Outside of Life and Death.

Tristan has had more dreams of Gaheris` life than he could now count, all of them contained some amount of his memories, feelings, senses, knowledge and even power. All of that was integrated into him, merged with his very being, changing him, making him… different, something that Tristan did not want, yet, somehow, it all felt like it was his. He had spent countless hours while he had free time from trainings, trying to think how could that all had happened with him, why was he receiving the memories of his long dead and seemingly forgotten brother. It was something that was driving him nearly insane. He wished he had an answer to that, an explanation as to why he was so special. And now, after being impaled by Surtr, who had transformed into a Balrog, Tristan found himself on the crossroads between Life and Death, in the presence of one being that he least expected to meet.

His own deceased older brother, Horseman of War and official successor to the original Lucifer, Gaheris Gremory, who stood just a meter away from Tristan, looking like a near complete copy of him, only more mature and hardened by life of wars and battles, yet the similarity between Tristan and Gaheris was simply impossibly close one. Tristan felt like he wasn`t looking at someone, but rather, he was looking at himself, which made him further more confused. His words weren`t actually helping either, no matter how much Tristan tried to make the sense out of them. Having spent some time in silence, Tristan decided to speak up, wanting to know all there was about his and Gaheris` connection.

"You`ve said that I am a piece of something that you were. A core of what we used to be." Tristan recalled, with Gaheris nodding to this one. "What does that even mean? I wasn`t born in your time, nor did I even hear of you until only a few months ago. And I am most certain that I am nothing of you, a part or piece or whatever the hell did you mean there."

"It means exactly what I had said to you, Tristan." Gaheris replied, not even fazed. "You are a core part of me, Tristan, the center of the being that was once known as Gaheris Gremory, whose memories, experiences, feelings and senses are returning to its true owner to: to you."

"That doesn`t make any sense." Tristan simply replied.

"Do you know what is a soul, Tristan?" Gaheris suddenly asked of him, with Tristan nodding. "Most scientists and magicians will say that soul of any creature is its fundamental part, a foundation of any existence. In that regard, they are correct, but soul is much more than just that. Soul is not just a center of living conscience, but it is also an accumulation of all life of a creature: history of life, senses, feelings, connections, knowledge, memories and far more. All of that is centered around its core, the foundation of any living being, which breathes life into a creature it is tied to, beginning to live, experience, feel, sense and store it all its soul."

"So in other words, soul of any creature is an accumulation of life, knowledge, senses, feelings, experience and all more than a creature gains through its life?" Tristan asked, with Gaheris nodding to it. "If that is true, then that means that if a soul of a dead were to somehow be brought into the world of the living, it could…"

"Be reincarnated with the most compatible host, within or outside of bloodline where it once was." Gaheris ended the idea that Tristan had in his mind, with Tristan`s eye widening as he finally began to piece together all that Gaheris had said to him earlier. "The host for reincarnation is infant, most often, a pure and comply clean, not even born and yet to breath or open its eyes, still in its mother`s womb. The soul attaches itself to the child, but it must discard all that it had gained in the past life, become a core once more, a clean sleet, but all that it had discarded does not disappear. It retains the form that it had gained over the years of living, continuing its existence as an ethereal accumulation of what core had gathered over the past life, until the time comes when it all returns to the core, when the new life and old one becomes one, when core regains all that it had discarded." Gaheris said to Tristan, who was looking utterly shocked. "It is true, Tristan. You are the core of Gaheris, the center of what I had become. Tristan Gremory is Gaheris Gremory, for you carry in you his soul, your soul."

Tristan`s legs nearly failed him and almost fell onto the ghostly ground, as the realization of his true nature finally came to him. All of those feelings, those senses, experiences… It wasn`t foreign to him or just familiar. It was his all along, for he was Gaheris Gremory, reborn back into Gremory family as Tristan Gremory, born from the same mother and father, with Sirzechs, his twin brother, as now his older brother and a new twin sibling in form of Rias. All of those memories, sensations, senses, feelings, knowledge and far more- it was all his by right, returning to him, returning to Gaheris. Yet, Tristan, while still was trying to wrap his head around it all, couldn`t help but feel like his entire life, his love for Ravel, Cleria, Medusa, even his connection with his mother… All of this and more… Was but a lie. Gaheris seemingly knowing what Tristan was thinking about spoke up more firmly, with the purpose in his words.

"Your life was not a lie, Tristan." Tristan looked at him with widened eyes. "I am connected to you, so I can clearly see all of your doubts and thoughts, and all that you have experienced in your current life has shaped you into who you are now, a being different from what Gaheris was, even if there are so many similarities and you have been regaining your past, it was the current you living a life of your own, just as you did when you were Gaheris. There is no other way around it, Tristan: you are living your new life as Tristan Gremory, and Gaheris Gremory, your past self, is now returning to you. You are merely reclaiming what you once had, but that does not determine the life you have around you. It is your will and decision to let the past matter to you, or let go of the past transgressions and move on in your new life, learning from the past mistakes or repeating them. The choice is ultimately yours." Tristan seemingly calmed down a bit and rose up, looking at himself with a bit more focus and confidence.

"I guess you are right." Tristan agreed with him. "By the way, how come you know all of this and are now telling me?"

"I am the accumulation of all the memories and knowledge that you had gained in over 1700 years of your life." He answered to him. "And unlike Sirzechs and most of your peers, you were much more interested in all sorts of knowledge, leading to you studying a very great number of sciences and magical spheres. You and Sirius Merlin Sitri, Horseman of Famine, were the once to discover the full concept of souls in the first place. I am merely relaying you what you, had you been Gaheris, would`ve said to yourself. In other words, I am something of an avatar of Gaheris, with all of that had made him Gaheris, as strange as it may sound."

