads toward release.
Nirvatia sees her reflection in countless mirrors, each one showing the same look of confusion.
A fine "gift" you've brought with you, hahaha... New Demon Lord, I've already heard your request.
The sole ruler of the underworld, Nyarlathotep, appears at the end of the long staircase, descending the corridor. Nyarlathotep's figure casts no reflection in any mirror, existing only within Nirvatia's sight.
To escape execution by the Supreme Heaven, Nyarlathotep's soul is hidden within this endless corridor. Each mirror holds a fragment of Nyarlathotep's essence, waiting for the day it can break free.
I once ordered you to kill the Gray Raven, but instead, you disappeared into the mortal realm. I chose to let it slide.
Later, I sent Hanpa to finish what you refused to do. And you, blinded by emotion, devoured his soul in the name of revenge... You've betrayed Hell.
Still, I see you never understood what your soul truly is. Out of pity, I grant you one last chance to stand before me.
So tell me, Nirvatia, what do you have left that's worth offering in exchange?
My lord, Nirvatia only devoured Hanpa's soul because she had no other choice!
Morigan's protest does nothing. Nyarlathotep's brow twitches slightly. With a casual gesture, the raven is sealed within a mirror.
—?
The raven is instantly pulled into the mirror's surface. His screams vanish completely.
I can serve as your scythe, my lord, harvesting life, spreading suffering across the realms.
The souls I reap will build the foundation for your vengeance and form the steps toward your return.
Nirvatia steps forward, the heavy coffin still on her back, then kneels.
The Cardinal Deity has fallen. The Sanctuary's lackeys are in disarray. Hell's armies are barely holding it together. I can take Hanpa's place and carry out his mission.
I will obey every command and fulfill your will, great Lord of Death.
You would go so far just to save a single human? Nirvatia, do you even realize what you're asking? Human lives last but decades. What awaits you is eternal torment.
Nyarlathotep seems to be in genuine pity.
You'll never understand why we must shatter the Three Great Laws. But very well, your wish will be granted.
This time, there will be no escape from your duty.
Since that noisy bird brought you here, it will now stay at your side and keep watch over you.
The Lord of Death turns and walks into another mirror, drifting deeper into the endless corridor of reflections.
Morigan, I reclaim your memories. From this day forward, you will serve as my eyes and remain with her.
And you, Nirvatia, I grant you the title of
Go to the Acheron River. The price is paid. Your wish will soon come true.
With the coffin on her back and Morigan—now stripped of all memory—in her arms, Nirvatia returns to the river's edge, where the waters churn without end.
She has sacrificed everything to reach this place. There is no turning back.
Setting down the sleeping Morigan, she lifts the lid of the coffin and gathers you into her arms, your eyes still closed.
Gray Raven... forgive me. I can't follow where you're going. I must stay.
Nirvatia cuts her palm and lets a drop of blood fall into the hollow in the human's chest.
The Blood Covenant takes effect immediately. New flesh forms, replacing the heart that now beats within Nirvatia's chest. Your body is whole once more.
Forgive my selfishness... for placing such a heavy fate upon you.
Your body sinks slowly into the warm current. Ripples wash over your face, softening the last trace of death's chill.
Please... no matter how many times you live and die, don't forget who you are.
It's fine if you forget me, or everything that came before.
The dreamless witch releases your body into the current. The rushing water swallows it whole, drawing it into the endless cycle of life and death.
Nirvatia stands at the riverbank, watching your figure drift downstream until it disappears into a blinding chaos.
When you open your eyes again, remember your name and your purpose. That way, you'll know where to find me.
She murmurs.
Come and see!
I'll be waiting for you... at the end of our Blood Covenant.
Gray Raven
You begin to awaken from a devastating flood, and searing flames tear through chaos, lifting you from the depths of the abyss.
Then, from the waters, you grasp an iron lance. The metal that should be cold burns with such heat that it threatens to scorch your flesh.
The instant you grip the lance, a phrase both strange and familiar crashes into your consciousness.
Blood Covenant
Suddenly, a melodic chime rings out.
The music flows, weaving golden threads that descend into the shattered dreamscape, guiding your consciousness from deep slumber back into the warmth of reality.
CAW! The human's awake! The human's awake!
The wind and sand rustle all around. In the hazy landscape, a raven perches on your shoulder, chattering away.
You sit up amid the swirling yellow sand. It feels as if you've only slept for a single night, yet somehow, an eternity seems to have passed.
You seem to have dreamed of someone very familiar, someone who spoke to you with sadness and asked you for something. But now, you can't remember what it was.
Sorry, did I wake you up?
A familiar figure steps over the dried grass and scattered rubble, slowly moving into the shadow to crouch beside you.
You stay still for a moment, then shake your head. The sadness from the dream fades away.
...
The witch standing on the dune slowly disappears into the shadow of a large rock. She doesn't need Morigan to report anything. Through his eyes, she can already see what he sees.
The gears of fate begin to turn again. She knows she must act quickly and make sure every pawn plays its rightful role.
Eternity is not our enemy. Time is.
This world should not move according to one being's will. The Supreme Heaven has stayed out of sight for too long, until everyone has forgotten who truly pulls the strings.
The ones who died in the wars and the souls trapped in the Acheron River all show how little life is worth under the old laws. People die like weeds or live only to be harvested by the Sanctuary.
I will let every soul live freely, no longer afraid of death or of the Sanctuary.
Gray Raven, this time I will lead you into the new world before death arrives...
And you will become the ruler of that world.
A bright light bursts from her palm and breaks into countless gray feathers. When the last feather falls, her figure disappears into the misty rain.
Watanabe?!
