A sudden feeling of dizziness overcame Alexander, as he crossed the realms. He recognized the landscape as a distant memory from a distant life. He was summoned. At the valley of the shadows there was no going back, and he knew. The souls of the damned wandered around in the desert, as he was passing through the crowd, looking at some, hovering over in the sky. He felt as if he was one of them. In the flesh, with the light still shimmering inside, but something dead already. As he made his way through the valley and the dunes, visions of the war visited him. He was haunted by his defeat, humiliated and outcast. He was supposed to be the lord of the lost children and he failed. Overthrown in his pursuit, betrayed and lost. As the anger grew larger and larger by the minute, he finally saw a line of souls, migrating from a distant place.

He heard about this place, when he was a child. The legacy of a fallen emperor, the master of the damned. He remembered the sheer terror, the destruction and the greed of ancient times. As he entered the ruin’s gates of the arena the steps echoed a slow, rhythmic stomp. Bang. Bang. Bang. From the top, a seemingly empty, haunted pit with the memories of the fallen lying around was seen. On the other end of the arena, the sand emerged slowly into the stands, and had two separated rows, growing into a sculpted throne overviewing the battlefield. Alexander descended to the middle of the arena, but slowed down his steps. A sensation reached him. He was being watched. A slow, low-keyed chanting started from somewhere in the stands, and as Alexander looked around, he found, he wasn’t alone.

Welcome my dear old friend - said the shadows to the guest. What makes you dare summon a lord like me? - said Alexander bold. Lord? As I have heard you are a mere fading memory, might not even be real. - provoked the demon. The few ancients, among myself still remember the times we ruled the realm of the living, but I’m sure you mere children have less respect for your elders and the beasts that exceeded your wildest imaginations. Alexander bit on his lips, and proceeded. What is it you want? I want nothing, but I know there is someone you would like to find. I’m on no journey to find nobody - Alexander replied. I’m sure you see it that way, but the road ahead has been set, and there’s nothing you can do. The Beast is waiting for you. - said Mephisto. Nobody has seen the Beast in a millenia, it might not even exist. - said Alexander outraged.

You might think your revolution has ended, but I know it only has been the beginning. You see, ordinary eternals still think in tomorrows and yesterdays, but I have seen eternity forged, I have seen chaos molded into form and order, and I have seen the beginning and the end already, and that end starts now - roared Mephisto, and the crowd rose above the arena, clouding the sky. What if, I have an offer to you, my little prince? Accept me to your soul, and I shall show you the way. For such a small price even the mighty would allow. What would that be? - asked Alexander. A drop of your blood. - replied Mephisto hungrily, while the stands were growing in size. Alexander lowered his head and took a deep breath. A pact had been made, without a word. As Mephisto’s shadows started descending from his throne spreading toward Alexander, the angel reached his arm out for the demon to grab. Crawling under his skin, Mephisto whispered in to his mind: Let’s make you the worst you can be. The last image was the amphitheater being overshadowed by the demons incorporating into Alexander. What do we do now? - asked Alexander in the middle of the empty arena. We find the Handler he will know where to find the lock and the key. - whispered a voice.

Reanaxe, why the hurry? - laughed Alexander playfully. - We would have so much to talk about, but luckily for you I don’t have the time. Now to save some hassle, I have brought a useful tool for us to make this efficient. I know you can be a silent little fellow, but I’m sure we’ll figure something out. Alexander drew out a little transparent box from his pocket, and showed it to the demon as the companions where slowly pulling him on the wall of the alley.

I’m not going to get killed for this! - clamored the demon. Oh, you really still believe being killed is the worst thing that can happen? Killing is mercy, compared to what I have in store for you boy. So why won’t you be smart enough to tell me what I want. - replied Alexander. I don’t know, where the Handler is, I only know someone he dealt with lately. - cried out the demon. Now, we are talking - said Alexander slowly distancing the box from the demon. - and where may I find this friend of ours? He is not someone to mess with, he could finish you with the snap of his fingers, you are not the Lord you were once before, you worthless lowlife. - replied the demon angrily. You won’t even be a stain on the shoes of history, so let me worry about that. You just give me what I want. - said Alexander annoyed.