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With a childish smile on his face, the little boy was excited as he spoke with the man in front of him. This man was his father. An elderly man with fairly recent wrinkles, but with beautiful immortal eyes. Of course, it was only a metaphor, but the little boy saw his father as a man who would live on and on, until the end of time. His hair was losing its color, but its brown was still quite beautiful.

- When I use my Power, this appears.

- I know, Daddy!

Something appeared at the man's side, but the little boy already knew what it was: how many times had he seen it now? He loved it when his daddy showed him how his Power worked, and the little boy couldn't wait to use his one day.

- Ahah, but I like to show it to you!

As always, his father loved to brag and have his little boy look at him with beaming eyes. They were still so young and naive, but so beautiful and full of curiosity. His wife wasn't home yet, so he was taking the liberty of showing how his Power worked, and even though Bubble had seen it many times before, he couldn't get enough of it.

Yes, he he couldn’t get so much—

- ………

Fire. Oh, it burns. Aaah, why... Oh. Yes.

That’s right.

Everything is burning because of me. It's true, I killed my own father.

Yes, I finally have his Power. Hihi.

Hihiihihihiih, his Power, his Power!!!

I am happy to have the Power that I love so much from Dad...

Hihi!

- AAAAH!!!

Bubble woke up with a start and breathed with difficulty, his eyes wide open. He blinked and rubbed them before taking a deep breath.

- Nightmare... Stupid nightmare... Aaaah... Don't think about it... It's... It's not me anymore... Aaah... AAAAAaaaah…

He held his head with both hands and with his eyes still wide open, he tried to calm himself as best he could. However, as he moved in his fear, he heard a metallic noise and a slight pain in his wrist. He slowly turned his gaze to his right wrist, where he had felt the pain, and remained fixed on what he saw.

A large metal bracelet.

He stopped thinking about his nightmare and looked at his other hand: another bracelet. Both of them... chained to the wall behind him.

- ?!

He blinked and finally remembered what had happened: while he was talking to Cerise, he had been hit on the back of the head and had passed out directly. He hadn't felt anyone around, but he was sure it wasn't Cerise who had attacked him: someone had managed to hide his presence enough for Bubble not to feel it. ! Chances were great that even Cerise had not felt anything…

- Is she okay...?" wondered Bubble.

He was in a depressing room, with only a torn mattress near a barred window. The walls were old and unkempt, dark and swallowing what little light came from outside. He looked ahead and noticed a door a little further down the hall, though he was sure he couldn't reach it as long as he was chained up. Moreover—

- These chains... prevent me from using my Power?

He felt very little energy in his body and he couldn't use his Power despite trying a few times. Several minutes after he woke up, he finally accepted that he just couldn't use it because of the large bracelets around his wrists and feet. He could get up and walk two, maybe three meters, but not much more before the chains held him down. So he was imprisoned...? But why?

- Is it because of the ruckus that Cerise has caused during her fight?” he asked himself.

He hadn't seen all of the rabbit-like Kemono's slaughter, but considering that she had even destroyed the ceiling — which was the floor outside — there was a good chance that people had seen or heard the ruckus. If they had taken advantage of the ruckus caused by Cerise, then…

- But where am I?

He couldn't tell by being in this totally enclosed room and the architecture couldn't help him: it was like a prison, basically. He was imprisoned for a reason he didn't know yet and he didn't even know if Cerise was in the same situation. He couldn't believe that it was a plan thought up by her to lock him up, since it wouldn't make any sense, but she could have done that more easily. And then, even— Bubble trusted her. He was sure it wasn't her who had set him up. However, it intrigued him: so who was it? And why?

- Paradise Seekers who managed to sneak in from behind...?” he thought.

After all, he saw no other possibility. Bubble was a stranger to Lost Hell and even if he was convinced that the inhabitants of this country would not want to see him here, to attack him while Cerise, leader of the FIREFIGHTERS and one of the most powerful of Lost Hell, was by his side... It seemed to be the most obvious choice, but it was the worst time to attack them.

- ... Cerise should be fine.

