[Before the light struck the earth and after Shettsu got in the car to drive away].
Settsu "Why did you insist to drive? We could've just jumped into a portal gate to the great tree"
Shettsu "Well that is because it's a place where any sort of powers are useless, remember"
Settsu sighed "It's a six-hour ride. I hate acting like a human besides, since when you know how to drive? Do you even have a license?"
Shettsu "Yes it's right in my pocket"
Settsu sarcastically "What does it say? Gender: male, religion: in god?"
They both laughed
Settsu "It's crazy isn't it? Back then we were the ones who ruled the world but now the humans are the ones who rule it"
Shettsu "It's their lands you know, we just live with them"
Settsu "Well demons and goblin don't but the other tribes do"
Shettsu "Not all demons and goblins are allowed there"
Settsu "Yeah, if only you didn't kill Tatiana you could live in the red palace"
Shettsu didn't answer he pretended that he heard nothing. Settsu looked at him and asked, "The real question is how are you handling things? You and Mika technically raised Sakata, you only focused on him your entire life and neglected yourself"
Shettsu finally opening up to someone "It's hard, especially when it happened all of the sudden. Sometimes I deny stuff and sometimes I only want to shot myself in the head to end everything but I can't leave Sakata he is my son from the only woman that I love. I really can't take it anymore, lying to Sakata to protect him from his fate, lying to everyone about stuff, and the fear of losing him is driving me crazy"
Settsu felt pity toward him but he was in no position to, Settsu's love story is no way happier. He fell in love with a married demon who had a son (Mano)from her husband( her husband was also a demon). They both fell in love with each other but her husband was a bad guy, he almost killed Mano once because he knew about her relationship and thought that Mano wasn't his. She ran away from him to protect her son and lived with Settsu until one day her husband found her and killed her. Settsu killed him and raised Mano as his child. No one except Sakata's mother knew about this even Mano himself doesn't know.
They both were quiet for hours thinking about the past. After what had seemed four hours Shettsu stopped the car and got out of it. Settsu followed, they stopped at the beginning of a forest.
Settsu "where are we?"
Shettsu "Near the border of the big tree's forest"
Settsu "Big tree has a forest?"
Shettsu "Come on follow me"
They both entered the forest, it was such an amazing one. There were ivy, willows, and other types of trees in this forest. Some are so high and others are short, some had a thick trunk and some had a thin trunk. Not forgetting about all the flowers with numerous colours and shape, bushes and other plants were spotted when they kept going deep in the forest. In each step, the plants, flowers and trees get more grown and prosperous. By just walking in this forest you feel that nothing matters anymore, you feel like you are united with Mother Nature and could live here until you get old and die. It brings comfort to her visitors.
Settsu was dazzled by the beauty of this forest while Shettsu seemed to got used to this scene. They both kept walking for nearly two hours without resting and non of them seemed tired like the forest is giving them strength. It was such an amazing forest until they reached the great tree. It was as it was named with its huge trunk that is located in the middle of the forest. The size of its trunk is six meters in diameter, and its height is fifteen meters, it was an apple tree. The tree was centred in the middle of the forest and no tree grew near it from the last tree at least a hundred and fifty meters of grass and flowers only, it was like no tree dared to come near it.
Settsu was dazzled by the view and the only thing he could say was "Wow!"
Settsu stopped walking since he crossed the last tree of the forest to witness the beauty and grace of this tree. He kept looking at it for a long time forgetting Shettsu's existence.
Shettsu on the other hand went near the trunk sitting few centimetres from it parallel to the trunk near a tombstone that was placed beside the trunk, helooking at it for a long time. When Settsu finally noticed that Shettsu wasn't beside him but sitting next to the trunk he began walking slowly and thinking that Shettsu might have been tired and wanted to rest but he felt something was off and asked, "What are you doing? Why are you sitting there? Do you feel good?"
Shettsu didn't answer at once but answered after few seconds "I want to tell you something"
Settsu who was walking toward him"Tell me what?"
Shettsu "The time had come I can feel it, it's happening"
Settsu who got more closer said worryingly "What do you mean?"
Shettsu "I mean that my death is near"
Settsu who was now a meter away stopped interrupted "What ? Why would say that?"
