It was the second time that Raze had been surprised by the words coming out of Belil's mouth. The thing was, he hadn't even had time to confront him about the first thing that had surprised him, because Belil was leading the conversation, and at this point, Raze felt like enough was enough.
"You knew I was a mage before I came in here, so it's clear you know something," Raze replied. "But to also know about the Dark Edge Sword Arts? Just how much do you know… what is your goal in all of this, and what are you even doing… should I be worried?"
Belil folded his arms. Even though Raze was speaking more sternly, the smile on Belil's face hadn't disappeared for a moment.
"You're right, you're right. You see, I'm just sensitive to one's body. I can feel the cells inside you reacting, the goosebumps in your body, so I wanted to see how you would react… and besides, it's not as if the two of us talked much last time," Belil said.
"But first, do you mind answering my question?" Belil asked again.
Raze thought about how to answer for a bit until he finally gave one.
"I have fully mastered four of the formations. However, with how I am now, I'm sure I could perform the fifth formation as well."
Immediately, Raze could see Belil shaking his head in disappointment.
"That means you aren't as strong as him. I'm surprised, with you having beaten Sha Mo, I thought you would have known at least up to the seventh formation," Belil said, and then unfolded his arms and shook his head.
"Enough of that, I should explain. I know about the formations because I was one of the two people who created the formations in the first place."
Something clicked in Raze's head. Why hadn't he thought of this before? There were two versions of the book—one that could work just on Qi.
Creating arts sometimes took several generations of knowledge, and just like Raze, Bofan was originally from Alterian.
"I heard descriptions of the powers you used, especially from the Martial Arts Tournament; there was no doubt that was you. I had hints that you knew how to use magic as well, and that was pretty much confirmed when you pulled your stunt at the tournament."
"Of course, the Dark Edge Sword Arts manual is missing, as well as another item of mine, and I'm guessing that's because of you?"
Raze did indeed take two items from the Neverfall Clan base. Although he saw it as borrowing because Dame, a member of the Neverfall Clan, was with him at the time.
The good thing was, with how casually Belil was bringing it up, he didn't seem to be annoyed.
"How much do you know about Alterian, about Bofan? About the portals and what's happening here, and even about Alter?" Raze asked.
His voice was rising slightly; he wanted answers.
"Relax, we have time," Belil waved his hand. "Let me tell you, I know only what Bofan told me, because the two of us were close."
"I know Bofan came from another world, and he traveled across the Dark Faction continent, challenging various people. He didn't just do that in the Dark Faction but also traveled to the Demonic Faction as well."
"We first met in a duel, and I beat him relatively easily, of course, but he kept challenging me and kept losing. It was clear he was stubborn and hiding something, and eventually, that caused him to use magic.
"And guess what?" Belil said with a smile.
Raze was about to answer, but Belil answered for him.
"I still beat him!" Belil said, going into another fit of laughter.
"The two of us became close. I, as a warrior, liked a challenge and was curious about where he had come from. At the time, the only relationship we had with each other was through our fighting."
"And I guess that's why, in the end, it felt like I was the only person he could trust… but that's not completely the truth either."
Belil then looked up at the sky.
"The Divine Realm… it's a place filled with annoyance—humans who believe themselves gods. Do you know why I know all of this?" Belil asked again.
This time, Raze didn't bother answering, knowing Belil would just cut him off with the answer.
"Because I'm actually a Divine being. I have already reached the Divine stage." Belil held out his hand, and Qi started to condense. Strange, small glowing balls of light were coming out from his hand, forming a floating sphere.
It almost looked like magic, but it was quite clear that the energy being used was completely different.
"I left the Neverfall Clan for a short while. When someone reaches the Divine stage, one has no choice; it's almost like a light blinds you, pulling you into that other world."
"And getting down here isn't as easy as people think either. In the end, I crashed down, having lost a fight above. My body was badly hurt, and I was on the brink of death."
"As for the person who saved me, it was none other than Bofan. I owed that man a debt—the debt of my life. I learned that even though I reached the Divine stage, it also meant I was not yet ready for it."
"And Bofan gave me a second chance to get my revenge on those above… at least that's what it was initially. It was also because of Bofan that I found the meaning of caring and love down here on Pagna."
"Learning about his world changed everything for me. You might not believe it, but I am quite the family man now, even though I wasn't before."
"A man who didn't care about what clan one was from, what faction or upbringing you had, yet truly cared about people. I yearned for a relationship like that."
"I had failed with my first two sons. I learned too late, but thanks to Bofan, I tried to grow that bond with the other two, and they are very dear to me."
Words he never expected to hear. There were too many words Raze never expected to hear. Now, though, he understood why Belil had sent his first two sons to protect Rayna.
As for Dame, who knows what Belil was doing in the shadows to support him as well. But he had only mentioned failing with the first two, so he had to have cared for Dame as well.
"Because of everything Bofan taught me, I decided that I would do whatever to help him. To continue to grow the strength of the Neverfall Clan and the Demonic Faction as a force he could use."
"Even when he created the Dark Faction and became its leader, we would frequently meet up, and he would always speak as if someday… he would disappear."
Belil then stood up on his feet.
"There is a lot more to tell you about Bofan, the end of Pagna, and the Golden Globe, but before I tell you any more of that… I want the two of us to fight… and I want you to win… just like Bofan did, on that day."