God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

Melech, the Empty Soul...

Staring into the eyes of the Devil before him and observing its slightly cheerful demeanor, Cain didn't know how to feel.

On one hand, he knew.

He had always known.

The Devils, despite their monstrous visages, were beings with soul and heart, regardless of how twisted and corrupted they were.

They were different from mindless beasts, and they were not apparitions of horror that knew nothing more than chaos, death and destruction.

However, it was indeed as Azazel had told him.

His concepts of emotions and heart as a human, regardless of how limited they were, could not be used to judge these creatures.

It was beyond his understanding to try and comprehend, so he was not going to bother.

"Now that you know these things, I would like an answer." Melech said.

Cain took in a deep breath,

"I planned on making use of a {Parasyte Soulfiend} Devil to enter into my Sea of Consciousness."

Cain decided to be straightforward.

Melech was silent, a surprised look on his face,

"Interesting..."

Cain frowned, 'So it was a bad idea! That damned Demon!'

"Judging by the amount of mana your spirit gives off, such a trifling little creature wouldn't have tried making you its host. You made a connection through another human?"

Cain frowned, "How did you know?"

Melech smiled, "Some things can be realized without much critical thinking. But that is besides the point. A rather ingenious method indeed, I must say."

Cain's eyes widened, but he quickly hid his surprise,

"Are you saying it could have worked?"

Melech shrugged, "It could have. But your human soul would not survive a tug of war with a Devilish one, especially one connected to a shared consciousness."

Melech paused for a moment.

The frothing waves surrounding them churned loudly.

"The shared consciousness is linked to the active mothers within a certain localized area. The souls of those with the blood of Inixi is not only powerful, but it also possesses a unique attribute. Much like how the secrets of all over devilish bloodlines is locked within theirs, they have the power to connect the minds and souls of every child they have birthed. In this way, information and knowledge can be transmitted faster than light can travel."

Cain fell silent.

He knew what he had done was incredibly reckless, but he had no idea just how dangerous it had been. Hearing this made him realize just how tremendously wrong things could have gone.

But they hadn't.

He looked up,

"Then, there has to be a reason why I am still alive."

He was incredibly suspicious. Everything about his current circumstances was wrong. Who was this Devil, and why had it involved itself in this process?"

Melech's eyes narrowed and a grin split across his face. Cain felt a deep, instinctual fear resonate through his entirety body, leaving his bones trembling.

"As I said earlier, let's chalk it up to happenstance. Consider yourself very lucky. Now that I know what you came for, things should progress much smoother."

Cain frowned, "What do you mean?"

Melech grinned, "Do not think you are the first to try something like this. The universe is almost boundless and near infinite. Many a time, the devils that invade a world for plunder are unsuccessful, and their failure leads to their destruction."

"Their bodies are turned into weapons, and their energy sources become fuel for progress."

A darkness flashed on the Devil's face,

"But most importantly, on rare occasion, their souls are scoured and touched upon. However, flying too close to the abyss will send you careening over the edge, down to a rather unpleasant, filthy demise."

Melech stared deeply into Cain's eyes. Into his soul.

"Within this territory, not only is your soul is safe, your desire can be granted."

The Devil extended a hand across.

His fingertips of this Devil were like sharpened obsidian, delicate, yet insidious enough to cut through bone. Onto its natural exoskeletal armor were carved many runes, some of which he could not understand, and most of which could drive him to madness.

He was eleven more convinced now.

'This being. This creature. This Devil... Is powerful. Powerful enough to turn my entire world into dust.'

That single thought brought great fear to his heart.

Everything he was fighting for, could be turned into nothingness, rendered into the void, so long as this creature willed it.

But it didn't.

Or rather, it couldn't. At least for now...

Cain stared at the extended hand, unsure of what to do.

Melech smiled, "What are you waiting for? You wanted to use the soul of a seedling, did you not? I can guarantee mine will be far more useful. Go on. Take my hand."

Cain grimaced, "You want to help me... Why?"

"Aren't we supposed to be enemies? What could you possibly gain from giving me your assistance?"