"That makes sense, when you think about it." Tristan said to him, until he remembered something that he wanted to ask him about. "Wait, if I had died after my battle with Sirzechs, then how come my soul wasn`t destroyed? I know full well that Power of Destruction does not leave behind anything, not even a soul of a creature."

"That would`ve been the case… had you not survived past the point when Sirzechs had believed you to be dead." Avatar of Gaheris answered to him, coming in closer and touching Tristan`s head, showing him what he meant by his words.

42 AD. Dun Scaith.

Gaheris` golden eyes opened, but slowly and not without trouble, as if his eyelids were weighed down by lead and iron. He felt himself incredibly weak and nearly powerless, unable to move his body, feeling as if his life was sapping away from him slowly, yet not feeling any pain. Once his eyes had fully opened up, he saw the only face that he could ever wish to see now. The beautiful crimson eyes of his wife, Scathach, looked down upon him, as her hand carefully cupped his cheek and the other stroke his red hair, while tears were running down from her eyes. Feeling like he had regained some strength, he speaks up.

"Scathach…" Gaheris spoke up, with Scathach smiling to him with tears running down. "What… What has happened? Where is Sirzechs and…"

"Shh… Calm down, Gaheris." She simply said to him, as she stroke his hair, whimpering from tears. "Your battle is over, Sirzechs and Grayfia left Dun Scaith an hour ago."

"Then why are you crying and…" Gaheris had tried to raise his left arm to Scathach, but he couldn`t even feel it, in fact, he couldn`t even feel anything in his legs, torso, chest and even arms. "Why do I not feel anything?"

"I`ve used some of my runes your nervous system of your body, disrupting your sense of pain and dulling it, so you wouldn`t be in agony." Scathach said to him, as realization had come to Gaheris. "Your duel with Sirzechs, Gaheris… You`ve lost, my love."

"Yes, I did. I remember it now." Gaheris said to Scathach, as he looked down upon his chest.

And there, he saw a gaping hole in his armor, just in place where he heart was located, with blood flowing out of there freely and without interruptions. Gaheris let out a tired sigh, as he eyes returned to his crying wife, speaking up to her.

"Scathach… I am sorry." He spoke to her in an apologetic, yet weakened voice. "It seems… That I was unable to keep my promise to you and our son. What a shame… I wasn`t able to uphold any of my promises, not to you, neither to Rayla, Medea, Iris and even our son Aidan… Everything that we all had worked on: Lucifer, Lilith, Beelzebub, Leviathan, Asmodeus, Gareth, Sirius, Seleste, Rayla, Iris, Medea, Aidan… All of our sacrifices, struggles, losses and dead friends… Everything that we`ve fought for... Was for nothing. The people, the Devils that I and Horsemen had sworn our lives to protect, had turned on us and betrayed the very men and women that defended them. All for greed and power… When Lucifer and others had put aside our personal ambitions in favor of greater good for Devils, they simply decided to give in to their own desires and ambitions, decimating us all, their protectors and soldiers, their own Kings… What a blind fool I was… All of the efforts of Horsemen and Satans… Are now ashes."

"Don`t say it like that, you idiot." Scathach said to him without any ill, cupping his cheek. "You haven`t failed anyone, Gaheris. You`ve done more than anyone could ever ask of you, going above and beyond to save your race from destruction. And you haven`t failed us, Gaheris, nor did you break your promises to us, my love." Scathach said to him with passion, as sorrow was starting to take a hold of her. "A-And what happened to you… I-Is not your fault, but your brother`s and all those damned traitors." She wiped away her tears and spoke up more firmly and confidently. "Even when you and the others had been betrayed, you still continued on serving Devils and Satans, Gaheris, as you`ve saved all of Lucifaad and Loyalists that were there, along with our son. You`ve given those that remained true a chance to live and prosper, while you remained and held the line, all for them."

"That… That I did, I guess." Gaheris said weakly, feeling that he was growing more and more tired. "They will have a new life, rebuild in those lands, united under a single banner… Aidan, just what kind of a mess I`ve left for him to deal with… The Great War, and now the Civil War, exile and more. What a terrible father I am, to force what was supposed to be my burden on the shoulders of his son."

"Aidan would never think of it like that and you know it, Gaheris." Scathach said to him, cupping his cheek again. "As much as I may`ve hated to admit it, but neither you nor I could ever stop our son from following in your footsteps when it was his own choice, my love. And after seeing just what he has grown into and how matured he, I am left with nothing more than absolute pride for our son. He truly is the second greatest gift you`ve given me, my love." Scathach smiled to him with sad smile. "And now, you, who has given me a purpose to live for, my anchor to this world, now forced to leave me, all alone again."

Gaheris mustered up all the remaining strength he had, pushing his right hand upwards and, with great strides and fledging control, he managed to cup his wife`s cheek, stained in tears, smiling to her, before saying the sacred words to her.

"And when Death and Fate separates us, our bond will never break and bound to you I shall always be." Gaheris repeated their marriage vow to Scathach. "Even if Death takes us apart… I will always be with you, my love… And I will… I will find my way back into your embrace, past Death… I swear upon all I have to you, Scathach that I will…" As the eyes of Gaheris were becoming heavier and heavier, his voice weakened, as last pieces of his life were beginning to fade, he let out his final breath and words. "Return… And change… Everything…" And with this, the strong hand of Gaheris fell onto the ground, as the last breath had left his body and his soul was free from the boundaries of body, leaving Scathach, crying and in anguish, with the dead body of her husband and love, Gaheris Gremory.