Shettsu continued "So I can't keep this hidden away from you anymore"
He stood up looked at Settsu and revealing the tombstone for him. Settsu looked worried at Shettsu but then he caught the glimpse of the tombstone. It was a big rock with a sword and staff on the top of it making an 'X' shape, someone placed them in the rock to prevent them from falling, they were linked by what is seemed a necklace, and in the rock was a badly carved writing. Settsu got closer to read it, it said, "Here lies Satasha Mitskaki"
Settsu began to breathe heavily, he fell on his knees near the tombstone. Tears began dropping from his eyes.
He was crying because this tombstone belongs to his sister ( Sakata's mother), he thought for many years that she disappeared to protect Sakata. He was not surprised, somehow he felt that she was dead for a long time but refused to accept the facts. He said a mid of sob "Why didn't you tell me sooner? You kept my clinging on the thread of hope that she will show up as usual after long years of disappearance, why?"
Shettsu's tear began to fall, he didn't answer but Settsu asked in a loud tone "Tell me why?"
Shettsu "Your father told me not to tell anyone because he wanted to protect the secret"
Settsu "That jerk made my life and hers a living hell. What now that I don't know?"
Shettsu "A lot of hidden truth that Satasha died knowing them"
Settsu tears began to dry, now he was angry about everything. He said, "But you aren't dead?"
Shettsu knew this was coming, he looked at Settsu's eyes and said, "I cannot die, not until I fulfil the prophecy"
Settsu stood up facing Shettsu "The same one? The one that she died to fulfil? Really? Why does it matter to you?"
Shettsu "Because Sakata is involved in it"
Settsu opened his eyes widely, he was connecting everything now, he understood everything and asked " who killed Satasha?"
Shettsu "It was Tian"
Settsu stepped back and looked stunned, he looked at Shettsu who was very calm. He caressed his face looking at Shettsu again to make sure he wasn't joking with him but he saw that Shettsu was serious, he raged "You lied to me when you said my father asked you to hide her death to protect her and Sakata. You were just protecting your sister, right?"
Shettsu "No, I didn't"
Settsu yelled " Don't lie to me! I am Satasha's brother and I deserve to know the truth"
Shettsu trying to reason with him"Why would I lie to you Settsu? My time had come, and there is no use in hiding anything"
Settsu was furious, he punched Shettsu on his face with all his might panting and shaking from anger wanting to see Shettsu die now on his hands. He spoke angrily " How dare you? She trusted you, I entrusted you with her safety. It is your fault, her death is due to your selfishness and ego, and don't you dare to say that you loved her"
Shettsu had hit the trunk of the tree after Settsu punched him. He didn't bleed, he had expected this reaction from him and wasn't surprised, he lifted his head slowly and looked at him with his flaming green eyes. Settsu cared about nothing, he was thinking about vengeance only.
Shettsu "Are you done?"
Settsu "What did you say?"
Shettsu "Keep your fury for now, we have company"
Settsu quickly turned around and saw a figure marching from far away. The figure looked like it was a tall man with a very wicked smile.
Settsu didn't recognize the figure at once but then he did, he disbelievingly said"Impossible! It cannot be possible, Kronos ?"
Shettsu "It's him the one who started it all and will end it all"
Kronos "You are trespassing this property, it's a sacred land where my loved ones of lay"He smirked and it was filled with wickedness and evil.
Shettsu "Long time no see old friend, How come you have a body?"
Kronos was getting near them said "Like it? It's a new one, I got tired of the old one you know"
He then stopped at five meters distance saying "I knew you would be here so I decided to come and surprise you" he smiled evilly.
Neither Shettsu nor Settsu said a word for a while then Shettsu said, "Are you going to stand there all day or you are going to make a move?"
Kronos "I am waiting for the sunset it's an amazing scene, you should see it as well".
Shettsu walked toward Kronos and Settsu hesitatingly followed. They both stood next to him, Settsu was suspicious about everything and how calm Shettsu is killing him.
Kronos "I knew for a long time that Satasha had told you everything but why didn't you kill me back then? It would make things a lot easier"
Shettsu didn't answer, Kronos continued "She was such a beautiful, intelligent, and powerful young woman. She could've been a great emperor if she didn't choose you"
Shettsu calmly "Is this why you sent my sister to kill her?"
Kronos in spite "No, I'd never do such dirty move, she acted on her own"
Shettsu looked at him disgusted and said, "You had gained nothing from her death and she was the only one who cared about you at some point. I don't know why she protected you and killed for you, tell me did you cared about her?"
