"Are you…?"
"It's okay—I have to go."
Azazul's face twisted into confusion at Shalen's sudden, panicked response.
"Okay…"
Shalen walked to the door and reached for the handle. As his hand touched the cold metal, he paused, then turned around and said firmly,
"We'll meet each other on the battlefield very soon."
Before opening the door, his hair and eyes shifted back to his father's features.
Azazul summoned his own disguise, his hair and eyes returning to those of the Saints.
He turned to Akiko.
"Is there anything to eat? I'm hungry."
Akiko went into the kitchen. After a while, she returned with a bowl of curry and… a hamburger.
"This is from yesterday. It's the fastest I could get."
She paused, then asked,
"Do you mind telling me where you were?"
Azazul nodded and began explaining.
"Well… I was taken to a secret league of assassins. The head leader hid me from the demons…"
He took a bite of the hamburger, smiling slightly before continuing.
"…though, in doing that, she got killed by a ranked 2 demon. Long story short—the league betrayed her, and she stayed behind so I could escape. Now I've got every demon—and probably every guardian—after me."
Akiko nodded slowly.
"That makes two of us."
Azazul's eyes widened.
"I'm wanted too," she continued. "Every demon and guardian is after my blood."
He stared at her, stunned.
'What was she doing while I was gone…?'
"Why?" he finally asked.
Akiko sighed.
"There was a message from above… Every demigod is to be killed on sight.I myself is half deity.... and unlike you i don't share the benefit of the godlike healing you have."
Azazul's calm expression shattered.
"What?..you're have deity?! That explains why you're so damn strong. And this message when did it arrive?"
"This morning," Akiko replied. "They've placed bounties on every demigod. I saw it after I left you here."
She looked at him seriously.
"I think it's because of you. You arrive—and suddenly this happens. They know you survived, and they want you dead immediately."
She stood up.
"And now we have two ranked demons nearby."
Azazul looked at her. Strangely, his heart was calm. No racing pulse. No overwhelming fear. Just… stillness.
"What rank?"
"Three… and four," Akiko answered hesitantly.
Azazul took another bite, giving her time to continue.
"I don't think either of us are ready for ranked demons. Even with our divine lineages… we won't stand a chance. Not even with your brother's war lineage."
Azazul smiled.
"Who says I'm not ready?"
"What?"
Akiko studied him carefully. She had expected him to change after everything—but not like this. His eyes were different. Brighter… but not with life. Something else.
"I think I can take a rank four," Azazul said calmly. "And I'll do everything in my power to kill the rank three."
His voice hardened.
"They don't deserve mercy. Demons are nothing but pure evil."
Akiko sat down slowly, locking eyes with him.
Those eyes… they were cold.
This wasn't Azazul.
"Weren't you the one who said you didn't want to kill?" she asked quietly. "What makes demons so different?"
Azazul met her deep azure gaze. To him, they were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen… yet he began to slip from reality...
"You know what makes them different…" he said.
"They rebelled against the Creator. There is no return for them. Humanity can return—but not them. So I'll give my life if it means humanity can return to the Creator… their father."
He paused abruptly—like something cut him off mid-thought.
Then he continued, his voice… different.
"I always wondered why I was placed on this earth. I thought it was to defend it. But it goes deeper. I was placed here to protect those willing to be saved… not those who chose to separate themselves from the Lord."
Akiko suddenly grabbed his shoulder.
"Azazul—your eye!"
Behind his bangs, she saw it clearly—the Eye of Neverending Darkness.
Then it vanished.
Azazul blinked, confusion flooding his face.
"What just happened? What was I saying?"
Akiko frowned.
"That… wasn't you?"
Azazul wiped his forehead.
"No… I blacked out for a moment."
His gaze drifted unconsciously to the pitch-black chain on his wrist. Its silver luster was gone.
Then he looked back at Akiko—who was now very close.
Close enough for him to catch her faint scent.
Close enough to see the slight redness on her cheeks. His own cheeks flushed in response.
Her dark azure eyes met his ruby red ones… and as always, he never looked at her scar. Only into her eyes.
The door suddenly opened.
Shalen stepped in—and immediately froze.
Seeing how close they were, his expression twisted with anger.