Back into the present.

Tristan`s eye opened up and he looked at the avatar of his previous life, before speaking up.

"I`ve made a promise, an oath on my dying breath…" Tristan spoke up, with avatar nodding to him.

"Souls of those that had not found peace in death sometimes cannot proceed to the afterlife. They can be held back by their past emotions, grievances, hatred or by sheer will and determination." Avatar said to him. "Your willpower alone was enough to remain in this world, passing not to the afterlife, staying here, until one faithful night, your mother, Venelana Bael, had to give birth, and some things had gone accordingly as they should`ve, ultimately leading to you, Tristan, being reborn."

"What do you mean?" Tristan asked of him.

"In 184 BC, Rayla, your wife, was with your child. On the later stages of pregnancy, it was revealed that the child will be a possessor of not only Phenex Flames, but also with Power of Destruction. That information soon found its way to Zekram Bael, who wished not to smirch his powerful bloodline with anyone he seemed unworthy, and he believed that child to such." Avatar spoke up. "He decided to elaborately eliminate it, by making Venelana and Zeoticus stage a banquet for you and Rayla, using it as a way to reconnect with you. While dinner and evening went well, when you`ve returned home, Rayla collapsed in your very arms, with blood gushing out onto her thighs. An hour later, Sirius told you, that he and his best doctors had managed to save Rayla, but not your child…" Tristan`s eyes hardened when he heard of this. "You`ve pieced everything together in less than a day and were about to destroy House of Gremory for this, but Lucifer stopped you by his command from lashing out on them like that. And while you may`ve originally thought that they would go unpunished, your adopted mother, Lilith, had cursed Venelana Gremory for what she had done to her own grandson. She was to never bear a living boy, and all those that would be delivered by her womb, would never breathe or open eyes. And the child that she delivered that night, was dead, and yet…"

"I was somehow drawn into his lifeless body, and the core of my soul occupied it." Tristan finished for his avatar. "That`s how I was reborn into the living world. And after hearing of Gaheris, of my past self, it must`ve triggered you to send me back my memories."

"Indeed." Avatar agreed with Tristan. "All true, and now… Now is the time that the past and present were to become one. The time has come for you to fully take what was yours and use as you see fit, Tristan. Now is the time that Tristan and Gaheris became one."

"Hate to break it to you, friend, but Surtr just impaled me through my chest and if I know anything about fatal wounds, that one was pretty much at the top of the list." Tristan said half-jokingly. "What is the point now, when I am basically dead and not coming back?" He suddenly saw how avatar of his past life chuckled to him.

"Have you not asked yourself, why did that little cutie that holds the name of one of your wives has suddenly kissed you like that?" Avatar asked of Tristan, who raised one of the brows. "When she healed your corrupted nerves in your head, she unknowingly made a contact with not just your mind, but also your soul and me. And through that link, I myself had seen her soul." Avatar gave to Tristan a knowing look, which made Tristan realize something.

"Medea… She too, is like me?" Avatar nodded to Tristan. "That would explain the kiss…"

"And answering your earlier question, had you really been dead, you would`ve merely rejoined me from the start and remained here until the next opportunity. But, instead you remain as Tristan and not united with me, which leads me to suspect that Medea is still at play here." Avatar spoke up. "She must be using her Sacred Gear, Twilight Healing, to keep you from fully dying and is trying to bring you back to the life."

"The Twilight Healing… Of course, I remember that some it`s strongest users were able to even resurrect from the dead and if Medea anything like she was in her days…" Tristan finally understood, before turning to avatar of his past self. "But, even if I come back, there is still Surtr I`ll have to deal with, and the level of power I currently am, I stand no chance against him, not in his Balrog form for certain."

"Yes, as you are right now, you will never win against Surtr Second at his fullest power. However, once you and I merge and become one, you shall find yourself twice as powerful, as spiritual energy shall empower you, and even though it will not give you the edge over him, it will allow you to access the power, that you had once promised only ever use in a direct battle with Biblical God, had it ever come to that, but it didn`t." Avatar said to Tristan, coming closer and offering him his hand. "Take my hand, and accept who you are, Tristan." Tristan stepped closer and took his hand without any hesitation.

"Will I change too much after this?" He honestly asked of him, with his avatar only smiling to it.

"That will depend only if you yourself will decide to change, Gaheris." Avatar said to him, as his form became ghostly, until it fully transformed into just a being of transparent light and merged with Tristan.

Within one second, Tristan saw everything that avatar had for him. Within one second, he the being that once was known as Gaheris and now walked the world as Tristan, had become one with its past, as the core regained all that it had once possessed and integrated everything into one with Tristan, birthing a completely new being, with both Tristan and Gaheris becoming one. Opening both of his eyes, Tristan looked at himself, adjusting to all that he has gained, before speaking up.

"I am… I really am back." He said to no one, as suddenly the pure light hit him and in the next second, he was gone from that realm.

Asgard. Frontier.

Medea`s Sacred Gear flashed with golden lights, as she pushed away from her head the thought of pain and burns, fully focusing all that she had in bringing back her beloved. She had just found Gaheris, reborn, even if he was still not fully with his memories, it was still her husband and she was not going to let him die, never. He had saved her from darkness and brought into her heart love and joy, and she will never forgive herself if she were to ever betray him like that. Medea placed both of her burned hands onto his closing wound, as she began to speak up.

