Journey Of A Legend

"These two are complete freaks!", said Nick, now truly not believing that those two could have such strength.

He knew just what kind of power he had used on them, so seeing them escape his ability was a complete shock for him.

His Time Reverse was not only reversing time itself but made sure that anyone affected by its power won't be able to move or do a single thing while he used his power.

No matter if it was an Artifact in the Soul or a Soul Creature until one was affected by his Time Reverse, one shouldn't be able to summon anything or use any power.

However, even like this, Greg was still able to do something which was stated as impossible and escape his power relatively easily.

But what Nick didn't know, that the reason for him to escape was not that his mask's power was strong, but he summoned it right before Nick's ability.

He felt that Nick was about to use a powerful ability, so he wanted to protect himself from unknown dangers. But what he didn't expect that the power would activate and affect him in a flash.

If it weren't for him summoning his mask's power beforehand, he wouldn't have been able to escape that was 100% sure.

Luckily the mask's nullification power was able to break through Nick's ability the moment it was activated, so it wasn't sealed away.

Greg looking at his proximity and watching that except him and Joe everyone else was frozen he looked at Nick calmly.

"It's 2 against 1. No matter how I look at it, you are at a complete disadvantage. Even if you try to undo your power, we will beat you before you could do that."

When Nick heard this, he instantly turned serious and didn't know how to react.

If it would have been in the past and someone would have said the same thing to him, he would have just simply laughed at them.

However, tasting both Joe's and Greg's strength firsthand, Nick didn't laugh at all. He knew that those two has more than enough power to beat him, even though he was above them in rank.

Seeing that Nick wasn't doing anything but standing in one place in silence, Joe stepped forward and started to talk calmly.

"Look. I don't want to fight against you nor kill those who were a part of my life so far. We all know that everything that is currently happening is because of that old wreck."

Nick's expression after listening to this started to soften but still stayed silent.

Looking at Henry, Scott, and every Dia Family member he knew since he was a small child, Joe glanced at Nick and asked calmly, "As a member of the Soul Association, a man who fights for balance, do you think this is normal what we currently do?"

"No, not at all. We all know that if things go as it is, the Dia Family will make the balance to collapse and a war will break out soon. It is only a matter of time, yet..."

"Yet?", asked Joe quietly, slightly raising his eyebrow curious what Nick wanted to say.

Staying silent for a small while, Nick looked at Joe and sighed, "Yet unfortunately I can't do anything against it. The Soul Association and the Dia Family formed a pact."

"A pact?", asked Joe with a deep frown, feeling that nothing good could come to of that. Especially if it was associated with his father.

If that old sly fox made a pact with someone he would make 100% sure to get more out of it as the other side.

Thinking about this he asked instantly, "What was the deal about?"

"He formed a temporary alliance with the Soul Association. As for the details, unfortunately, I can not talk about them. Both the Soul Association and the Dia Family's head prohibited me to talk about this matter."

"..."

Joe listening to this looked troubled and surprised at the same time. Even Greg looked confused under the mask.

Everyone knew that the Federation had balance because of the Soul Association and not because of the 5 Great Families.

Even though the 5 Great Families held bigger fame and power than the Soul Association, the latter had a bigger influence than any other.

And this is the reason why the balance could work well without any problems. If one Family decided to attack another and not everyone, until then the Soul Association won't interfere.

While one family plummet another rise. However, things completely change when a Family decides to attack all the others and try to make a dynasty, where only they are the rulers. 

If something like that happens, then that is the time when the Soul Association would interfere with the happenings.

Beating the arrogant family alongside the other 4 Great Families and restore the lost balance, that was the Soul Association's main and most important task.

However, there was never a moment in the past, where the Soul Association would make a pact with a Family which was on the rise. Especially not when that Family was gaining greater and greater influence, while it destroyed several smaller families all around the Federation.

The whole thing was just way too confusing.

The Dia Family's sudden rise, the Clanwing's unexpected attack against the Scepters, and now the immediate pact between Joe's father and the Soul Association.

All of these things showed that things suddenly started to go toward a future that won't be a pleasant one that was for sure.

Thinking about Russ's and Wayne's warning, which stated the Higher Beings' attack, Greg felt like his head will explode.

"First that and now this. Things escalated to unexpected heights and if this continues we will kill each other right before the real war would come."

As Greg thought about this, he looked at Nick and wanted to say something, but suddenly Joe on his side started to talk first.

"I see. So that's how it is.", said Joe and lowered the Jade Sword in his hand.

"From now on, I don't care what happens from now on with the Dia Family nor with my father. I am no longer a part of that family. I hope you know what that means, right... Nick."

"!"

Both Nick and Greg hearing this turned stupified, not believing what they just heard from Joe.

Did he say he is no longer a part of a family that is on the rise? What? Did he go insane? This was the biggest chance he could have in his whole life and he wants to waste it?

Not even Greg, who knew Joe for years, know what was currently happening. But he knew one thing for sure.

"If he decided like this, then he should have a very solid reason. After this fight, I will definitely talk with him."

Nick who looked at Joe in utter silence, started to examine his expression but seeing that he was not joking around, he looked stunned.

"Are you serious about what you have just said?", asked Bick with a slightly raised eyebrow.

"Yes, I am.", nodded Joe without hesitancy, and took out a symbol from his pocket.

"To show how serious I am, here. Take this. Now it is useless to me."

Seeing that Joe was throwing a small circular-shaped symbol at him, Nick put his hand out and grabbed the badge.

However, the moment he opened his palm and looked at the emblem, his expression froze up instantly.

"This... You can't be serious about this! This is your Ancestry Badge! If you throw it away you never be able to inherit the Dia Family from your father!"

"!"

When Greg heard this, he instantly understood the situation and his expression turned alarmed.

"Joe, just think about all of this again. Maybe it is not worth en-."

"It is perfectly worth it.", said Joe coldly, cutting into Greg's sentence.

"How is it worth it? You are throwing away your future right at the moment!"

Glancing at Greg on his side, Joe shook his head and replied calmly, "If my future is to inherit and lead a Family which had a bloody past and killed thousands of innocent people, then I don't need such a future."

"..."

"But..."

"There is no but. Greg, maybe my father let you into my family in the very beginning, but you were never truly a part of it. Don't take it as an insult, instead, take it as a compliment. Being a part of that Family means being a slave for the entire of your life."

Listening to this, Greg turned silent and looked at Joe.

Feeling his sharp gaze even through the demon mask, Joe averted his face from Greg and looked at Nick.

After a small while later, he closed his eyes, and after taking a small but deep breath, he started to talk.

"And this is why, right now and here, I, Dia Joseph, the eldest son of the Dia Family, will sever all of my connections with my family, once and for all!"