Abyssal Lord of the Magi World

The Sage and Zatiel conversed for a long time. They asked each other hundreds, if not thousands of questions, and exchanged all types of stories. The Neo-Demon and the grey humanoid were masters in the art of deception, and it was easy for them to recognize flagrant lies. 

That is why every word that came out from their mouths was a combination of truths and falsehoods. Zatiel and the Sage knew that ninety-nine percent of the information they obtained from the other was useless, and they needed to be very careful with what they decided was the other one percent since false information was many times worse than no information at all.

Zatiel had an advantage over his opponent. The Sage believed he had captured the Neo-Demon, and therefore he unconsciously lowered his guard. However, it was difficult to tell how effective that trick was for someone like him.

The duo spoke for almost two days when the Sage decided it was time to proceed with the reason he came to this place.

"Our conversation was interesting, but I should not waste any more time."

"I guess that you have found a way to heal my soul and let it become strong enough so it can withstand soul searching." Zatiel's face remained emotionless, and it appeared he did not care what would happen to him.

When the Sage heard Zatiel's words and saw the complete disregard for his future, he paused for a moment.

The grey humanoid remained quiet for a couple of minutes before his head started to shake. Two white circles emerged on it that appeared to represent his eyes, but the most shocking fact was that they began to release Mind Force. 

If Zatiel had not pacified his mind and soul, he would be extremely shocked right now. Not only was the Sage using one of the racial characteristics of the Mind Ruler race, but his Mind Force was also many times purer and concentrated than the one you would find in their greatest geniuses. 

The qualitative disparity was so great that it could be compared to the difference between Abyss Aura and Elemental Chaos. The Neo-Demon erased all the thoughts that were about to surge in his mind since he was not sure he could maintain his peace once they appeared. 

The Mind Force coming from those white eyes spread all over the Neo-Demon's body. The Sage was careful when he neared the area that was occupied by the runes.

"Interesting, I can't feel anything. Just who were you?." Those words seem to be directed to himself, and the Sage did not expect a response."You are half right and half wrong. I will restore your soul, but I won't use such a barbaric and crude method as soul searching to obtain what I want from you. After all, you are a Rank 3 life form, and even in your peak condition, you will only withstand one wave of soul searching before dying."

The Sage still perceived no emotion coming from Zatiel, but he felt that something was wrong. However, he could not figure out what it was. 

"Smart, I guess you are going to use a Soul Apple, which has been modified so it can be used safely by a Rank 3 life form. Give it to me." Zatiel signaled the Sage to act and opened his mouth. 

The Sage made a small vial full of pink liquid appear, but he did not act right away. His eyes focused on the Neo-Demon, and the power of the Mind Force they released became so strong that it was about to incite a response from the World Consciousness. 

Zatiel felt as his emotions were agitated by the Sage's Mind Force, and the slightest misstep would produce a chain reaction that would make him lose control. 

Unfortunately for the Sage, in the end, he was not able to detect anything. He waved his hand, and the pink liquid entered Zatiel's mouth.

The Neo-Demon felt pure and soft energy travel through his body, enter his brain, and reach the dimension where his soul resided. Zatiel could not stop the invigorating effect of the liquid, but what he could do was slow down the rate at which his soul was strengthened.

The Sage gathered a wisp of black aura on his finger. He was about to touch Zatiel's forehead and put him into a coma when the Neo-Demon spoke.

"It will take some time for the Soul Apple to fulfill its goal. How about we play a game from my original world in the meanwhile?." Zatiel's voice remained the same, and it appeared he did not notice the finger that was less than five centimeters from his head.

Originally, the Sage planned to maintain the Neo-Demon in a state of trance after giving him the Soul Apple. That is why he spoke with him for so long before this. However, his interest was aroused when he heard about Zatiel's original world. 

"What game would that be?" The Sage did not pull back his hand, but he also did not move it forward.

"An abstract board game for two players named Go. The goal of the game is to surround more territory than the opponent. The rules are simple, but the game itself is very complex. To give you an example of the variations that can be formed in this game, let's say that you counted every atom in Baator and then multiply it by a million. The number you would obtain will still be inferior compared with the total of board positions in Go."

"Oh, you like this type of game. I see the intellectual appeal in them, but what is the point of proving your intelligence to others. Violence is the ultimate force in this universe, and everything else can be crushed under its might." The Sage continued speaking in his robotic voice, but there was a deep meaning in his words.

Of course, someone like him understood that this type of game could allow you to have a greater understanding of your opponent. However, the Deep Dark Dream would show him all he needed to know.

"Absolute power can crush all schemes. But tell me, who has been able to say that they can move unhindered and act without any form of restriction in the universe?." 

"I can think of one individual. I don't dare to speak his name, but he was able to make a Principal Plane tremble, and every Being of Law in it felt despair. Even the Archangels and Dawn Titans could only depend on the assistance of their worlds to face him."

"I think I know who you are speaking about, but didn't he die as well?." Zatiel's eyes were indifferent, and his voice was still emotionless.

The Sage did not show anything when he heard Zatiel's words. Him knowing about the Incarnation of Death and Destruction was not surprising since it was a piece of information that could be bought. The grey humanoid nodded and signaled for the Neo-Demon to continue.

"If I was free, with one word, I could make the Magi leave this world and forget about it. You currently control Oliver and Tomas, so the Heavenly race it's at your command. To the two of us, the Beta Heavenly World can be considered just one giant board of Go." 

The Sage did not show anything to Zatiel's words, but he pulled back his hand before breaking the restraints that keep the body of the Neo-Demon tie to the torture chair. 

Zatiel could still feel the black power in his body, freezing his energy and consciousness. He knew that his body could not move faster than the Sage's thoughts. If it attempted to do anything, he would be paralyzed.

"Explain the rules of Go." The Sage's robotic voice did not reveal anything, but it was clear he was interested in the game after Zatiel's speech.

The Neo-Demon did not stall for time. He calmly taught the Sage everything that there was needed to know about the game.

It would take several hours for a gifted human to understand the game of Go. To someone like the Sage, less than three seconds after Zatiel explained how the game was played, he fully mastered. 

The grey humanoid waved his hand, and from the ground, a board of Go came out. A small box with black stones appeared on Zatiel's side of the board while the Sage had one with white stones. 

"Let's play until your soul is ready for me to act in it."