"I won`t… Let you go." She said through agony, as she accessed her Sacred Gear`s most powerful ability. "Twilight Healing: Death BREAKER!" She screamed on top of her lungs, as her Sub-Species Balance Breaker was activated and pushed the living energy into the lifeless body of her reincarnated love.

And as the golden light dissipated, Medea saw how both eyes of Tristan opened up, revealing to her his left amethyst eye and a golden eye on his right, as Tristan suddenly began to cough up and tried to sit up. Medea had tears in her eyes at the sight of her love being back, when Tristan turned to face her with his mismatching eyes, as he spoke up.

"Medea?" He asked of her.

"Yes, Tristan?"

"Thank you, my Colchis Lily." Medea`s eyes widened when she heard the near sacred nickname which Gaheris had used to calling her, as her mouth opened and Tristan caringly pulled her closer to him and gave her a kiss full of love and care, the same one she was so used to and nearly addicted to. "My beautiful Colchis Lily, you are as always, an angel that pulls me out of darkness." He said to her when they ended up the kiss, with Medea nearly crying.

"G-Gaheris… It`s you, you really are back…" She said through tears, as he cupped her cheek affectionately. "When I saw your soul, I…"

"Shh, no need to cry, Medea. It is me and I am really back, though not the same as I used to be." He spoke to her. "My past and present have merged up together and now, well, you could say I am both Tristan and Gaheris at the same time, so call me how your heart desires. Now, with those bad burns and all our comrades down, I want you to stay down and heal them and yourself ASAP. As for Surtr…" He suddenly heard a cry of a literal dragon and how the ground around the shook. "That sounded like a dragon…"

"Yes… It was actually Morgan." Medea answered to him, surprising Gaheris. "She is a Dragon King Morgarissa, the granddaughter of the Vanishing and Welsh Dragons, and she is now fighting Surtr in her Dragon Form. She was enraged when she saw you…"

"I see." Tristan simply said to her, rising up and seeing where the battle was taking place. "Medea, tend to the wounds of the others and your own, and stay the hell away from this battle. I`ll deal with Surtr now."

"But Gaheris, even if you`ve regained your memory, you are nowhere near your fullest power and…"

"I know, Medea." He simply said to her with confidence. "My body as it is isn`t strong enough to handle my fullest power, nor can I even draw it from it. However, I wouldn`t be the Strongest Horseman of Apocalypse had I not prepared for an event like this one." He cryptically said to her, as he began to walk directly towards the battle between the Dragon King and a Balrog.

As united living form that was once known as Gaheris was making its way towards the battle between his former mentor and Surtr Second, he sensed that his powers truly have doubled, as spiritual energy of his former self began to reside within him once more. There were several ways for any creature to draw energy for magic in this world, with most common once being the physical magical reserves that are obtained through sheer training, preparation, practice and overall physical improvement, which made up about 93 percent of full magical power of any creature. Spiritual energy is a different sort of energy, accumulated through ages of living, gained knowledge, wisdom and overall mental and spiritual expansion of one`s mind. This energy had remained with Gaheris after his death and now came back to him fully, empowering now Tristan. However, even though now Tristan held enough power to take down an Ultimate Class Devil, he was about to be facing against a creature that had the power capacity of a Satan Class if not more. And even Morgarissa, a Dragon King and direct descendant of both Heavenly Dragons, was now being pushed back, as Surtr slammed into Morgarissa from above, pinning her down against the ground and preparing to smash her head with his arms.

Seeing that, Tristan decided to test out his capacities, as two magical circles appeared before him and out of them, two concentrated Beams of Abyss, a powerful Darkness type attack, created by Lucifer himself, shot right towards Balrog, hitting him right in the face. Surtr, surprised by this sort of attack and actually hurt a little bit, was forced to fly away from Morgarissa and land a few meters away from her. As his blazing eyes scouted for the person who attacked him, Tristan drew his attention to himself, giving time for Morgan to recover.

"What a disgusting sight you are, Surtr." Tristan spoke loud enough to make draw his attention. "I remember when Balrogs were feared by all of Supernatural World, their mere name terrifying all Mythologies, but now? Reduced to a mere guard dog of a scumbag and made into a slave… Although, I guess that is an improvement for you, seeing as you merely a reject of a real thing." Tristan could see how blazing eyes of Surtr widened at the sight of him.

"How the blasted Hell are you still alive?! Your chest was tore open by my horn and your insides hang outside! You are supposed to be dead, people bloody die when they are KILLED!" Surtr roared at Tristan, who merely smirked at what the Devil had just said.

"Ugh… Th-that`s… That`s impossible…" Morgarissa stuttered, as she rose up on her four legs and looked shocked at the sight of Tristan being alive. "T-Tristan… No wait, your aura has changed and smell… You somehow changed, but how and…"

"I`ll explain everything later, Morgan, trust me. But for now, I`ll need your help to dispose of that relict of age long past." Tristan pointed at Surtr, speaking up again. "Now then, Surtr, how about a little deal: surrender yourself to Odin and Asgard and reveal to us the plans of Sirzechs, or resist, and I`ll finish up the cleanup that Thor and I had started." To that, Surtr only had a roaring laughter and nothing more.

"Have you gone mad after death, Tristan?! Me?! SURRENDER?! NEVER! And what is that nonsense you are blabbering about Thor and you destroying my kind? Haven`t your mother ever tell you, that it was the work of that blasted traitor of Gremory, Gaheris, who defied your own brother, although now I can see quite a few similarities between you two." Surtr was starting to make his way towards Tristan. "Anyway, you and that damned batch of heroes with you have caused enough of trouble for us all. After I`m done with you and them, I`ll make sure to bring the last pieces of you to Sirzechs, along with the heads of Aidan and Scathach. Oh, how happy he`ll be, being rid of them once and for all."

