DUN…
DUN…
DUN…

Derrick looked at the crumbling ceiling above. Small lumps of rock fell to the floor as dust floated in the air. What could that be? Is that the “reinforcement” Naoto mentioned? I’d better focus on the mission for now.

Roughly five minutes before 'Isalde's' arrival to the Alchemic Order, Derrick received a call request from Naoto on his communications talisman.

[Hello?]

[Desmond! I see you’re still alive! How have you been holding out down there?]

[Well if you don’t account for that fact that I'm half-fucking-dead, then I’m doing just fine, thanks.]

[We don’t really have any time for snark. I’ve got something vital to tell you.]

[What’s up?]

[We’ve had a sudden change of plans. Descend the labyrinth as much as possible. We’ll be right behind you.]

[What…? What about Reed Rowley? You were quick to dismiss me when I chose to go off course on the mission, now you expect me to trust you that easily?]

[Sorry, but you have no choice but to trust me. I’ve convinced McLoren to contact a certain associate of his to provide support for the mission, but he is a bit…unhinged. It will be almost impossible for us to control him.]

[WHAT?!]

[Yeah yeah, it’s risky, but now we have a solid chance at capturing Reed Rowley while also dismantling the organization. Isn’t that the justice you want?]

[You’re a shrewd bastard.]

[Hah! Guess so! Well, there isn’t anything else to explain, so keep exploring down there! We’ll be coming soon. Buh-Bye!]

BZZT

He actually hung up on me…that asshole…!

Derrick continued descending the dungeon. With each step, the cold, stone floor became rife with vegetation. It crept across the walls and floors as though it were intent on devouring the earth.

“Watching…Watching…” the vines whispered in an eerie manner. “Watching…Watching…”

That’s strange. Vegetation should not be able to readily grow under such conditions, and The Hole isn’t exactly known for its sprawling wildlife either. Its power source must be something else. Something deeper.

He reached out and touched the strange vines for but a moment and was captured by an ethereal madness. Frenzied thoughts pervaded his mind, as though the many souls of the damned pried at his very soul for control. Instinctively, Derrick pulled himself away from the fern.

“What…what was that?” He gripped his head tightly before regaining his senses in full. Despite the momentary shock, he pressed forward. Madness and overwhelming dread were common symptoms of High Spirit Concentration, a condition in which one's body held an excess amount of spirituality that it couldn’t handle. It was proof enough that whatever Naoto wanted to find was down here somewhere, and it was waiting, lurking.

____

[On the seventh floor of the destroyed labyrinth]

'Isalde' laughed a hearty laugh as he caressed his body. First, he delicately rubbed his face, then his hands slowly crawl down to his chest.

“Ah~ The air…it feels divine!”

Hoffman sucked his teeth and said, “Damn, I don’t have time for this!” He immediately closed the distance between himself and Flavio McLoren with a full intent to kill.

However, 'Isalde' easily saw through his movements and grabbed the priest by the wrist. “Hey, pay attention to me!” As long as 'Isalde' could fight, there was no hope in stopping the shrewd duo from reaching the tree.

Hoffman scoffed in disgust, “I have no interest in perverts like you.” At point blank range, he summoned the monkey paw and punched 'Isalde's' stomach. 'Isalde' reeled back from the incredible power of the attack, but regained his balance soon after. 

His body is solid like steel. Even the monkey paw is barely making him budge. If that won’t work, then I’ll have to use everything I have!

The Solari Tribe possesses a unique aptitude for purging and or purifying evil spirits and malicious Gods. Father Hoffman was no different. He possesses a rare genetic ability known as the [Nine Harmonic Realms], allowing him to tame and control various malicious Gods as his own spirit summons. This technique not only drastically reduces the amount of spirituality expended using a summon, but grants the user access to multiple spirits at once to combine their attributes. Many among the Alchemic Order revere the technique as truly divine.

Hoffman gathered the Factor of the Mythical Beast of the First Harmonic Realm, the Divine General Ape Randjhi, and assimilated it into his body. By using the extension technique of the Nine Harmonic Realms, [Inheritance], He temporarily fused with the Mythical Beast, obtaining its attributes and skills.