He had seen her walking in front of her when he got hit from behind, so she must have been alerted the moment he passed out. Anyway— Cerise had probably managed to defend herself or escape. After all, if Bubble was in such a room, tied to the wall, it meant that Cerise had failed to rescue him. The situation made him sigh, but he quickly turned serious.

- Mamou is protected by Porencha, within the FIREFIGHTERS buildings, so I don't have to worry about her. Nevertheless, I don't know what they are going to do to me, why, or how long they are going to leave me here.

If Bubble would have had the opportunity to use his Power, he could have easily gotten rid of his chains... but since the bracelets prevented him from using it, he was in a situation where he had to accept that he couldn't do anything while he was chained. He was going to have to wait for someone to come to him or find a way to use his Power despite the bracelets.

- Bracelets that prevent the use of someone's Power... It must be illegal,” he thought.

Although he had never seen this type of technology before, he had heard of them and knew of their existence. He wasn't sure if it was either illegal or not, but he was convinced that it was. How could such things be legal, after all? He looked again at the door before him. Of a lifeless gray metal and with a small dirty window, it was unfriendly and the "imprisoned" side of the room was greatly accentuated just by the presence of that door. Even though he knew he was locked in here, he still didn't know why. It wouldn't do any good to rack his brains alone, so he decided to wait. Even if it was hours, as long as he wasn't picked up, he couldn't do anything. He was imprisoned, but he hadn't been beaten: so there was a good chance they wanted to keep him alive. Since he didn't see a glass of water or a plate of food, there was bound to be a time when someone would come to feed him or bring him water. That was when he had to ask questions.

A few minutes passed without anything happening. Bubble could not feel any presence, but that was probably because of his bracelets. He couldn't hear any sound except his own breathing. His stomach wasn't rumbling, but the hunger was growing. He had gotten up and started to walk around a bit, but he was sitting down again, although this time he was in a cross-legged position. Waiting patiently, he was just thinking about what he could say and do when someone was coming. Eyes fixed on the ground, he was thinking…

And there, an infernal noise was heard.

He was so startled by the sound that he jumped: even his chains themselves resounded. As if something had crashed into a huge metal object, the ground shook with fear in the sound of the underworld. Bubble stood up, but as soon as he was on his two legs, he—

DIIIIIING.

Another infernal noise sounded. Bubble squinted, recognizing the sound. It wasn't difficult to understand:

A bell.

DIIIIIING.

Once again, the bell from the underworld rang out with an infernal noise. The room resounded with the violent and powerful sound as Bubble looked towards the barred window, even though he could not see anything outside. Since it was open and a little wind came out, he was sure the sound was coming from outside, otherwise he wouldn't have heard it so clearly. However, that bell could make such a noise... Yes, it could be a bell, but added to it was the sound... of the underworld itself.

DIIIIIING.It sounded again, as if it wanted to warn Bubble of his descent into hell. As if it wanted to warn him that in a short time, he was going to know the real hell. To be dragged into the earth and die from this world, disappear forever from the surface of Arcave. That was the impression he had with the noise of that huge bell, which he could not see, but which he could hear — and clearly.

DIIIIIING.

This is the sixth time it has sounded, but it was also the last time. Not moving a muscle, staring at the door with squinting eyes ready to burst into flames, Bubble waited. What else could he do? What could he do in a weak position like his? He couldn't use his Power to fight, nor could he defend himself, let alone run away. The walls were too strong and Bubble's strength came only from his Power: he was not like Cerise who could probably defend himself and fight without Power, trained in combat much more than he was. Bubble was sure of one thing: if they wanted to kill him right now, he would never survive.

But there was someone he had to protect and help, so he wouldn't give up, even if he was dragged into the underworld.

Patiently, he waited. Patiently, he stood, ready to face whoever was about to stand in front of him. Patiently…

A metallic noise.

Much weaker, but violent— or rather, aggressive. Coming from the metal door in front of him, he knew very well what it meant: they were coming for him.

Then the door opened with a bang.

The figure of a woman with long white hair appeared before him. At first she looked at him with a coldly neutral air, but eventually she let out a small smile. One that could not be considered amused, but one that could not be considered false either.

- Already raised, prisoner? she let go.

- Prisoner...?" asked Bubble.

- I'll talk on the way. Try anything and I promise ya that yar head will make friends with the ground. I hope ya care about yar teeth.

