The Land Of The Stiff

Iki fell to both knees and cried in frustration. “Agh! AGHHHH! DAMN IT!” One of the members walked over to Iki. “Young master, are you okay?” Iki turned with eyes lit up in bright yellow mana. His body engulfed in it and intensely shot out his body. “Don’t touch me!”

Astro looked at Kento who was smiling from cheek to cheek, eager to fight. Iki looked at his men, still overwhelmed with mana and spoke out, “Let’s go. We have other places to be.”

???: “Are you sure…Young Master?”

Once again Iki was infuriated at his group. “You heard me, Seto. Move it…!”

Kento spoke once again. “Well…That was no fun. I’ll be off. Back to the baths I go.” Astro turned to him awaiting what he had originally come here for. “Wait. We need your help. You said you would. That was the whole point we came here.”

Kento: “Hmmm. Did I? Did I say that though? Need help with what exactly?”

Astro: “This boy’s friend got lost in Deceased Paradise. No doubt he lost to Kastor. For some reason he has seen Kastor’s palace before. He yelled out his name instead of the land’s name and went straight to the castle. Please, we need you to help us get him back. I owe it to this boy. He hired me to protect them and I failed. I’m begging at this point. I’m giving up my pride right now.”

Kento: “Oh, that’s it? You could’ve just asked. No begging was needed, don't worry. I would’ve saved you the whole introduction out here. Of course I won’t help.”

Astro: “Wh-What?”

Kento: “I said, of course I won’t help.”

Astro: “Kento! You said you would.”

Kento grabbed Astro’s scythe and snapped it in half over his knee before anyone even knew what had happened. “What did I say about calling me that? You know what? I will help you. I’m feeling good now. Real good in fact.”

Kento pulled a Yellow Egress Chaplet out of his pocket as Dante now began to wake. Astro ran over to him. “Dante! Are you okay?”

Dante:“W-What…Happened?”

Kento walked over to him with jingling armor and a strong look on his face. “You just fainted, that’s all. Astro and I dueled each other. Our mana must’ve knocked you out.”

Dante: “My head’s still funny…Lucky! Where is Lucky? Did you find him?”

Astro looked confused, but went along with it. ‘Kento must’ve done something to his mind. He knows something that I don’t. Furthermore, why doesn’t Dante remember what happened? Can Kento erase memories? He never mentioned something like that growing up. Maybe it’s a trump card.’

Astro: “No, we haven't found him yet. I battled Kento for a Yellow Egress Chapter. I won, so he was just about to give me it and we can go. Isn’t that right, Kento?”

Kento: “Oh? I didn’t take you for a liar, Astro.. He didn’t win, Dante. After all, look at his scythe. However, I am feeling very nice today, so I will give you the chaplet…Oh, but it isn’t for you Astro…Kid, you’ll be going by yourself to Deceased Paradise.”

They both shouted out loud, “What?!”

Astro: “Are you insane? He can’t go by himself. He’ll die the moment he steps out of the teleportation portal.”

Kento sighed. “I don’t really care. This is my way of helping, so deal with it. Take it or leave it. Or, should I just take back the chaplet?”

Astro: “Agh! There is no point in arguing with you. You won’t let me go with him no matter what I say. Just like how you left me in the City of Thieves.”

Kento: “Kids have to learn, my pupil. What better than experience and fighting for their lives?”

Dante looked surprised and shocked at the same time. ‘What am I supposed to do? I don’t know anything about this world. No doubt I wouldn’t win against Kastor. Everyone preaches him like he’s a God. Tch! What should I do?’

Dante spoke out loud familiar words to the two that stood before them. “Kento, Astro. I don’t know what else to do or say. I know I can’t beat Kastor, so I’m going to say something so that you’ll understand where I’m coming from. I’m from a dif—”

“Ah ah ah, Dante.” Kento stopped him before he could say anything else. It doesn’t matter what you say. I won’t change my mind. Find a way to pull off the impossible. And if you can’t, then you were never meant to protect those you love. Understand that well. That goes for anything.”

Dante felt threatened at the question of his resolve, but kept his mouth shut. ‘He’s right. Aki, Eren, Mia…Goro. I’ll save you. I’ll save you all!’

Kento handed Dante the Yellow Egress Chaplet. “Say the words of the place you want to go. If you’ve seen the place you want to go, then it is more accurate. However, you haven’t, so think of the name of the place and think of a large castle made of bones. Might help a little in the landing spot. Good luck kid. Don’t disappoint me. I’m looking forward to the future.”

Astro looked at Dante concerned. “Dante. Make it back alive, please. I’ll find another way to get to you. Don’t worry.”

Dante raised the chaplet in the air and pictured what he could in his mind considering he didn’t know what the place looked like. “Deceased Paradise!” he called out.

He flew through a portal similar to the ones he had gone through at the library in the tree at Beyblue, however doors appeared everywhere with different names. At the end of the portal, a door with the label of Deceased Paradise remained still. Dante reached the door and the space went blank, only showcasing the door in front of him. Behind him was nothingness. An empty void as if the doors weren’t there to begin with. He opened it with hesitation, nervous of what would come after him right away. On the other side, he appeared in a land full of sand and skeleton bones. Nothing else was in sight. “Alright, let’s try not to die.”