There was every reason to be skeptical. The only way he would be taking this Devil's hand, was if the only other choice available was certain death. If that was the case, then it wouldn't make much of a difference then.

"There are several reasons I have, some more selfish than others. But make no mistake. I am a Devil, regardless of how alike we look. My goals tally with the rest of the Devil race."

Melech's eyes widened and the sky overhead darkened a bit. A snake of lightning slithered fast in the overarching River of clouds above them.

"Although I wish there could be another way, your world has to die, for the Devil Mountain must rise again. That means we are enemies. From the day we are born, till the day we draw our last breaths."

Cain smiled grimly, "Is that so? As expected from a Devil."

His mind settled down a bit.

In other words, if he wanted his dead, they wouldn't be having this conversation.

Cain stared at the hand still stretched out to him.

A moment of conflicting thoughts.

Reason and recklessness clashed.

On one hand, every part of him screamed against it.

He absolutely could not take that hand.

Doing so would be akin to giving, no, selling his own soul away.

These creatures were responsible for death tolls in the millions, and that was just on his world.

If considering as a whole, their iniquities and crimes against all things livinywould be immeasurable.

And yet, here he was, about to solicit with one such creature.

However, if it was to his own ends. If it was to achieve his goals...

He wouldn't mind sharing a drink with death itself.

He was not bound by any laws of morality.

He grit his teeth and firmly grasped the hand of the Devil before him.

Melech's hands were cold and hard. Despite being smaller and much more frial looking compared to other Devils, Cain could feel the raw power within this Devil's grip.

It felt boundless.

"Wise choice, Cain." Melech said with a smile.

The Devil gripped his hand tight.

"The soul is a delicate and beautiful thing. Normally, to practice Soul Arts, you would need to try various techniques of meditation before getting one that works for your soul in particular. Luckily for you, you don't need any of that as you seem to already possess one."

Cain frowned, "I do?"

Melech snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, a thick white smoke began rising from the surface of the table.

Cain jerked back, startled, but he was unable to move, caught in the vice-like grip of Melech.

Melech's voice suddenly changed.

It became darker.

Deeper.

Like the depths of an unfathomably cast ocean.

Like the emptiness of the void.

"Look." He said.

Cain was compelled by this voice to look.

And so he did.

He gazed down into the white smoke.

The sky darkened, until it turned as black as midnight, the sun hidden by the clouds vanishing completely in a mere matter of moments.

Or perhaps it had never truly been there in the first place.

Perhaps it had never existed in this false world.

Cain's eyes began to glow as he was forced to behold, forced to witness.

An ethereal shape began to rise out of the thick mist.

It was long and serpentine.

Unlike the white mist it rose from, it was as black as the deep darkness overhead.

Cain recognized it immediately. His eyes widened,

"That is the..."

"I have held onto this for a long time. While I have no need for it anymore, I believe you might find it useful.

Cain stared at the ethereal, shadowy serpentine apparition.

***

{Soul of the Astral Seeker}: There once was a creature who dreamed of a burning star. Enamored by its splendor, he decided to paint a picture. In doing so, his world, body, and soul were consumed by the star...

And so, by a twist of fate, the creature became a star as well.

The creature slept within the void for eons.

It knew no wake.

And it knew no slumber.

To be born anew, the creature would birth a new soul. One worthy of a being of stars.

A soul incapable of death.

A soul that could not perceive madness.

The soul, of a god.

***

'The second rune of the Astral Seeker.'

Cain had acquired the {Scar of the Astral Seeker} back in that strange realm, the same place he had encountered both Lyx and two other Primordial Devils.

Now, he was able to acquire the second piece of the rune set from a strange Devil.

'Could it be that my fate is forever tied to that of these wicked creatures?'

Melech's grin widened,

"This piece will allow you to easily access your Sea of Consciousness anytime you wish. It will also increase the potency of your soul, making it stronger."

Cain went silent.

A moment later, he inhaled deeply, his lungs swelling to their maximum limit.

Then he exhaled sharply.

That single breath was enough to clear his mind.

He looked up. Right into those dark eyes hiding deep insanity and malevolence.

"What do you want in exchange?"