Kronos gazing thoughtfully about the past said sadly "I did"
The sunset had arrived with its red, orange beams shone at the great tree. It was such a mesmerizing scene. The place was filled with flowers scent, the butterflies and the fireflies filled the area travelling around the great tree as if it was a ceremony for them. The beams of the sunset were penetrating the holes between the leaves as the sun went further down, it looked like the tree was the source of the light and it was alive. After the sun went down, darkness had arrived and filled the forest quickly. All the butterflies and the fireflies disappeared with the sunbeam as if they were united.
The three of them stood gazing at the tree silently, Settsu asked, "What now?"
He looked at both Shettsu and Kronos who seemed in their world of silence. Settsu wasn't a big fan of being quiet for a long time but he was sure that the best thing if he just stood quietly waiting for any move.
Kronos "I regret it you know"
Shettsu "There is a lot of stuff you need to regret, Which one do you mean?"
Kronos smiled bitterly "Everything. I only wanted revenge but things got out of control and now I am the bad guy here"
Settsu was listening patiently, he understood every word they said but he didn't want to pick any fight that he was sure he would lose. Kronos is a strong rival and can't be easily killed.
Shettsu didn't say anything, he was only looking at Satasha's grave, he loved her so much that her death caused a gap in him. He didn't care about anything he only wanted to see her and hold her in his arms once again.
The silence broke off by Settsu "Well that was a nice meeting, good to see you alive great grandfather but we should go now it's getting late. Oh, look we've been standing like this for a long time, it's already half-past eight"
Settsu looked at Shettsu in an arguing way for them to get out of here. Shettsu looked coldly at him and said, "Yeah it is late. Do you want to drop you off somewhere?" He looked at Kronos who was admiring the tree. Kronos "No thank you"
Settsu "Then we will go, see you soon"
Kronos "You aren't going anywhere, I am not here for chatting purpose. Give it to me Shettsu the time had come"
Shettsu "I won't give you anything because I don't have it"
Kronos confusedly "You don't have it? Then who does, your son ?"
Shettsu was alarmed he looked like he was about to wipe Kronos from existence, he said, "It's not with him either"
Kronos disbelievingly"Liar, it's with him I can see it in your eyes"
Shettsu smiled wickedly "You don't have any idea don't you"
Kronos "What do you mean?"
Shettsu laughed evilly that gave Settsu chills. He said a mid of laughing, "It died with her. That is what you should regret about"
Kronos was stunned, he distrustfully said "You are lying this cannot be true!"
Shettsu transformed into a full demon. His horns grew from his forehead, it was curved slightly at the beginning then straight till it reached the tip where it curved with a twist. His skin was greyer than ever and from his eyes, a green smoke came out. From his powers, a black armour with a long black cloak covered him. His teeth and nails grew sharper and more pointed.
Kronos smiled and said, "So you want me to believe that your son is the chosen one but doesn't have pandora's heart, and Satasha has it destroyed?"
Shettsu "She destroyed it, yes, but she never had it, you will die before you know who had it. The person's name died with her that even I don't know who is it"
Kronos "Then why are you fully armed?"
Shettsu "Because I know what you are thinking about and I am not letting you touch him"
Kronos smiled wickedly and transformed into a blazing shadow that covered his whole body in black smoke, leaving his eyes and mouth white. Kronos took one step toward Shettsu, they marched toward each other and both unleashed a sword from their powers that clashed
The clash was strong enough that made the ground rumbled and produced very strong airwaves that had pushed Settsu back toward a tree and hit it. They were equally powerful and because of that, they both were thrown back.
Kronos aghast"Impossible! No one can have such power except" Shettsu interrupted "Satasha!" he laughed evilly and said, "She generously gave me hers" He showed a necklace that was made of thread with a pink pearl in it. Kronos angrily "You bastard"
Shettsu "Yeah she chose me to fight you"
Kronos "But he remains the one who can either save us all or destroy us"
Shettsu "Well that doesn't matter as long as I will end you nothing can harm him"
Kronos smiled and they both marched toward each other with all their might to kill one another. The ground was shaking and none of them had unleashed their full powers yet. They again were thrown back. The trees around them started to fall because of the strong airwaves that they made. Settsu couldn't even lift his head, on the last wave he had hit the ground so hard that he fainted.