Bubble answered nothing, staring at the woman and her shining eyes. She approached him without taking the slightest precaution, as if she was convinced that he would do nothing.

- Or rather, she's convinced that no matter what I do, she'll beat me,” Bubble thought.

He couldn't do anything as long as he had his bracelets on, and as expected, as she removed his chains, she left the bracelets around his wrists and feet where they were, meaning that Bubble couldn't use his Power as he was being taken to who knows where. He had to accept his fate and followed the woman who pushed him violently, but he decided to find out more about his situation anyway. She hadn't forbidden him to speak — not yet, anyway.

- Where am I?" he asked.

The woman did not answer and closed the metal door behind them. Bubble noticed that the long hallway of the dark room he was in had several doors like his, all identical. Was it a prison? That's what he told himself, but was it really?

- Why am I here?" asked Bubble.

- Ya'll understand it quickly.

- Where is Cerise?

- …

At the name, the woman squinted, but Bubble couldn't notice because he was staring at what was happening in front of him. The hallway seemed so long…

- She's not here," the woman admitted.

- Ah?

This reassured Bubble. So she had managed to escape in time or even to get away from the attackers... but there was also the possibility that Bubble was their target. Nevertheless, if that was the case... why?

- …

Was it because he was a stranger? He thought it was a strange reason to lock him up. Racism was everywhere, of course, but to be attacked from behind, to be locked up, to be in such a place... He could hardly believe it.

- Where are we going?

- Ya ask a lot of questions.

- I'm sorry, but I'm being imprisoned without knowing why, I admit I'm confused…

There were steps in front of him and the woman told him to climb them while pushing him again. He almost tripped on one of them when he was pushed, but he managed to keep his balance and sighed with relief. He began to climb them one by one, lowering his head because of the low ceiling. The sound of their footsteps echoing down the stairwell was quite disturbing, oddly enough, but maybe it was because of the situation Bubble was in. He still had his hands tied, but if he wanted to, he could push the woman off and make a run for it. However, he didn't trust his own speed, and he had nowhere to run... He'd get caught up quickly and get hit, if not killed.

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When they reached the top, his eyes widened. The scene in front of him—

- You wanted to know where you were, didn't you?

Bubble took a step forward and looked around. It was wonderful.

The hallway was gigantic and the outer courtyard was visible from here. Pillars that were arranged as if they were giant window slats, made of a material he didn't

recognize, but it glowed faintly like gold. The floor beneath him was bright and reflected his reflection, made of clean, all-white marble. A vaulted roof where many frescoes were appearing while showing their beautiful colors, painted walls decorated with flaming candles... Everything was so beautiful, so magnificent. The woman pushed him violently forward and shouted at him to move forward, which Bubble did without even saying anything. He noticed that outside there was a big fountain where some people were reading and talking, but they couldn't see very well what they were wearing... He noticed something else: a gigantic tower that rose very high in the sky. Chances were that the bell he had heard before was right above it…

- Ya are currently in the Cathedral of Hell.

- …

- It was the King of Lost Hell himself who asked us to bring ya here.

- The King...?!

Why did the King of this country wanted to lock up Bubble? He himself couldn't understand it: he didn't know him at all! He had never been here before either, so why...?! He tried to calm down, telling himself that he will have his answer when he will see him in front of him. He continued his walk while observing the surrounding beauty, although he felt more and more a certain uneasiness complicated to explain... The woman had become totally silent and when Bubble had tried to tap the discussion, she had coldly looked at him without saying anything in return; he had thus given up.

- …

Arriving in front of a gigantic door decorated with different patterns, the woman told him not to move a muscle as she walked towards it. Bubble would have liked to take the opportunity to run away, but he had already resigned himself to this idea... So he watched her while hoping to get some answers as to his current situation: why did the King want to see him? He assumed that it was not for very happy reasons, since he had been taken here by force and chained in a cold and depressing room... He was afraid of what he would be told.

- It's not likely to be because of that, is it...?" he wondered as a chill ran down his back.

He hoped with all his heart that it wasn't, but he didn't see why it should be. It seemed so unlikely that he shook his head and removed the absurd idea from his head. All he had to do was be natural and pay attention to what he was saying while listening to the King... and everything would be fine.

