Previously on TRUE & LIEBen thought he understood life until the dreams began.Dreams that whispered: "Adam was made exactly like God."And that Satan came not to destroy… but to stop something greater.
His adoptive mother Ruth died in his arms leaving him with secrets, warnings, and a name: Belzebit.
Rafael, his best friend, had hidden the truth. But when he returned, he brought with him a silver bracelet and everything changed.
In a blinding vision, Ruth appeared, radiant and eternal revealing that Rafael was never human. He was Nathaniel, one of the Varikuriel, ancient watchers forged before time.
Now awakened, Rafael remembers the prophecy, the spark, and the war that has already begun.
He speaks a single word:
"Merioria."
"Rafael, what are you talking about?" Ben's voice cracked. "What even is Merioria?"
Rafael's expression darkened. "Enough, Ben. How could you forget? All because of that bastard… Shibuzu. Your grandfather."
Ben flinched. "What? What do you mean?"
Before Rafael could answer, a strange chill swept the room. He turned toward the window — eyes narrowing.
Ben followed his gaze. A figure stood outside, motionless in the shadows.
It was the man in the gray suit.
The same one from the principal's office.
Rafael's voice dropped to a whisper."They found us."
Ben's stomach dropped. "Who? Who are they?"
"There's no time. We have to go. We have to find Belzebit. You need your memories back."
"Belzebit… that name again. Who is he?"
"Ruth told me to find him. He's the only one who can unlock what they took from you."
Ben's breath caught. "But that guy — he's just some official—"
BOOM!The front door exploded inward, splintering like paper. A massive figure stepped through the smoke and dust.
It wasn't human.
Its body gleamed like obsidian. Black feathered wings stretched from its back, twisted and unnatural. Its eyes burned with red fire, and its face was both angelic and monstrous.
Ben stumbled backward, heart racing."What the hell is that?!"
"A Dravior," Rafael answered, stepping in front of him.
"A what?!"
The creature let out a growl, voice like thunder and rot."Nathaniel… Give. Him. To us."
Rafael didn't move. His hands clenched."You're not touching him."
The Dravior unfurled its wings ready to strike.
Ben backed into the corner. "What do we do?!"
Rafael's eyes flared with golden light."We run."
He raised his hand, voice steady and ancient:"Tay light… come. Light… dance."
The air rippled. A pulse of golden energy shot from Rafael's palm like a beam from another realm. Light exploded around the Dravior — chains of flame and starlight tightening around its form.
The creature shrieked, thrashing, pinned to the ground.
"GO!" Rafael shouted, grabbing Ben's wrist.
They sprinted through the shattered doorway into the dark street beyond.
The night outside was quiet. Too quiet.
Ben stumbled, gasping for air. They ducked behind a parked car.
"What was that?!" he yelled. "That thing wasn't human! Are we in a freaking movie?!"
"No. This is real. Too real," Rafael said, scanning the street.
"That was Hell!"
"That was a Dravior. A fallen angel. Twisted. Reborn in darkness."
"You said… Satan sent it?"
"Yes. The Devoir Satan's most ancient form sends the Dravior to hunt people like us. The Captu."
"Captu? What is that?"
Rafael's eyes hardened."It means the Marked. The ones with something inside them that Heaven and Hell both want."
Ben stepped back. "You're saying I'm one of them? One of those chosen freaks?"
"You're not a freak, Ben. You're part of something bigger. Ruth knew. She died to protect you."
Ben looked away, shaken."…This is insane."
"No. This is truth."
They ran again, ducking into a narrow alley.
"That light thing you did… can't you do it again? Teleport us or something?"
Rafael leaned against a wall, breath heavy."I wish I had my full power," he muttered. "If I did… I would've tailored us straight to Belzebit."
"Tailored?"
"Jumped. Shifted. Ripped reality if I had to. But I'm not whole yet. My body's awake—but my soul… it's still catching up."
Ben looked up at the sky. "So… where is Belzebit?"
"He's not like anyone else. Not like us."
"What does that mean?"
"He's a fallen angel. And also a Varculuty — a different order than me. One born in the Divide."
"The Divide?"
"A rift between Heaven and Earth. The space where broken things are hidden."
"And you said… he's a descendant of Abel?"
Rafael nodded. "The first blood. The first death. The one who was marked before any of us. Belzebit carries all of it. The fall, the flame… the spark."
"So he's powerful?"
"Far more powerful than either of us. Even in this broken state… he's not someone you find."
Rafael looked into the shadows."He finds you."
"So what do we do now?" Ben asked.
"We wait."
"In the night, he watches," Rafael whispered. "And when he knows someone is looking for him… he comes."
Ben hugged his knees, trembling."This is insane…"
"No," Rafael said, staring up at the stars. "This is just the beginning."
The stars had shifted. The wind turned cold.
They waited near the edge of a ruined church wall, half-hidden by vines and stone.
Then Rafael tensed."They're almost here."
Ben stiffened. "Who?"
"The Draviors. They felt the light earlier. They're tracking us."
Rafael stepped forward. "We can't fight them. Not now. There's only one thing left to do."
He turned to Ben."Give me your hand."
Ben hesitated — then slowly held it out.
Rafael drew a dagger and made a shallow cut on Ben's palm, then on his own. Their blood dripped and mingled in the dirt, glowing faintly.
Rafael raised his voice:
"Belzebit… Belzebit… hear the blood of the marked. Come to us."
The earth trembled.
A sigil glowed beneath their feet, ancient and waiting.
CRASH!A Dravior burst from the trees, wings flared, eyes ablaze.
Ben froze. It lunged at him.
FWOOOOM!The sigil ignited in light. A figure erupted from the flames — silver and shadow swirling together.
In one motion, the figure spun —SLASH.The Dravior's head hit the ground.
Ben stared, paralyzed.
The figure turned. Silver hair, wild eyes, and a calm grin like he hadn't just ended a fallen angel in one blow.
He looked straight at Ben.
"…It's been a long time, Ben."
Ben's voice cracked. "I don't… I don't even know you."
The man tilted his head, eyes softening."How could you not know me?" he whispered. "You're my—"His voice caught. Tears welled in his eyes."…You're my reason."
Ben's heart pounded."…Who are you?"
Rafael stepped forward and placed a hand on Ben's shoulder."This is the one I told you about."
Ben blinked."This is Belzebit?"
Rafael nodded. "Yes. He acts like a child sometimes. But when it comes to battle…" He looked at the Dravior's corpse."…he's the strongest being I've ever seen."
Belzebit stretched, yawned, and winked."Sorry I took so long. The Divide's traffic is murder."
He cracked his neck and grinned.
"Now… let's talk about the prophecy. And what comes next."