Both Kronos and Shettsu were panting. They were so equally strong that none could harm the other. Shettsu looked at the great tree and saw that it was standing still like nothing is happening around it.
Kronos "It's no ordinary tree you know, as long as she is alive the tree will stand in its place"
Shettsu "You mean as long as her powers won't perish? She is long dead Kronos with no way of coming back"
Kronos "I won't be so sure"
They both stood up walked slowly toward each other. Shettsu "Just stop it Kronos, you can't have what you want. You lost your chance"
Kronos "No, I won't stop even if I killed everyone"
Shettsu "Do you think I can empathise you?You are a monster who killed his family, friends and even the woman that he loved once"
Kronos eyes filled with tears and said, "I didn't kill her, I could never"
Shettsu "Yeah you are right you didn't do it, we both know very well who did it"
Kronos disappeared, Shettsu looked around searching for him then he appeared suddenly in front of him and stabbed Shettsu in his chest. Shettsu got back to human form and so did Kronos.
Shettsu was feeling a sudden pain he wanted to remove the knife but he couldn't. It was a silver knife that was made by Satasha, the only thing that can kill any being was the swords and knives that she made.
Shettsu was feeling pain in every inch of his body, he was breathing heavily and fell on his back looking at Satasha's grave. His eyes filled with tears, he murmured something to himself that Kronos didn't hear. Settsu woke up and saw Shettsu lying on the floor stabbed and Kronos was standing above him trying to finish him but Settsu went with all his might toward Kronos. He pushed him so hard away from Shettsu who was breathing heavily. Settsu unleashed his powers and transformed into a demon with curved horns, his horns were curved in a spiral shape. His eyes were blazing red and his armour was dark red with a short cloak covered his left arm to the end of his wrist. There was a thin layer of fur covering the top of the cloak as baron rank.
Kronos laughed historically and said, "You can never defeat me, you will die in no more than a few minutes"
Settsu "Try me"
He unleashed a spear from his powers and marched toward Kronos. He knew Kronos is way too powerful than he is but he couldn't let Shettsu die this easily, after all, they had been through together he couldn't watch him die 'not here not now ' he kept telling himself.
He fought honourably with Kronos but Kronos was even more wicked than he looked. When they were fighting Kronos disappeared in thin air with the darkness.
Settsu "Don't hide you coward"
Kronos laughter filled the area, it was echoing everywhere. Settsu turned his head in all the directions trying to see from where the source was then stopped looking at his shadow. It had white eyes and mouth, he quickly stabbed it but it was gone. He turned in all directions again, he saw that Shettsu was struggling to get the knife out of his chest but then it went all black.
Shettsu was trying to get the knife out since Settsu started to fight but he was too powerless to do so. He saw Settsu stabbing the ground and saw him again not moving at all. He knew something is wrong. Settsu's head fell from his body then his body fell. Shettsu was frightened, he opened his eyes widely and yelled "NO!"
Kronos was behind Settsu and his blade was filled with blood. He said, "Great fighter, he made me underestimated him"
As he walked toward Shettsu he hit Settsu's head away with his foot as it was stepping in his way. Shettsu angrily "Don't touch him you monster. He was your grandchild"
Kronos "And Hades was my son"
He walked toward Shettsu lifting his sword once he reached him to cut his neck as well.
Kronos "Goodbye old friend send my greetings to whoever you meet"
He swayed his sword to cut his neck but before he reached it something happened. A powerful light stroke the great tree and turned it into nothing but ashes. Kronos was affected by this light, he dropped his sword away from Shettsu and fell on his knees covering his eyes and screaming from pain.
Shettsu looked at the great tree as it turned into ashes. The ashes were flying around its place making a circular shape, and from that ashes, something like a ghost was moving toward him, he watched it getting closer in amazement. The ghost took the sword from his chest and healed his wounds then the ghost marched toward Settsu's body and sat there looking at it. Shettsu's eyes were filled with tears, He heard someone behind him saying "Mom?" The ghost got up looking past him with amazement then disappeared.
He turned and saw that Sakata and the others standing behind him. Sakata walked worried toward his dad but Kronos didn't want to miss his shot, he threw a knife toward Sakata. Everyone noticed the flying knife and went to save Sakata but it was too late, the knife was too close to him.