The Seventh Layer of Hell.

A dark blue crescent moon began to rise in the distant sky, drawing the attention of innumerable beings that dwelled in the realm.

The wills of mighty entities from multiple layers of the Abyss stirred awake, their focus gathering on the newborn celestial body shining in the sky of the Seventh Layer.

"Oh?"

"Has someone actually completed Moon Ascension?"

"At last, there is something interesting. It has been so boring ever since Serenity."

"Damn it! Who could it be? And why on this layer?"

"Has Botis uttered any prophecy of late?"

"The Seventh Layer, and it’s blue of all colors. Could it be ..."

As these beings of ancient power continued their discussions, the crescent moon began to wane, its glow dimming little by little. Soon after, it vanished into nothingness, disappearing as if it had never existed at all.

"What a shame, it failed. It was so close."

"Another soul returning to the warm embrace of the Great Flow."

"Arrogant fool."

"How lame …"

One after another, those great beings withdrew their wills, leaving the majority of creatures who had witnessed the event bewildered, unable to grasp the true meaning behind what they had just seen.

…

The Ravenswood House.

The reaper standing there was more astonished than at any point since the Day of Sacred Fire.

Under his fixed, piercing gaze, the newborn crescent moon slipped into Luther’s body right after the boy had completed Moon Ascension.

"Huh? Did it fail? But it was successful beyond doubt,” the reaper muttered under his breath.

He placed his pale hand against Luther’s chest.

"Oh … it’s still here. It’s just being hidden away."

The new celestial body now lay deep within Luther’s soul, shrouded in the folds of the black-feathered cloak.

"Remarkable. Your cloak of ambiguity has severed every single link of fate connected to the moon itself. This will protect you from almost all kinds of divinations, foresight, and prophecy."

He lifted his hand from Luther’s chest. A faint mark in the shape of a crescent moon shimmered with a gentle glow upon the boy’s skin.

"Your physique is strong enough to even conceal an Ascended Moon. It’s as if you were born carrying a part of the authority of secrecy and mystery. No wonder that old man left everything to you," he said.

When reading through Luther’s past, the reaper had once believed that the boy’s “non-existence” was just a property of living reapers. But now he realized it was an innate trait unique to Luther himself. No cloak of ambiguity could ever mask an ascended divine power like this.

"Splendid! This will spare us a great deal of trouble. After all, you are nothing more than a young Ascended One. You’ve yet to gain any real grasp over your power. And, it seems the old man even prepared a guide for you already."

He turned his gaze toward the glass cabinet.

At some point, the last heirloom of the Ravenswood family, the marble statue of a raven, had transformed into a real living creature. His feathers were black as the night sky, his glowing crimson eyes locked on both Luther and the reaper, and he had a long crack running down the center of his forehead.

"It has been a long time, Minos," the raven spoke in the ancient tongue of Agares, its sharp voice rising like the cry of a cat wandering in the night.

So his name was Minos, Luther thought.

Only now did he know the name of the reaper that helped him complete the ritual.

"Not that long, though, it’s been just under nine thousand years. Anyway, ever since he vanished, you’ve disappeared as well. So you’ve been in the Origin all this time, Acher," Minos said.

"That bastard! He sealed me in this place all these years just to watch over his descendants. I haven’t eaten a single thing for almost nine thousand years!" Acher cursed out loud.

“You’re still as sharp-tongued as ever. If you didn’t want do it, no one could have forced you,” Minos replied with a faint smirk.

"And you’re still just as annoying and talkative, Minos. Get back to Hell already! Looking at your face is ruining my appetite!" Acher snapped.

"You don’t have to tell me that. Now that the task is complete, I have no reason to linger in the human realm any longer. The Great Current has been warning me nonstop ever since I left Hell. What a nuisance. It was the one who demanded that I come," Minos grumbled.

He reached toward the cabinet, and the family heirloom ring dissolved into a thin wisp of smoke before reappearing, solid, in the palm of his hand.

"And this is my reward, as recorded in the blood pact. Luther has already given his consent." A small, satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

"Of course," Acher replied, his sharp eyes still lingering on the ring for a long moment.

In truth, there had been a small prank left behind by ‘that one.’ Even if Minos helped Luther successfully complete the ritual, the reaper could not claim the ring without the boy’s explicit permission. The trap was set in vain, though, Minos had not fallen into it.

As the Ascended One prepared to step into the pitch-black vortex that had opened again behind him, Acher called out:

"Wait a minute, there’s one last thing!"

"What now? And don’t expect me to do anything for free," Minos responded.

"It’s only a small matter, so don’t be so greedy. The ring of Astaroth is worth the equivalent of an entire legion!" Acher scolded.

"What is it?" Minos sighed.

"Help me temporarily seal the Ascended Power inside the boy’s body. He is nothing more than a newborn crescent moon right now. If he cooperates, it will be as easy for you as turning your hand over," Acher said. "You know very well how dangerous it would be if he cannot control his own strength. If wielded without restraint, the Ascended Power could corrode and tear apart his living body in an instant. He needs time to adapt."

"Why should I care?” Minos shrugged.

"Listen, I can already sense that he succeeded. If Luther were to erase the souls of an entire country in the Origin by accident, neither he nor you would be spared. After all, you’re the one who helped him complete Moon Ascension," Acher said.

"Sigh, you make a good point. I knew taking this damned ring wouldn’t be that easy," Minos grumbled again.

The black cloak trailing behind him quivered a bit, then a long, serpent-like tail slid out from beneath it. It had the same deep gray color as his arm.

Scattered along the tail’s length were a few gleaming scales, shimmering in a veil of pale golden light.

Minos used the sharp tip of the tail to slice open the fabric at Luther’s chest. Three of those luminous scales detached and floated toward the boy, pressing themselves against his skin.

From the places where the scales had fallen, droplets of glowing ichor began to trickle out, hovering in the air before Luther. Minos extended his pinky finger, dipping it into the glowing blood and drawing three straight lines connecting the scales, forming a perfect triangle in the center of the boy’s chest. He then inscribed numerous twisting, arcane symbols around it.

When the work was done, the crescent mark lay fully bound inside the drawing.

"It’s done." Minos exhaled.

Then he looked at Luther with a steady gaze and spoke:

"Farewell, boy. Ah, I suppose I never properly introduced myself. My name is Minos, the Judge of the Abyss. If you ever require my assistance, you may find me on the Second Layer of Hell. But make sure to prepare a reward beforehand because if you don’t … I cannot promise what will happen, heh heh heh."

"Good ... goodbye." Luther stammered.

"Acher, make sure you take good care of the boy. The first living Ascended One ever to appear? Now that is intriguing. I look forward to the day we meet again," Minos said before stepping into the swirling black vortex and coming back to Hell.

"Don’t order me around!" Acher snapped.

Once the reaper was gone, the raven flew over and perched on Luther’s right shoulder. He tilted his head and leaned against the boy’s head as though trying to sense something within him.

"I also didn’t properly introduce myself, either, did I?" he spoke in English. "My name is Acher, and I am the guide your ancestor chose for you. That Ravenswood surname he adopted when he first came to the human world, he took it from me."

Then the raven pointed his wing toward the refrigerator and commanded:

"Now, take out every bit of food in this house. I haven’t tasted anything for nine thousand years!"

For some reason, Luther suddenly felt as though this so-called guide might not be that reliable.