- Wait for me, Mamou. I'll be back soon.

He squinted and the woman finally knocked on the door. Several times in irregular rhythms, Bubble understood immediately that it was a secret code that was known only to those here. As an aggressive noise sounded, alerting to the opening of the doors, Bubble asked himself a question: what was the King doing in such a place? He didn't know much about Lost Hell, but shouldn't the King be in a palace or something? So he was in a cathedral... called "The Cathedral of Hell"? For a place that was considered hell on earth, knowing that the King was in a cathedral was... ironic. The large doors in front of him opened slowly and the white-haired woman stood in front of him, a cold look on her face.

- I have no reason to follow ya, my work is done here,” she said to him as if she was talking to a common object. Enter the room and ya will understand why ya were brought here.

Bubble looked around the room that was now visible behind the two large doors, although they were still opening. He frowned and the woman pushed him forward again as she continued on her way, not giving a damn about the man's fate. He sighed.

- What a cold woman…” he thought.

He took a deep breath and started walking toward the huge room he could see behind the doors that had finally stopped. They hadn't fully opened, but as soon as Bubble passed through them, they began to close directly. He looked at them, but a voice rang out and echoed throughout the room, drawing his attention.

- Here ya are at last, Bubble.

A deep and powerful voice, one that would bring any weak man, any weak woman to her knees. A voice that expressed power and money, one that could hurt the spirit of its opponents. Such a powerful voice... That of the King of Lost Hell.

He was visible, sitting on a giant throne at the back of the room.

The King of Lost Hell. He was... a giant. A real giant. More than 10 meters tall at least, a long white beard coming down from his chin, half closed eyes and a pose that expressed respect and power, he started to smile and that slowly.

- Come forward... Join my faithful subject in front of the steps.

Bubble looked down and noticed a person was in front of the steps as the King had said, probably waiting for Bubble to come. He swallowed and took his first step. The room he was in was mind-blowingly beautiful, glowing with all the senses and a red and gold carpet beneath his feet. The room was giant and the roof was meters and meters above his head, a unique mural filled with history painted above his head. As he looked at it, he found something strange: it was painted with brëël...?

- This fresco was painted centuries ago... It explains the existence of the brëël,” explained the King.

- !!!

So there was an explanation for the existence of the brëël? Bubble looked up again while stopping in the middle of the room, wanting to understand the reality behind this monstrosity, but the King's fat laughter prevented him from concentrating.

- Ya can analyze the fresco as much as ya want, ya will not be able to understand its meaning. Come on, get to my subject, and let's talk quickly.

Bubble still wanted to analyze the fresco painted above his head, but from what he had seen, the King was right: he didn't understand anything at all. It was old and even if it was beautiful, it was very... messy. Would he be able to concentrate now that he knew such a thing? So the King of Lost Hell himself knew why the brëël existed and what it really was... It was so important... If the whole world had to learn it…

- …

He stopped next to the man with long white hair who smiled at him and Bubble raised both hands, still tied, with a faint smile on his lips.

- I'll make this quick, my dear Bubble.

The cloaked man squinted at the giant sitting on the throne. He moved part of his body and his long, white, slightly dirty hair followed his movement.

- Ya are here to repent of yar sin.

When the King said this, Bubble's eyes opened wide. His heart missed a beat and his mouth dropped open. As if he had just been told the biggest secret of all, he remained motionless in his position, while the man beside him said nothing, did nothing, did not even move a hair, watching Bubble from top to bottom.

- S-Sin…?

He had decided to refuse to believe that this was the reason he had brought here, but it would seem that he had been wrong: was it really for this... Was it really…

- Ya know what I mean, Bubble Keima.

- ??!!!!

Bubble took a step back when he heard his last name. Yet, he didn't tell anyone about it... Even Mamou didn't know his exact identity! So, how—

- He's the King of Lost Hell, right?! So how... how does he know that?!

Bubble was just a simple inhabitant of Suirui, a town that had its own popularity in the Winry-Rock Mountains, but was not at all popular around the world, nor in the country. He was someone who had never been to Lost Hell and had never tried to make a name for himself, so how could the King of Lost Hell, a person with monstrous prestige and power, know such a thing about him...?! How did he know, especially since if he was an inhabitant of Lost Hell, he too would never have been able to leave this country with deadly borders for them!