"Oh trust me, Surtr: you`ll get to them, but only over my DEAD BODY!" Tristan`s aura suddenly flared up, the deep crimson color of his usual color gone, replaced by a bright and menacing scarlet, as he blasted from his previous position as if he never were there to begin with.

Surtr`s eyes failed him, as he couldn`t see through which route will Tristan take. His eyes and senses were searching tirelessly for him, but failing to find him. And then, out of nowhere, Surtr`s mouth opened up as he roared, a cry of pain escaping from his mouth, while a large cutting wound appeared on his chest, with fire blasting out of there, before it closed. In a split second, before Surtr appeared the one he was looking for, as Tristan reappeared in front of Surtr, with Morgan`s Clarent in his right hand, firmly holding it. As Surtr finally saw his prey, he began to make way towards him and was nearly upon him, when he was suddenly tackled by Morgarissa and sent crashing onto the ground and rocks. Red scaled dragoness looked down upon Tristan and asked of him directly.

"You are not fully Tristan, and yet… Your aura, there was only one Devil with that kind of aura, yet he died when I was merely a hatchling." Morgarissa spoke to Tristan. "That Devil… My father had told me that he was the one to kill his father, Ddraig."

"Yeah, that was the toughest and most dangerous battle I ever fought. All that talk about Ddraig`s power is no joke, I assure you, Morgarissa." Tristan spoke with knowledge in his words, surprising the red dragoness. "And I believe I remember you when you were still a small dragon, from the times when I visited Sairissa and Baleris."

"Impossible… Y-You are…"

"Yes, I am Tristan and Gaheris Gremory, Morgarissa." Tristan confirmed to her. "Long story short, I was reincarnated as Tristan after my death, lost all the memory and powers, began to gain back my memories and knowledge and other stuff a few months back, fully restored it all about 10 minutes ago, with an added bonus of gaining back all of my spiritual energy, which boosted up my powers. However, that`s still not enough to give this son of an abyss the death it deserves."

"Then, do you have a sufficient plan, Horseman of War?" Morgan addressed Tristan by his old moniker. "You wouldn`t have attracted his attention had it not been without a good enough plan, would you?"

"You are right. I do have an ace up in my sleeve, one that`ll surely give me enough power to blast him out of existence." Tristan admitted, as he placed Clarent into the ground. "However, I`ll need a minute to fully prepare it. Can you hold him off for?"

"You bet! Just make it fast!" Morgarissa roared, as she flew right towards Surtr and crashed into him, resuming their battle.

As Morgan resumed her battle with Surtr, Tristan discarded his completely destroyed combat vest and jacket, as they were basically useless, with two giant holes in chest area. Besides, right now he needed to gear up with something far more powerful and much more durable, something that could help him withstand an attack from God level enemy. And fortunately for Tristan, he had something up in his sleeve just for this moment, as his personal crest appeared underneath him and moved upwards, changing his ragged clothing to a completely new one. Instead of reinforced leather and steel plates, Tristan downed a full set of crimson colored armor, perfectly matching him, with plates fully closing his body and leaving away not a speck of underneath chain mail.

This armor had been created by Gaheris` old friend and comrade in several wars and campaigns against Demons, Greek God of Fire, Forgery and Craftsmanship, as well as the Greatest Forger in all of Mythologies, Hephaestus. He is among the very few creatures that is able to work with most durable and strongest Dragon Scales of Red Heavenly Dragon Ddraig, forging for Gaheris a suit of armor, flexible and sturdy, powerful and fast, powered by a piece of Ddraig`s own heart, which slowly and subtly enhances wearer`s power in a similar manner as Boosted Gear`s Boost ability. That was Gaheris` ultimate armor, his Scarlet Sovereign Armor, which encased him fully in itself, as the scales of the helm closed Tristan`s face, with bright green eyelids allowing for view.

However, even with Scarlet Sovereign, he had not enough power to combat Surtr. No, today, he would have to rely on all of the power he had once possessed, the power that made Gods tremble before him. Unfortunately for Tristan, he could not yet draw out that power at his will, or sustain it permanently, as his body was yet too weak, young and not adapted for the exposure of his immense power he once held. However, for a very short period of time, for about 10 or 15 minutes, he could grasp his power, regain his previous might and finish the extermination of Balrogs. This, however, would also be like sending a loud roar throughout the worlds, letting every major Faction and Creature of power know, that Horseman of War is back, and that he is back in force and power. And once that is done, the hunt will be on, and half the Underworld and Human World will be on his tail. Letting out a sigh of acceptance, a small magical circle appeared over his right palm, and from the emerged a small black orb, with a symbol of self-consuming snake on it, made in the pattern of infinity, glowing dimly, yet resonating with immeasurable power.

"Over three thousand years ago I`ve encountered the most powerful being in this realm of existence, and it has given me a token of its friendship with me…" Tristan reminiscence, as memories came to him. "Only if I were face the God of Bible were I to use this. I am sorry, Lucifer, but today, I break that promise I have made to you, my lord." And with those words, Tristan`s armored palm closed around the orb, and in one simple move, the orb cracked.

And in that next second, the world shook…

Seven miles away from the battlefield. The sight of a demonic portal.

