After finishing absorbing the Underworld Essence from the Underworld Swamp, numerous system notifications rang on Innocence Soma’s mind.

“Ding!”

“Absorbed more than 50% of the Underworld Essence required for successful fusion with Hades’ Soul.”

“You are now able to wield half of the original power of the part of Hades’ Soul in your possession.”

Innocence Soma then stood up and slowly made his way towards the Fifth prison. From afar, Innocence Soma could see a gigantic wall, called the Wall of the City of Dis. He looked into the wall for half a breath’s time and saw a figure kneeling in front of the gate, facing him. This figure is Deadly Beetle Stand, the guardian of the Fifth Prison.

“As expected, my half of Hades’ Soul has command of all of the Odd Prisons, from the 1st Prison up to the Last.”

“Alone’s half has command over the Even ones.”

“I should be able to confront him within the Day.”

Innocence Soma made his way towards Deadly Beetle Stand. Although it seemed that he was walking slowly, after two breaths he was already in front of the latter. Same as what he did with Troll Ivan and Golem Rock, Soma patted Stand’s shoulder and went on his way. After half a breath, Stand was kneeling and clutching his chest, as tremendous amounts of power was flowing thru his body.

“Pass this test of power and you will be able to fight with me in the next Holy War.”

Innocence Soma then continued his way towards the Labyrinth of the Minotaur, the one that Stand was supposed to be guarding. Unhindered due to being an Odd Prison, Innocence Soma continued his way towards the sixth prison. The sixth prison is generally divided into three valleys. Innocence Soma found it odd that there was not even a single Specter guarding the valley, as this was an Even Prison.

The end of the 3rd valley was were the Great Waterfall Tears of Blood can be found. Atop this waterfall of tears made from the tears of all of the souls in the Underworld, the Magnolia Tree can be found. In the previous Holy War, the fruits of this tree was used by the Virgo Gold Saint to craft the rosary of the 108 beads which was able to seal the souls of the Specters, preventing them from resurrecting. Innocence Soma’s goal is the Magnolia Tree this time, the very same tree that is the bane of all of the Surplices that Hades crafted for his Specters.

Innocence Soma came beneath the Magnolia Tree and stabbed his Hakuba Blade on the middle of the tree’s trunk. He did not kneel this time. Instead, he leaned on the tree trunk beside were he stabbed the Hakuba Blade and closed his eyes, as if meditating. After a dozen breaths, an incorporeal figure suddenly appeared beside him. This prompted Innocence Soma to open his eyes and stare at the newcomer.

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“Creator of the Rosary of 108 Beads, Virgo Ashimita.”

“So you left a strand of your consciousness here, in the Magnolia Tree.”

The incorporeal figure of Virgo Ashimita, the Virgo Gold Saint of the previous Holy War (Lost Canvass) nodded with a gentle smile.

“Vessel of Innocence, I have been guarding this Magnolia Tree for more than two centuries now.”

“My purpose of being here is to pave the way for you.”

“Even though I am only a strand of consciousness, I have already attained the peak of Omega when I was still with the living.”

“Now, I will use all of the power left within me that will allow you to take this Magnolia Tree away with you.”

“You can do this after you have absorbed all of the Underworld Essence in this place.”

After a dozen breaths, Soma was able to absorb all of the Underworld Essence from the trunk of the Magnolia Tree. This was the cue that Virgo Ashimita was waiting for. He raised his cosmos to the peak of Omega (Eight Sense) and used his power to pluck the Magnolia Tree and all of its roots from the top of the Waterfall. The Magnolia tree then shrunk in size which allowed Innocence Soma to store it away in his storage space.

After expending all of his cosmos, Virgo Ashimita disappeared into the void. He left Innocence Soma with a gentle reminder.

“Since you have absorbed ¾ of the needed Underworld Essence, you are more or less ready to face Alone.”

“You won’t be able to get the 100% Underworld Essence unless you defeat him, for the remaining ¼ is with him.”

“Go now, Vessel of Innocence! Make Hades’ Soul whole again!”

Innocence Soma then looked far into the Seventh Prison, and he slowly made his way towards it, just as he had done with the first six. However, before he was halfway towards it, a vortex suddenly appeared in front of him.

“So this is your invitation, Alone?”

“Who am I to refuse?”

Without hesitation, Innocence Soma entered the vortex. He found himself inside a small room similar to the one he was confined with Black Soma and Light Soma. In the middle of the room, a handsome young man with hair half golden and hair half scarlet black could be seen seated cross-legged with eyes closes. Upon sensing Innocence Soma, this young man opened his eyes and it can be seen that his left eye contained a six-sided star. Unconsciously, both of them ignited their cosmos to the peak of Omega, as Alone donned a similar Hades Surplice as Innocence Soma’s.

“At last, after more than a couple of centuries, my long wait is over.”

“Congratulations on making it this far, Vessel of Innocence!”

“Defeat me, and you will be able to absorb half of Hades’ Soul within me.”

“This will signify the start of the agreement with Athena eons ago, which was further discussed with Athena Sasha in the previous Holy War.”

Alone stood up, and brandished a long blade, similar to a samurai, which was pitched black in color.

“Tyfring, the weakest sword, cannot show its true power while it is cursed.”

“But what happens when the curse is removed?”

Alone’s aura and cosmos skyrocketed after unsheathing Tyfring, the cursed blade. The blade no longer seemed to be cursed, and Alone gave it a new name.

“Henceforth, Tyfring will be known as Masamune the Legendary Samurai Sword.”

“Come, let us settle this with our Blades.”

“Your Hakuba Blade vs. my Masamune, which will prevail!”

Alone then charged towards Innocence Soma without any hesitation.