500th Time Reborn, A World Only Known By Women: The Karma System

591  The Mysterious Energy Batteries: Dark Secrets of the Zodiacs

"Oh?" I asked, looking down at Lexi and Martha, who were just starting to circle each other. Both were still small and fairly tiny looking from up here. I turned back to look at Bellazibub, and she had a solemn look on her face.

"I don't actually disapprove of the Black King, but it is what she plans to do. I went through the conditioning already, and I am starting to like things more and like painful, destructive things less. The problem is that she wants to force this on everyone, and there are many that don't want that because it doesn't work on non-humanoid Demons. The ones that can't be turned are then marked by the Aether Demons, killed, and then reborn in new bodies, but the Aether Demons can control them. I don't know how they do it, and I don't know if you can kill these things," she explained, and I nodded.

"So you think that even if I get rid of the Black King, the Aether Demons are just going to take over and control everyone? And you want to get out of the pot before things get too hot?" I asked, and she nodded.

"The Aether Demons don't stay in the Underworld, and they can shift between places faster than anyone can catch and then come back behind you in the next instant. They are like real nightmare creatures, so yes, I want out before the proverbial pot gets too hot. I am also much more toned than I used to be, but I still have to put on a bit of a show for the others to keep my position," Bellazibub said and then turned to take her seat.

"I think I understand. That isn't something that is going to be easy to fight, but it will be something that I will look into. Thanks for the information," I said, and she nodded before turning to the fight.

It turned back, and Lexi and Martha were starting to grow and change. I put thoughts of Aether Demons and the Black King and concentrated on the fight. I was excited to see these two, even though I knew Lexi would most likely come out on top. The question was just how much of an overwhelming victory she could put off.

Martha became only half as big as her previous form, as did Lexi, because the arena was no were near as big. The girls still looked vicious as the Labyrinth Hellion dove at the massive purple Lamia. Lexi slapped Martha to the side with a backhand, but the hellion dove into the ground. In response, Lexi cast a water spell into the hole, forcing Martha to burst back out of the ground in a fit, slamming into Lexi. The two broke apart and then faced each other, staring for a few moments.

For a few moments, it looked like Martha was going to win, but then Lexi's eyes lit up with a confident light, and she rose up to strike like a snake. Martha's eyes widened as she quickly jumped back, but Lexi was faster, wrapping her body around Martha and squeezing as Martha screamed.

In the end, Martha broke free and ran away, surrendering the fight, and Lexi returned to her normal form. As she did, the crowd cheered, but I felt a bit sad to see her in her normal form. The snake form was one I had never seen before, and I was fascinated by it.

My thoughts were quickly broken as Bellazibub stood up and grabbed my arm.

"Come, I want to show you something!" She said as she took off towards the front of the arena.

We quickly descended level after level, going deeper and deeper until we reached a hidden chamber in the bowels of the arena. I looked around but couldn't see anything until Bellazibub stepped forward and revealed a large door.

"Behind this door lies something that will help you when you face the Aether Demons. I think you will find it useful in your fight against the Black King," she said as she opened the door.

Inside, I saw several spheres of energy floating in the air, each containing various colored energies. Bellazibub explained that these were energy batteries.

"What are they supposed to do?" I asked as I looked over them.

"I am not sure, but the Aether Demons use and then discard them. I was hoping you could tell me why they still seem like they have energy and see if they could help you. I have a few more, but these ones were the brightest," She explained, and I nodded as I took it in my hand.

I immediately felt a feeling of Positive Energy roll over me, but there was a tiny spark of Negative. That was more than strange and almost a bit bothersome. Just like my Divine Powers, the Positive and Negative Energy was a Mortal and Astral Realm thing, not the Underworld.

Could it be possible that Kadeon has something to do with this?

"Do you mind leaving me here for a bit? Maybe go check on Lexi and bring her down. I want to try something, but it might be dangerous," I explained, and Bellazibub nodded.

"Yes, but do be careful," She said and left the room without another question. I was starting to like this new Bellazibub much more than the old one, but I needed to concentrate.

Since I controlled both Positive and Negative Energy, I should be able to top up the Negative Energy. If I couldn't, then that would mean they were coming from a place that could, but the real question was why there was positive energy in them?

I closed my eyes and reached out for the energy, but nothing happened.

The other Zodiacs.

It was a thought that had been playing in my head ever since I first saw the energy batteries, and now it felt even stronger. But what did they have to do with these batteries, if anything? I'd done some research, and I knew that each of the Zodiacs was connected to energy besides the Astral Energy, but I had never delved into it. Could it be possible that these energy batteries were somehow tied to them?

I reached out and took another one of the energy batteries in my hand. It felt like a normal glass orb, but I could feel a faint hum coming from it. I closed my eyes and let my senses probe. I could feel the power of the battery, but more than that, I could feel a connection to something else.

It was faint and far away, but I could feel it. The Zodiacs. I opened my eyes and stared out into the distance. Was it possible?

I frowned and shook my head. It was a ridiculous thought. But still, the feeling wouldn't go away. I set the battery down and started to pace.

What if I'm right? What if the Zodiacs are connected to these energy batteries? How would I even test it? The better Questions were how Zadeon had got them down here and why?

I stopped and thought for a moment, but besides causing me trouble, I didn't see what other motives Kadeon would have for sending them here. That is unless they were being sent here to raise an army? It was possible, but they could also be protecting an entrance to the Mortal Realm and plan to use it to come up and cause trouble. Possibly, but I would know, even down here, the instant that any of them tried to fuck around. This was one of the reasons why I had cut them off and the rest of Yaggisdral. I was now the ruling god of the Mortal Realm... Was that what he was trying to do? Take this Realm to rule?

My head was awash with thoughts as there was a knock at the door, making me look up as Bellazibub and Lexi came in, and the Lamia had a sour look on her face, and she looked like she could use a bath.

"I am guessing that things didn't go so well?" I asked as I put the energy batteries back to float. I had missed the end of the girls' fight, but Lexi still looked like she had won, but probably not as well as she had hoped.

"No, she was far more powerful than I had realized," Lexi said, and I made a mental note to look into these Aether Demons more and find out why they were so powerful.

"Well, I was going to leave you two alone, but I think I am going to stick around a while. I think I have an idea, but I need to do some research first," I said, and Bellazibub nodded as if understanding what I was planning.

"Well, I guess we can wait then. You two can go take a break, and Lexi can get a bath or something," Bellazibub suggested, and I nodded.

"Yes, I think that is a good idea. Lexi, why don't you freshen up and maybe have something to drink? I have some research to do," I said, and Lexi nodded.

"Okay, I will see you soon," She said, and then she and Bellazibub left the room, leaving me to do my research.

My mind was a whirl as I searched for any information I could find on the Zodiacs and their energy batteries. As I searched, I realized why Kadeon had sent them here, and I had to find out how to keep them in check. If I didn't, they would overrun the Underworld and take it for their own. But first, I had to find out the secret of the energy batteries.