The last barrage of Hellfire had completely demolished and sent demons and Frost Giants into oblivion, while Black Legion, elite honor guard of True Satan Faction, were finishing wiping out the remainders of them. Formed back in the times predating Great War, some of the veteran commanders of this Legion here still remember and nearly worship their founder, Horseman of War Gaheris Gremory, and follow his son with the same loyalty. Aidan let out a sigh, as his circles closed, ceasing the barrage of his Hellfire, while Scathach stepped in closer to her son, having reunited with him on her way here.

"That must be the rest of them." She said to him, with Aidan nodding to it. "We need to head back to Tristan and the rest of them immediately. If that Surtr really is a Balrog as you`ve stated, then…"

"He is one, believe me, but he is stubborn and arrogant, so the others should be able to hold him off for a bit, unless…" Aidan was about to speak up, when one of the field captains of Legion came to him and reported.

"Lord Aidan, the enemy has been successfully eliminated and destroyed. Our sorcerers confirm the complete closure of portals and no additional have appeared. They also confirm that Summit has also been secured by 7th Defensive Division deployed." Captain reported. "Our casualties are 28 men KIA and 79 injured, sir. 7th Division has 171 KIA and 621 injured, sir. They also report that Laufey has been captured by our soldiers and has been extracted from Asgard already, sir."

"Good, that`ll make Frost Giants think twice, as well as deals with their threat. Now all that remains is to make sure to divert the ire of Mythologies from Devils as a race and…" Suddenly, Aidan`s senses began to go nearly haywire, as did many of soldiers` and his mother`s, as they`ve felt it. "Wh… What kind a… That energy signature and power output… Th-that`s impossible! It can`t be… F-Father…" Aidan was struggling with words, as did most of his commanders.

And while they were nearly speechless, Scathach had words to shed, as tears began to run down on her cheeks, as her long waiting had come to an end.

"Gaheris… You are back, my love." She turned towards the spire of pure scarlet energy piercing the skies, as the ground nearly shook. "You`ve kept your word, my love."

Underworld. Gremory Mansion.

"While it isn`t fully confirmed, but from what our agents have been able to gather, Old Satan Faction has actually managed to deploy their forces into Asgard and aid the defending forces of Valkyries and Gods." Falbium lazily reported, sitting in his comfortable chair, while Four Great Satans were conducting a meeting in Sirzechs` home. "Along with that, it appears that the second attack has also failed, with Horseman of Vengeance leading the Black Legion against that force. There were also reports of sighting Scathach there… It would seem that your little plan to stop Old Satan Faction and Heaven from uniting will only backfire at us, Zechs. What a drag it will be then…"

"The reports may yet change, Falbium, and I do not lose hope." Sirzechs stated. "This alliance must be destroyed before it is properly conceived, and deaths of both Leviathan whore and Gabriel will ensure that."

"Yet what of Aidan and Scathach?" Ajuka asked of him, making Sirzechs and sitting close to them Zeoticus stiff up at mere mention of them. "Deny and despise them we may as much as we want, but both are more than capable of destroying that weakling Laufey and defeating Loki without much problem."

"Aidan is nothing more than a foul-breed, bearing none of the power of our great line whatsoever, and his mother is but a shadow that scares but children, nothing more. Grayfia and Surtr will be able to dispatch of them without any problem, even if Aidan is the last remaining Horseman." Zeoticus arrogantly stated, sipping some wine. "Besides, he is the son of Gaheris and he too had fallen before their "precious" Horseman of Demise. And if she fails, then it would seem that her usage as an intimidation force had expired, and since she has given birth to Millicas, there won`t be any need to keep her around…"

"Maybe, but Aidan isn`t weak or anything. Even back in Great War he was close enough to be on par with Grayfia back then and now… What a shame that neither he nor Gaheris had followed us when we asked them." Serafall said with a bit of sadness in her usual manner. "I even offered Gaheris myself as his wife and yet he had the gal to call me a wench and a whore! ME! The Great Levia-chan!"

"In any case, we have to wait for another report from Grayfia and…" Suddenly, Sirzechs and everyone present in the room shut themselves, as they sensed an immeasurable surge of power coming out of another realm, with Sirzechs and all that were in the rooms widening their eyes at the realization of whom that power belonged to. "Im-impossible… Wh-what is going on… This surge of power, the potency and signature… No, no, no, NO! IT CAN`T BE… IT CAN`T BE HIM! HE IS DEAD! HOW?!" Sirzechs roared with his own power flaring out violently. "GAHERIS! HOW CAN YOU BE STILL ALIVE?!" And even though he roared with rage, his own hands were shaking, betraying the feeling of fear he sensed.

"Inconceivable… Th-that is unmistakable… G-G-Gaheris…" Zeoticus`s entire frame began to shake in utter fear and horror, realizing that his own son, his worst nightmare and man that he fears the most, has somehow returned.

'That energetic signature is certainly Gaheris, and the potency and level of power can only belong to him.' Ajuka frantically analyzed that power, not even realizing that his own left hand was shaking without control. 'A-And if he is back, then Satan Faction will have the advantage and a true successor to Lucifer will be able to claim his Throne… But how?!'

"G-Gaheris-chan? B-but h-how?! If h-he is back, th-then that means…" Serafall was beginning to ramble, as she still remembered the fear she experienced when facing Horseman of War in rage. "Pl-please, G-Gaheris-chan… Pl-please d-don`t hurt me… A-after a-all, w-we w-were engaged and I…"

'That really is Gaheris alright. Man, that guy was a major pain in the ass when he was alive, and just like his brat, he actually knows a thing or two about armies and stuff… What a drag.' Falbium said to himself lazily, yet deep down inside, he too, felt how coldness of fear was clamping down on him.