- Bubble, I'll get right to the point.

He spoke softly and slowly, his movements were also slow and yet so powerful. He touched his beard and smiled again, showing his unbrushed and unwhite teeth.

- The man beside ya is called Vixen. He is one of my subjects.

- Ya exaggerate my king. I am just a simple man following ya," replied Vixen.

- He is the one who will judge ya today.

Vixen placed a hand on his chest and bowed to him, greeting him and introducing himself.

- I am Vixen, one of the Protectors of this Cathedral. Nice to meet ya, Bubble.

- ... N-Nice to meet you... I guess...?

Vixen straightened up and kept his rather unhealthy smile on his face, although one could also say it was cheerful or even friendly — but Bubble couldn't see it that way in his situation. In any case, he felt his body regain its energy and he could now use his Power.

- Bubble. I'm giving ya this chance. This one, unique chance.

- A chance to...?

- To repent, of course.

This time it was Vixen who was going to speak. Bubble squinted, not quite understanding what was wanted of him. Did they want him to apologize...? Did he want to get down on his knees in front of Vixen and beg for forgiveness from the Gods...? Was this what they wanted from him? He was about to do so when the King raised his hand. Bubble turned to the giant and he shook his head.

- Apologizing won't be enough. First, get out your Power.

- …

Even though Bubble was reassured to be able to use it again, did he really want to do it...? Even taking it out wasn't something he wanted to do... but the King's intense gaze stressed him too much, so he reluctantly agreed. He raised his arm so that it was perpendicular to his body and opened his hand before thinking of something. Then an object appeared in the air and flew by his side, as if it was his open hand holding it up like that. Bubble slowly opened his eyes and grabbed it before showing it to the King.

- Are you happy with this?

The King smiled: he already knew what Power it was, but seeing it…

He started to laugh. After all—

It was nothing more than a flat cardboard board wrapped in paper.

Yes, the Power of Bubble was that ridiculous. If he were to unwrap it, it would be nothing more than a cardboard sheet with no original color, no style, and only wanted to be mocked. A Power in such a ridiculous shape; and yet—

- Good, good!

The King stopped laughing and nodded slowly.

- So, I'll give ya this chance to repent, Bubble.

- What should I do...?" he asked, his Power now in his arms.

Vixen conjured a sword in his hands and played with it before putting it on his shoulder, keeping it in his right hand.

- It's simple. I am yar opponent.

- … Huh?

While Vixen's smile looked a little unhealthy at first, it became... evil. His Aura exploded with such force that Bubble took several steps back, eyes wide open. The King gave a big smile, ready to watch a fight that would amuse him.

- Give it yar all, but only one rule is given to ya, Bubble: if ya attack me, King of Lost Hell, ya die on the spot. However, ya have the right to destroy the whole Cathedral in yar fight if ya want.

- ?!

He didn't understand why he was allowed such a thing. Did he not care about the state of the place at that point... or did he have a way to fix everything directly? He couldn't think any longer: Vixen pointed the blade of his sword at him.

- Repent in this fight, Bubble. If ya defeat me, ya win and we let you go. If I defeat ya, ya lose and go straight to hell.

Vixen cracked his neck.

- Are ya ready to repent before the Gods of the Underworld, monster?

Bubble gritted his teeth and clutched the cardboard board in his hands. However, realizing that he had no choice—

He smiled.

- ... Hey, Vixen.

- Hmm?

Bubble began to unwrap his Power and the cardboard board came into view. However, Bubble tossed it in the air and frowned as he stared at the man in front of him.

- I took an oath. Oath that I will never forget the past.

As he spoke, the cardboard board that rose into the sky began to glow, blinding Vixen. Vixen closed his eyes for a moment, but when the light began to fade, he opened his eyes again and looked at his opponent. He reached up to the sky and grabbed—

- I don't care what you really want from me, because despite my oath…

— Now, what Bubble had in his hands was a shiny turquoise sword, bathed in a power to be feared.

- I will never let my past haunt me again.