"You'd think that since I'm a demigod, you'd tell me there's a bounty on our heads!"
Akiko pulled away and returned to her seat. Azazul looked at Shalen calmly.
"You're the king's son. You have bodyguards."
Shalen stepped forward, pointing at him.
"That's not the point! What are we going to do?!"
Akiko rolled her eyes.
"We?"
"Yes—we!" Shalen snapped. "I'm joining you two. Father won't protect me properly—I'll just become another puppet of one of the Captains. I refuse that."
He locked eyes with Azazul.
"But I will kill you."
Azazul smirked faintly.
"Yeah, sure. You can join. Just don't die."
"You underestimate me, Saint."
"Maybe," Azazul shrugged. "But tell me—how do you plan on helping us kill a rank three demon?"Shalen asked.
Azazul smiled slightly.
"You want me to kill it? I thought you'd be eager."
Shalen hesitated—but Azazul cut him off.
"Don't worry. I'll kill the rank three."
Shalen's eyes widened.
"You're actually that strong?"
"No… I'm not."
Shalen swallowed.
"Then why?"
Azazul sighed.
"Because I must."
Shalen stepped back.
"You must…?"
"Yes. You ask a lot of questions."
Azazul turned to Akiko.
"When the time comes, you go with him. I'll face the rank three alone."
Shalen snapped.
"Are you insane?! We're kids! We shouldn't even be near those things—and you want to fight one alone?!"
"Yeah, we're kids," Azazul said calmly. "But if we meet them, we fight. I'm just saying—I'm ready."
Shalen clenched his fists.Lowering his head.
"I'm ready too."
He exhaled slowly.
"Our best option is to run… but we might not be fast enough. Returning to Bandale would take seven days—and they're clearly stalling. They want us to come to them."
He looked up.
"We're trapped."
Akiko nodded.
"Then we fight… and hope we win."
Shalen looked between them.
"When do we attack?"
"Tomorrow," Akiko said quietly. "We'll be sent back for treatment. Even divine blood isn't invincible anymore. So we should atleast try to be in one piece.. when we arrive in Bandale. We need to end this fast."
They both nodded.
Shalen turned to leave.
"I'll see you tomorrow. I have things to do."
After he left, Akiko and Azazul exchanged glances.
Before she could speak, Azazul said,
"I'll eat quietly."
After finishing the curry and hamburger, they continued planning.
Shalen sent a raven...a few minutes later.
"All teams have been alerted. Planning tomorrow at my incredible mansion."
Azazul felt… calm. His dark lineage overwhelming him...the killing didn't go without consequences...
Too calm.
For the first time, he allowed himself to be devoured by his .
Later, Akiko approached him with scissors.
Azazul untied the white hair tie she had given him.
"Since when did my room become a hangout spot?" Akiko muttered.
A girl replied,
"We heard you found someone."
Azazul stepped out of the bathroom.
"…And you didn't say he was—"She said when she saw him.
"Wow."
Akiko grimaced.
"Wow? Seriously?"
"Now I understand why Shalen was angry. I wouldn't trust myself around him either."
Azazul looked at the girl—dark hair, dark brown eyes, sharp bangs. Her companion stood beside her.
Then two tall boys entered.
Akiko sighed.
"Guys… this is Azazul. The heir to the Dragon Saints."
Everyone stared.
One of the boys stepped forward and extended his hand.
"It's a pleasure to be supported by one the legendary Dragon Saint's heir."
Azazul shook it.
The boy glanced back at his companion.
"You not going to greet him?"
His companion replied coldly,
"I'd rather not. He'll probably die soon."
The first boy laughed awkwardly.
"Don't mind him. You'll get used to it. I'm Harper—and that's Delvin."
Azazul nodded, eyes drifting to Delvin.
'He looks like he wants to kill me.'
'…Is this how my first school trip goes?'
'Getting bullied?'
'Worst start ever!'
Azazul smiled slightly, but his eyes dimmed.
"Well, Harper… I see your friend isn't happy to meet me. And that's fine."
He paused. His voice softened—but carried weight.
"But if he keeps looking at me like that… I won't hesitate to return the feeling."
Delvin snapped.
"What?! You're nothing but a spoiled brat who thinks—"
Everything went black.