Venelana Bael`s personal residence in Bael Territory.

"Taken you a very long time to finally realize just what kind of a man you`ve married to, Vena." Gareth said to her, as he poured down to her some wine. "Although, back in the day, you weren`t much better yourself. In fact, you were quite a conniving bitch, to be completely honest with you, sister."

"I take it, you intend to remind me about it for the rest of my life, don`t you, Gareth?" Venelana asked of him tiredly, sipping her drink. "Not a day passes that I haven`t looked back at what I had done and just what kind of mother I was to Gaheris…"

"And I don`t intend to let you forget it, Vena." Gareth confirmed it to her, as he rose up from his seat and looked out from the balcony. "You were honestly up for letting Sirzechs to kill Gaheris multiple times, before he was taken in by Lucifer and raised by him and Lilith into who he became. And our old man was all up for it too…" He took a shot of his whiskey. "Blasted whoring son of bitch… All that rebelling that Sirzechs and other have done , all of that was so that he could get more and more power, that power hungry asshole. And now, he`s got his sights on Tristan as his possible successor…"

"What do you mean by that, Gareth?" Venelana asked of him

"Exactly what I said, Vena." Gareth turned to her. "Whenever did our father was so nice towards someone, so approving and supportive, hm? I`ll answer for you: never. He is only driven by his own personal goal, which is the preservation of House of Bael`s power and its legacy. And for that reason, he would have it led by a powerful Devil that has his Power of Destruction, yet who is not fully formed in moral way, who can be bent to do his beading. That`s why he is so nice and supportive towards Tristan. He wants him as his real Heir and as someone who will be able to continue his work. He went as far as to bloody scare Sairaorg into giving the position of Heir to Tristan. If he did not comply, then his mother would not live an hour after Sairaorg`s decision."

"I`ve always suspected that he had less than altruistic plans for Tristan, but I doubt that he`ll succeed with them." She said to her brother. "Tristan, he is… He has a lot of his older brother in him and…" Venelana and Gareth both had stopped what they were doing, once a wave of immense and numbingly familiar energy washed over them, driving Venelana into a state of shock. "I-I-It c-can`t b-be… G-Gareth, th-that e-energy, i-it`s…"

"Yeah, it sure as hell was his energy…" Gareth confirmed to his sister, while in his mind he was smiling. 'At long last… General, my friend, my brother! I knew that this day would come, sooner or later! At long last, we will finish what we had started!'

"Th-this energy… It`s not just Gaheris`, but… T-Tristan…" Venelana finally recognized the energy signature of her child, as her mouth hang open in shock and realization of what had happened. "My boy… M-My son… All these years…"

Tristan Bael`s personal residence.

The personal residence of Tristan Bael may`ve been one of the smaller ones in Bael`s possession, but it was located in one of the most beautiful natural places that they had in their possession. And while it`s owner was away from there, his mistresses of heart and soul, Cleria Belial and Ravel Phenex, his soon to be wife, were there, living and running things smoothly for their beloved. But along with that, unknown to all, safe for themselves, they were also in a quest of their own one that they had partaking for the past weeks till no end.

"So, how much have you recovered last night, Iris?" Spoke up Ravel, as they sat in their room, addressing the silver-haired beauty that was her friend Cleria, or Iris Belial, as she was known in her previous life. "Last night, I think I`ve recovered about all of the last pieces of my memory."

"Same with me, Rayla." Cleria, or Iris, addressed her friend and named sister Ravel, or Rayla Phenex, another reincarnate from the past. "Still can`t wrap my head around this, though. You and I, former Horsemen of Apocalypse, killed in that damned rebellion, are now back and reborn, with our memories coming back to us… Just how in the world could that happen?"

"Beats me, Iris. The only ones that could ever answer us this question are Sirius and Gaheris, since they`ve spent years studying the matter of death and afterlife." Ravel said to Cleria, letting out a sigh. "While I myself am not completely a hundred percent sure, but I think that Tristan… That Tristan is like us." Ravel said in a bit of a hopeful tone, with Cleria looking at her.

"Perhaps." She agreed. "Yet, even if he isn`t… Have you ever thought that you would fall in love with anyone else, other than Gaheris, had you been given another chance?"

"Honestly? I don`t…" Ravel was about to finish up, but then both of them sensed a surge of unstoppable and nearly choking power, yet for them it felt like breeze of fresh cool wind. "That energy surge, this power and e-energy signature, i-it`s…" Reborn Horseman of Inferno was frozen in shock and awe, as tears were starting to come to her eyes.

"Y-yes, Rayla. That is him, no doubt about it." Horseman of Emptiness confirmed. "It really is him… Our Gaheris… Reborn as Tristan..."

Underworld. True Satan Faction`s territories. Draconian Mountains.

On the peaks of mountains that stretch for a few hundred kilometers, laid in the lands controlled by the loyalists, who retained their allegiances to the True Satans and their ideals, unknown to most, lived a creature, one whose name was known to many, yet very few knew more than rumors of it. That creature was known as the Dragon God of Infinity, which had once resided in the Dimensional Gap, the endless and infinitely empty void, which served Ophis as its home for countless eons. That is, until she was somehow pulled out of her void and plunged into a world that was foreign and alien to her, forced to abandon the realm of eternal silence to the Red One, who moved in and occupied her domain, while she was to be made into a weapon by ancient Gods of Mesopotamia, who were facing their decline and decided to gamble all they had obtain the Power of Infinity from Ophis.