Who... are you?
...Lord Ballard.
Care to make a deal?
What do you want to do?
It's not as easy as you think, Witch Haida. The Sanctuary is not a place to be trifled with.
Then what am I supposed to do?
Perhaps... I can lend a hand.
Lord Ashlar, which humans are you referring to?
All the common people forced into this war, of course... Even if I had to alter our sacred texts for the sake of salvation, I never wanted my people to meet an even worse end.
You needn't worry. From history's perspective, human love and hatred are just ideologies—malleable and easy to change.
Hatred or belief—it all can flip overnight.
The Mammon's throne has been empty far too long, and the Golden Laws will inevitably crumble. I won't stand by and watch it happen, which is also what you want.
So don't think of this as charity. Consider it an investment, and this coin your dividend.
I'm counting on you to make this investment bloom.
—You're bluffing.
She fulfills the duty Hell gave her, delivering death's notice to countless wandering souls and laying each one as a step toward the Lord of Death's return.
Yet at the same time, she deceives everyone, crafting careful plans in places no one could see.
And now, the witch finally gets what she's been waiting for.
As every thread pulls tight, she grabs hold of the "puppet" and pulls the sweet fruit of victory into her hands.
Gray Raven, are you satisfied with what I've shown you?
Or did you already know this was how it would all end?
Having claimed the powers of both the Cardinal Deity and the Lord of Death, Nirvatia descends the altar in slow steps. The angels and demons who were locked in bloody battle now bow before her, kneeling across the ruined Sanctuary.
Countless tiny "planets" orbit around Nirvatia like bubbles, but she doesn't spare them even a single glance.
She holds the power to reshape the entire continent, but she shows no interest in it. Her eyes rest only on the Bloodsworn she created—and the Four Horsemen who alone remain unmoved, still standing firm.
Still, I owe you all my thanks. My plan could never have gone so smoothly without each of you.
I suppose you'd like to curse me now. Something like, "You used our contract against us," perhaps?
But there's no need for anger. No need for regret. I've given your passion and your faith a true path to redemption—for I will reshape this world.
She raises her wrist, gathering hundreds of Rifts of Chaos from the mortal realm into her palm.
I'll connect the Three Realms, shatter the old laws, and turn all humans into demons freed from the Sanctuary's chains. The angels that remain will return to the Acheron River, to start fresh as new souls.
From that day forward, no soul will outweigh another, and reincarnation will happen without judgment...
The entire universe trembles violently. Nirvatia's hands become Heaven and Earth, pressing together toward a single point.
Everything on the surface is crushed and twisted beneath the pressure, collapsing into a single, flattened plane of existence.
The remaining demons and humans are pulled upward by a strange force, slowly drifting toward the ruined Sanctuary—the site Nirvatia has prepared for her own coronation.
Don't be afraid. It won't hurt. It'll feel like drifting through a dream, and when you wake, you'll find yourselves immortal.
Only such bodies will be strong enough to endure what's to come.
She closes her hand and smiles sweetly.
For this beautiful world to last, we must march forth and bring down the Supreme Heaven.
Bang—
The strange gravity vanishes. When everyone opens their eyes again, they're standing in a boundless void.
The Three Realms have been churned into chaos, then compressed into a single night.
Yes, this is the new world she's created. Everyone stands within it as if inside the palm of her hand.
Welcome... to the New Era.
She exhales softly, and the burst of pressure from her body sends everyone tumbling backward.
I hope you'll enjoy this world without "Death" or "War."
Vera is the first to react. She draws her dual-bladed lance, drives it into the ground, and shouts furiously:
Save your nonsense for when you're asleep! The Laws of Life and Death aren't toys for you to twist as you please! With so many souls flooding into Hell, have you even thought about how to guide them on?
Angels may be worse than beasts, but what about you? You've just handed Hell another disaster, and dragged all demons down with you!
Those who fought to protect their homes, who gave everything for what they believed in, they never asked to become demons!
You had no right to take that choice away from them!
Watanabe draws his gun and fires, but before the bullets can reach her, they're swallowed by a vortex of gray feathers.
...Ordinary attacks won't work on her!
From behind, Lilith lifts her Moon Umbrella, forming a barrier to shield Wanshi—gravely wounded by Nirvatia—as she calls out to you.
Gray Raven, we'll hold her here! You—
You really think I'd let you walk away and turn this around later? How cute.
Before the words even finish, Nirvatia lands beside them, her arrival marked by a clear, sharp footstep.
Hush now, Horsemen. Time for you all to rest.
Ding-ling—the sound of windchimes rings out. The entire world halts in that instant.
Countless demons and angels freeze where they stand. The Four Horsemen are no exception, locked in place like finely carved statues.
She touches the ground with one foot, her upper body still hovering. She takes your hand and pulls you into the endless dark.
Gray Raven... there's something I've always meant to tell you. About what I truly want.
Nirvatia guides your body as the two of you drift through a sea of countless floating worlds.
I've thought about it for so long... what kind of world could truly be good for everyone?
Angels, demons, humans—we all fight for our own side. And the rules from Supreme Heaven keep us trapped in endless conflict.
She gently pulls you closer.
Turn everyone into demons, and march against the Supreme Heaven. That's the answer I've found.
If we all stand on the same side, we'll finally see who the real enemy is.
Whoosh—Nirvatia spreads her black wings and pulls you into a tight embrace.
Gray Raven... if anyone could understand me, it's you, right?
Let's end all the pain together. Tear down every chain of oppression...
The pain we once carried... no one will ever suffer it again.
She squeezes tighter, like she's trying to trap your very soul.
Yet her voice turns soft, like a desperate plea.