'Isalde' quickly maneuvered himself behind the transformed priest. “Is that all? I’m not all that impressed.” He attacked Hoffman with a palm strike, but his attack was easily evaded. Before he could even realize the gravity of the situation, 'Isalde’s' arm was snapped in two.

“...?!”

Hoffman followed up with a right straight punch to the chest, sending 'Isalde' flying. The young man crashed into a large ornate pillar.

He’s too fa-

BLAM-

Hoffman hit 'Isalde' with a devastating knee-kick that shattered the ornate marble pillars like glass. His knee crashed into 'Isalde’s' chest with a heavy force. It was enough to make the Bloody Devil himself cough up blood.

The awakened Hoffman had no intention of letting up his attacks. He further pummeled 'Isalde' into the ground with the ferocity of a wild beast. As long as [Inheritance]  remained active, Hoffman’s rage and bloodlust would only rise. 'Isalde' understood how risky a defensive position would be and quickly escaped the barrage of attacks.

This guy is way more fun than I gave him credit for. He actually broke some of my ribs.

'Isalde' couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of someone challenging him. It was not out of pride or fear, but rather, it originated from a deep-rooted malice derived from overwhelming joy.

I don't know what he did, but his power just skyrocketed upon eating that factor. Does he have an assimilation technique? Well, I really don't care. If this is what it takes to crush him, then fine. I’ll give up this “me” in order to become “myself.”

Inside 'Isalde' lies a dormant Factor sealed within him by his father, Flavio McLoren. This unknown Factor from an unknown era contains far too much spirituality for the average person to maintain their physical form. In the human world, it is the equivalent of asking a human being to store the energy of a nuclear bomb inside of them at all times. Such a possibility is nothing but a fantasy.

However, 'Isalde' held a great talent. A talent as a vessel.

Though 'Isalde’s' body was capable of sealing the excess spirituality of the Factor, his own soul, his original Factor, would slowly be corrupted by the maddening influence of the foreign soul. As a result of this instability, 'Isalde' has formed multiple different “personhoods” by which his madness expresses itself.

The Bloody Devil represents "His" fierce loyalty and reverence towards his father. Though his physical and mental ability are considerably weakened from the countless restraints placed upon him, "He" is the most stable personality, making "Him" particularly useful to McLoren as a weapon of war.  

'Isalde' represents “His” animalistic and childish impulses. The name 'Isalde' was a fake name created by Flavio McLoren in order to dissociate the boy's "other selves" and create a separate ego that could be controlled. "His" higher intellect and unrestricted body gives "Him" strength vastly superior to the Bloody Devil in exchange for his self-control.

The third personality is the original personality. "It's" name was a relic lost to time that even "It" did not remember. Thus, "It" is simply referred to as "The Boy." "The Boy" is the embodiment of the emptiness, hatred and despair "It" felt during it's youth.  As a child abandoned in the Medora Civil War and forced to become a weapon by his surrogate father, "It" stops at nothing to destroy all that is good and evil. Being a creature solely defined by hatred makes "It" the most unpredictable personality. Even McLoren has given up all hopes of controlling "The Boy."

Hey you...no…perahps calling you “that” would be more appropriate. Isalde' called out to The Boy in his mind. The Boy sat in a fetial position away 'Isalde', seemingly despondent. It's been a while since we've spoken to each other, but it's time to wake up.  

"..."

The darkness around The Boy's face obscured “It’s” appearance. Though The Boy had the body of a child, it was impossible to discern who, or what, “It” truly was. “It’s” eye color, hair, and particular expressions; they were all blank. Slowly, decrepitly, The Boy arose to “It’s” feet and walked up to 'Isalde'. ‘Isalde’ felt his consciousness slip away as his mind was consumed by an overwhelming darkness. The darkness emanating from The Boy invaded his body like a worm burrowing through the Earth. It was disgusting. It was vile. It was liberating.

The jovial expression on 'Isalde’s'  face faded as the original personality took his place. Though “It” didn’t speak a word, Hoffman understood the qualitative change in the young man soon enough. The enemy before him, 'Isalde', was no longer himself, but someone different, someone far more vile and grotesque.

He readied himself for the ensuing battle as he came to terms with the very real possibility of death. “Very well,” Hoffman proclaimed with a steadfast determination, “I shall be your exorcist.”