Yet, unfortunately for them, they drew ire of Lucifer and his most powerful and trusted of champions, one that Ophis would come to recognize as someone close to her and important enough for her to listen to him and learn how to live in this world and even accept it. Gaheris had freed her from the shackles and saved her, in more ways than one, as Ophis had begun to change and shift her own existence from her interactions and experiences with him, opening up to her more emotional side, feelings and senses, starting to see the beauty of the world that was full of so much things and devoid of void. It had taken a few centuries, but over the time, with help from Gaheris and later on with his family, Ophis had almost practically shed her emotionless shell and embraced the world that is now, leaving her thoughts of regaining Dimensional Gap out of her mind completely, with the help of Gaheris, who was, as she called him, "A warming sun that illuminates her Infinity." To Ophis, Gaheris was the most important person in the world, the only whom she would ever consider as a possible lifelong partner and someone to be her mate.

That made it all the more traumatizing and painful for Infinite Dragon, when she felt her Sun`s death from across dimensions and soon found out about to be true. This transgression nearly cost the Devils their entire existence, as Ophis, for the first time in her entire existence, was furious, livid, utterly enraged by the fact of her closest friend and person that opened her to a whole new world, being dead. She had even went as far as to exterminate several of the Pillars that supported the man that killed Gaheris and she would`ve continued, had it not been for a certain someone stopping her, revealing to her that there was a way for Ophis to gain back what she wanted and, even though it would take him a very long time, Gaheris would be back. After gaining her assurances, Ophis decided to trust this person, leaving and secluding herself in True Satan Faction`s territories, claiming the mountains as her personal domain and living there. Over thousands of years, those same mountains became populated by a great number of Dragons, many of whom were discontent because of living with Tannin, who served the Usurper Satans, all coming in there as they`ve felt the presence of Ophis, which served them as a beacon of sorts, a welcoming signal. At first, Ophis cared naught for them, but as the time went on, she had slowly and steadily began to become more and more involved in the dealings of Dragons that populated her mountains, until she was fully in control of all the tribes and clans of Dragons here, as their Dragon God.

And now, Ophis, in form of a massive, 100-meters long and 20 meters high Great Black Dragon, was situated on top of her personal peak, observing as the young Dragons flew among the rocks and grounds, as she felt something she was almost not expecting to ever feel. A warm wave of power, washing over her, strong and potent, but also familiar and known to her, like a nearly forgotten smell of flowers, blooming in spring. Ophis shifted her attention from her kin to this sensation she sensed, concentrating on it and finally realizing what it was. As she let out a satisfied quiet roar, she spread her wings, opening up a portal and headed towards its source, with one thought in her mind.

'My Sun, you are back.' Ophis thought to herself, as she headed towards it.

Asgard.

A pillar of scarlet bright light pierced the very skies of mythological world, was quietly subsiding, diminishing and becoming smaller and smaller, contracting to its source. And soon enough, the pillar of scarlet was gone, it`s only remainder being a glowing aura, surrounding the armored warrior. It was lashing out like a beast, but moved around its bearer like quiet and peaceful river, showing seemingly no signs of aggression or danger. However, in one were to stand close to, they would be overwhelmed by sheer might and gravity of it, as aura was showing away its fully contained and controlled power, one that was enough to destroy the very world of humans itself. And when Tristan began to make his steps towards his opponents, taking into his hand Clarent, the very ground shook, as ripples spread from it, air becoming denser than ever and a sense of utter demise spreading around like wildfire. This was the aura of a being that once was feared by the Biblical God himself, for he possessed the power equal to that of his own First Son, Lucifer. This was the power that Usurpers feared, for it was a rallying call to their enemies and banner for all those that opposed their tyranny. This was the might of man that had seen over a hundred wars and thousands of battles, participating and observing them, engraving into his mind and soul, what a war truly was.

This was the being that was known as Horseman of War, Lucifer`s Last Loyalist, Hell`s Harbinger and Slayer of Ddraig. That was Gaheris Gremory, reborn anew, with all his experience and powers fully in his grasp, at least for a short while, yet it was more than enough for him to do one thing he was best at. As he gained footing and began to run towards the battlefield, only one goal was in his mind:

'The War, shall end!'

Oh yeah, bitches, he is back! The most dangerous, deadliest and menacing Devil ever to be killed, is back and he ain`t gonna go down as easily as the last time. And now, you finally have the answers to the questions of what was happening to Tristan and how he was connected with Gaheris, and yes, as many of you had long guessed it, Tristan was Gaheris` reincarnation and I`ve used it. Hope you will find the explanation as to why he retained his knowledge and skills and memories to your satisfaction.

Also, just for clarification. Right now, Tristan, or Gaheris if you wish to call him (call him both names as they are essentially one now) has his fullest power for a very short duration of time, as his young body isn`t able to sustain it for a very long time and his energy reserves aren't as built up as they were when his was in past life. Right now, Orb of Ophis is what empowered him and it`s only one time boost up.

Along with that, we also got some interesting revelations, such as Ravel and Cleria also being reincarnated, like Tristan. Now, there was also a name of Sirius Merlin Sitri thrown here, so do please hold onto it, as this guy will be VERY important in the future and will be the key as to why and how did Gaheris, Rayla, Iris (Tristan, Ravel and Cleria), and possibly some other Horsemen, came back into this world. Also, before anyone asks, he is Serafall`s younger brother, and yup, he is THE MERLIN, the very same guy, will be explained later on.

Leave a comment, review, suggestion, question, I`ll answer it all with pleasure.

Next time: Horseman of War`s Rampage; Reunion; Future Plans…