After training for a while, Lucifer said, "You should be ready now. Let's go."
Astrea asked, "Sir, can we get something to eat now before we leave?"
Lucifer said, "Absolutely not."
Liebe asked, "Why?"
Lucifer explained, "Purgatory Prison is a place where prisoners who are far above the death penalty are sent, and nothing is impossible. Every prisoner is stronger than the Zeldies you fought, and every single one of them is kept famished—they are skinny to the bones. If you have enough meat in you, they aren't above cannibalism. That's why, for now, you need to seem famished."
Liebe nodded. "I understand."
"For the strike force, it will be you, Anew, Masaki, as well as Roy. For now, you will lead the mission. Don't let your emotions cloud your judgment." Lucifer placed his hand on Liebe's shoulder. "Listen, I know it's hard to suppress certain feelings, but remember: emotions strengthen magic while weakening tactics. Here, you are entering enemy territory, and the lives of everyone you know are on the line. If you fail, you won't just lose your brother but also the lives of everyone who believes in you. That's a burden for any youngster such as yourself to carry, and it's a sin I wouldn't wish on my worst enemies. Always focus on tactics over emotions in a large-scale battle."
Astrea asked, "Sir, have you ever lost anyone close to you?"
Lucifer said, "Everyone that I hold dear seems to leave me sooner or later. And now, it's about time for us to return to what remains of our HQ."
Astrea said, "Sir, did the HQ really mean that much to you?"
Lucifer replied, "That base was my home, and every brick held more history than I could know. But now, I don't have any emotions left inside me. I don't have a past to return to, only a future to reach. It's time to bring the war to them. For now, you should be worrying about yourself. Remember, Rubues isn't an opponent you can beat with brute force. Using your Holy Relic along with the Devil's power is basically suicide. At most, you might hold it for five seconds. Now, let's go."
Athena, they reached the ruins of the Existence Forger HQ. Elizabeth teared up and said, "Brother, what will we do now?"
Lucifer said, "Don't cry. We knew this day would come eventually; it just happened sooner rather than later."
Elizabeth said, "Nothing to do… all those memories for nothing."
Lucifer said, "It's time. Create a portal."
Elizabeth nodded. "Understood. Shadow Magic… Shadow Embrace."
As Liebe, Anew, Masaki, and Roy were sunk into the shadows, Lucifer said, "Good luck."
Elizabeth asked, "What do we do now, Captain?"
Lucifer replied, "We will get ready for our own attack. If my theory is correct, the real enemy isn't Rubues; it's something far worse."
Elizabeth asked, "Should I prepare the Mausoleum of Eternal Shadows?"
Lucifer said, "That might just be necessary."
Astrea and everyone woke up on the seashore of the island that is Purgatory, seeing their uniforms changed to old ragged clothes. Masaki was wearing a cloak.
Liebe said, "Sir, you look different."
Masaki said, "Thanks. But for now, it's best if we use our aliases instead of our real names. So, call me Inazuma."
Roy said, "Orion is just fine for me."
Astrea and Anew? "You are Ragnus and Aira," Astrea said.
Astrea said, "Understood."
Masaki asked, "So what's the plan?"
Astrea replied, "Simple. Firstly, we have to cross the jungle to the Obsidian Tower, and we take them by storm."
Masaki said, "Well then, I will lead the way. You all follow me."