"That girl? What ability does she have?" Ankh asked in confusion.
[Her eyes have the ability to see through the causality of fate.]
Ankh was stunned for a moment.
'Causality? fate? There's really such a strange ability in this world...'
He turned around and looked at Lisanna, who was panting heavily, and asked.
"Lisanna, what's the deal with that... sister of yours?"
Lisanna's face was blank for a moment before she nervously whispered.
"Um... in Magnolia, there's a place called the Love Fortune Pavilion that specializes in reading people's love fortunes. She's the owner there."
'Love Fortune Pavilion? What a stupid name...'
Ankh's red eyes were filled with doubt.
Had such a shop opened in Magnolia in the two years he'd been away?
Seeing that he couldn't get a clear answer about Frey's background, he simply asked in his heart.
'Seram, do you know the origin of this ability?'
Seram replied somewhat indifferently.
[In my memories, only the God Eris is related to the power of causality. That one's strength is so great that even compared to our former selves, they were only half a step behind.]
[But... that girl's causal ability is limited to seeing fate, so it definitely has nothing to do with that god. She probably just had some adventures...]
Hearing Seram's words, Ankh was puzzled, as it was the first time Seram had mentioned the name of another god.
"Besides our complete form as Ankhseram, are there other gods in this world?"
Seram's ethereal voice continued to echo in his heart.
[Of course there are. Above this vast mortal realm, there exist twenty-three gods who respectively control twenty-three divine laws beyond mortal comprehension. They normally remain fused with their divine powers, slumbering in the 'Divine Realm'.]
"There's so many gods?" Ankh was stunned.
He had thought the Fairy Tail world was already vast enough, never expecting there were even higher heavens beyond...
Seram had never told him these things before.
Learning this now, Ankh felt countless questions bubbling inside him yet didn't know where to begin.
The Divine Realm, a full twenty-three gods... This information suddenly brought tremendous psychological pressure upon Ankh.
"Seram..." Ankh's gaze became frighteningly calm as he asked with inner confusion, "What about us? Aren't we the God of Life and Death? Why have we become like this?"
Seram fell silent for a long moment before replying in a subdued voice.
[My identity... is actually the other half of your power, constantly transmitting Death God Power to you, making you more complete.]
[As for the memories of our former self that I possess... that's all I know...]
[What happened to our former self, why we became like this - I don't know either...]
Ankh listened blankly to Seram's explanation, his mind in turmoil as if swept by a hurricane.
Even Seram... didn't know the specific details...
God Ankhseram... for some unknown reason left the Divine Realm, then for another unknown reason became that dumb child with two souls in one body.
To this day, Ankh still couldn't figure out what relationship his former self, God Ankhseram, had with the other twenty-two gods...
Were they strangers? Close associates? Or perhaps...
Mortal enemies.
Ankh's tightly furrowed brows carried unresolved worries.
No matter how he thought about it, the possibility of the last outcome seemed significantly greater.
If Ankhseram had no grievances with the twenty-two gods, why would the mighty God of Life and Death suddenly leave the Divine Realm and become a mere child?
Ankh slowly exhaled a turbid breath, raising his head to gaze at the azure sky.
For the first time since coming to this world, he felt a sense of oppression.
Even when his young mind was trapped within his body, suffering torment day and night, Ankh had never experienced this kind of pressure.
Because back then... Seram was with him, encouraging and cheering him on.
At that time, Seram was his confidence, his most reliable close friend.
But now, something that even Ankh and Seram combined might not be able to resolve had suddenly appeared...
Slap! Slap!
Ankh suddenly slapped his own face twice, his eyes having unknowingly regained their determination.
Becoming dejected and lost just because Seram could not help him—that wasn't like Ankh!
What about the gods? As long as Ankh worked hard, he could become a god too!
Even if he had to face so many existences of Terror that defied the rules, Ankh didn't want to remain stagnant.
Because he couldn't retreat.
Behind him were the loved ones he cared about—he couldn't retreat, could only move forward!
Ankh's demonic eyes revealed a crimson glimmer, seeping with exceptionally strong ambition.
He wanted to become stronger, to grow powerful in every aspect!
Lisanna was startled by Ankh slapping himself hard earlier and looked at him with concern while asking.
"Ankh-nii, are you okay?"
Ankh shook his head, smiled, and patted Lisanna's head and said.
"I'm fine. I just... suddenly figured some things out."
Lisanna tilted her head and looked at Ankh curiously.
'Figured some things out? What did that mean?'
After racking her brains for a while, Lisanna suddenly remembered something and exclaimed excitedly.
"Ankh-nii, have you figured it out and decided to accept Mira-nee?!"
Ankh made a confused face and asked, "What does this have to do with Mira?"
Lisanna shook her little face in surprise and asked, "Arent you just figuring out that you want to accept Mira-nee feelings?"
Ankh was taken aback.
Well... that really wasn't it.
His relationship with Mirajane hadn't reached that level yet, had it?
Originally, Mirajane joined the guild through Ankh's introduction, so the two of them interacted more often.
Later... due to some... unspeakable accidents during missions, their relationship grew closer, even developing a bit of ambiguity.
Over the years, the two had developed feelings for each other, but it still wasn't obvious, remaining in that state of being more than friends but not quite lovers.
Neither of them could take that final step.
It wasn't that Ankh didn't want to make a move, but every time he brought up such topics, Mirajane seemed to have some reservations and kept avoiding him...
And because Ankh kept taking on long-term commissions, frequently leaving the guild, the matter kept getting delayed.
Ankh didn't dwell on this matter and pretended to be annoyed as he ruffled Lisanna's hair while lecturing her.
"Stop prying into your sister's business all day. Think more about your own matters."
Lisanna giggled, obediently tugged at the corner of Ankh's clothes, and secretly laughed.
"I don't want to fall in love. If I do, Mira-nee and you will have to secretly follow me again."
Ankh's face turned red, and he couldn't help but cough twice.
Glancing at the cunning Lisanna who resembled a little fox, he defensively argued.
"That's because we're afraid you'll be deceived by some scumbag..."
"Alright, alright..."
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