The Seals

I wake up in a field. I'm laying on my back under a giant oak tree. I quickly sit up startling Gaia, who's sitting next to me.

"Eric! You scared me." She says punching me.

"Sorry. Wait I need to go back!" I tell her while standing up.

"Calm down Eric. It's been almost four hours. The Devils fled and the others are fine." I let out a deep breath and sit back down. "Eric, I need to ask you something." I nod and she continues. "It's similar to what Bergeth asked you. Why do you seek power? Why do you wish to grow stronger?" I take a moment to think.

"Well, for a few reasons. I want to help those I care about. Whether it be getting stronger them selves or having fun. I want to be able to protect them and be strong enough for them to rely on me. And truthfully it is kinda fun. But that's just a portion of it." I say before sighing and softly add. "And to stop them from crying." I remember Hino's voice and the feeling of her tears hitting me. Oh god, now I've got a fourth. I laugh at that though, confusing Gaia.

"Is that the truth?" She asks me sternly. For some reason a part of me feels like lying to her would be bad. It feels similar to when my mom would ask me that, knowing I lied.

"Yes, it is." I say and she sighs, relieved.

"Good. Okay Eric, you're going to go fight Zeferon and break the seal on your blood." She says turning to me while smiling.

"What?"

"You remember the first time you went their before meeting Bergeth? And the voice you heard? That voice was Zeferon. His soul is trapped in your blood. He was trying to convince you to come to him but you couldn't hear him, fortunately. If you had he'd have taken control of your body. Bergeths been staying there to keep him from calling you but he can't do it forever. So you'll just go break the seal now and we won't have a problem."

"Yeah, no. I'd like to break it but I barely survived fighting the Devil of Strength. In fact I only survived because he needs me alive and I managed to catch him off guard. I doubt Zeferon will let me do the same."

"True, but Zeferon is much weaker than he was before. So you'll have a much better chance. And, when you beat him you should get asked a question. At least if your powers work the way I believe they will. Anyway, the question will ask if you want to become the new Flame Devil or just receive a bit of his power. If you choose to become it then you'll actually become it. Your skin won't change, since you'll be half Devil Half whatever your mother was, but you'll grow two horns and wings made entirely of fire. You'll see them on him later. You'll also gain much greater power but at a cost. It'll create a connection between you and the Demon God. But don't worry, as long as you remain my, or another Gods or Goddesses Champion we'll be able to block the connection. After all, only one connection can be made with a God or Goddess. If you chose to not become the Devil, you'll have no connection but you can't use its skills or powers. It'll be like our connection currently. It'll give you stats like I did but no new skills." I nod and think about it. It would be very helpful, even if I only got the stats. Every little bit counts. Ugh thinking that made me hate myself for forgetting my Augment Body skill. WAIT! She said I'd get the wings! Does that mean I could fly!? That would be amazing! And useful if I fight more flying creatures like the Wyvern. Or other Devils I guess.

"Okay I'll do it." I say confidently.

"You did it to fly, didn't you?" She asks smiling.

"That was part of it yes, how'd you know?"

"Woman's intuition." I make a 'tsk' sound hearing this and she giggles before whistling. Bergeth appears after a few moments and looks at me.

"SO, YOU'VE CHOSEN TO FIGHT! GOOD! I'D HAVE EXPECTED NO LESS FROM MY SUCCESSOR!"

"Bergeth, hang on. While I have you here I have a question. Well two. Can I teach Luna Ancient Beast magic? And are there more spells or skills? Don't get me wrong these are great but three spells don't seem like enough to destroy a city." Bergeth laughs hearing this.

"ERIC, FIRSTLY YES YOU CAN TEACH OTHERs THIS MAGIC. HOWEVER THEY MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENTS. THEY MUST BE A BEAST MAN, AND HAVE THE RAW STRENGTH TO CAST IT. SECONDLY YES, IT CURRENTLY ONLY HAS THREE SPELLS. BUT YOUR THE SUCCESSOR FOR A REASON. NOW THAT YOU HAVE CREATED ONE I EXPECTED YOU TO FIGURE IT OUT. SCHOOLS OF MAGIC TAKE AFTER THEIR CREATORS. YOUR DARKNESS SCHOOL IS GROWING AND EVOLVING AS ARE YOU, LIKE THOSE CLAWS AND BOOTS. NOW THAT YOU SUCCEEDED ME, YOU'RE ABLE TO CREATE NEW ANCIENT BEAST SPELLS. HOWEVER, THEY MUST FIRST BE SOMETHING MY SOUL WOULD CONSIDER A PART OF THE SCHOOL. AND I AM SORRY BUT I'M AS STUBBORN AS THREE BULLS TOGETHER." I laugh hearing the end and he joins me.

"Okay, well thanks for telling me that and yeah. I'll be going into my soul. Bye." I say awkwardly. "H-how do I do that?" Gaia chuckles hearing this and walks over to me.

"First clear your mind. You need to focus on your soul. On the place you wish to go. Just do that and you'll get there." I nod and thank her, before doing as she said. I focus and a moment later I vanish. Gaia sighs and looks down at her hands.

"DON'T WORRY GAIA. HE WONT BE THE SAME WAY. I'VE SEEN INTO HIS SOUL." Bergeth tells her as comforting as he can.

"I know, I'm just nervous. We're sending him against a Devil right after he barely survived another. I don't want to lose another person I care about." She replies and the two remain silent for a while.