"Do you take me for some kind of joke?"
"N-never. It's ju-"
Before the man could finish his sentence, his entire head was engulfed in a swirl of black flames burning his very soul. He didn't scream, not even a gurgle as the heat caused his skin to bubble and melt off the bone. Then when his skull was erased, the flames disappeared.
The other two people who were standing beside the man had sweat dripping down their face. One was an older woman who was doing well to keep her composure and the other was a tall lanky man who couldn't stop his body from violently shaking in fear. They were the three people who were at the congregation of people discussing how to satisfy the hunger of the demon.
"You really expect me, to keep waiting for a meal? Are you sure you're not plotting something?"
The lady quickly bowed her head before speaking.
"No sir. We would never even consider doing such a thing. Right, Mark?"
The man now known as Mark flinched hard when he heard his name, but soon bowed the same way the lady did.
"O-of course. W-we would never be so foolish as to go against you my lord."
"Then why do you insist on having me wait to indulge my appetite for the flesh of the hybrid?"
"Like we've said before, if the girl is able to develop her contra, wouldn't she taste far more delicious. And the taste will be amplified even more if you held off from eating regular human flesh," said the woman.
"Do you have any proof of that being the case."
"Yes. I've seen it with my very eyes. Whenever a demon has a choice of whether to eat a human with the ability to use anima or a person who can't, so long as it's not too risky the demon will certainly choose the one who can manipulate anima. It isn't a coincidence."
The demon did not reply and there was a palpable silence in the room. The woman dared to start looking up to see if she could make out what the demon was thinking. The demon was not even looking at them. It was seated on an elevated platform with one leg folded across the other with its head tilted and resting on the palm of its hand which was on top of its leg. It's was something the woman never expected. From what she could tell, it was akin to that of a child trying to choose between two of their favorite snacks. It's maroon colored eyes were closed while wearing a scowl of frustration on it's face.
"Ugh! Fine. But this better not take too long."
The demon then dropped down from the platform and softly landed on the rocky floor. It then walked towards the two people but before just before reaching them, it bent down and picked up the corpse of their companion by the leg.
"I am starving though. So I'll have this for now."
It then sunk it's teeth into the man's leg and ripped off a lump of flesh. It didn't even chew the meat before swallowing. It was in the motion of ripping off another piece of flesh when it looked and realized the other two humans were still just standing there.
"What are you both still doing here, shoo," he said with a little hand motion telling them to go away.
The pair looked at each other and quickly walked away. When they walked outside of a cave, Mark immediately fell to his knees and puked on the ground.
"It's eating him. That thing is really eating Arnold."
The woman quickly wrapped her hand around Mark's mouth.
"Keep your voice down you bastard. It might still be able to hear you."
Mark slapped the woman's hand away in anger.
"And how could you be so calm! So many hurt. So many dead. And yet here you are as cool as a cucumber."
The lady remained calm. She let out a sigh and folded her hands behind her back.
"And what good would getting emotional do? What benefit would there be? It was due to my cool headedness, that our town wasn't eradicated. And if I hadn't been calm just now, that demon likely would've lashed out and killed everyone. Better one person die than thousands. It may sound cruel, but it's by far better outcome."
Mark grinded his fist against the rocky ground tearing part of his flesh causing blood to leak.
"It is unfortunate. But this is the hand we have been dealt. All we can do is pray that the aeons will give the strength necessary to persevere."
She then shakily knelt next to Mark who looked up at her and saw her softened expression.
"And I hope that you especially survive this, my dear."
Mark's face flushed red then he nervously looked away.
"Y-yes, lady Margaret."
"Now we should quickly head back. The people are getting worried. Plus, we need to hold a small service for Arnold. His daughter will be devastated."
After that, the pair slowly stood and headed back to the town.
~
Inside of a hotel room, Asuka is giving Amelia some pointers in hand to hand combat.
"And you're sure that it's better to hit with my palms instead of a fist?"
"Technically no. But for a beginner like you, you could easily break your hand if you don't punch right. I had to learn that the hard way," Asuka said with a bit of a chuckle.
"Alright then."
Amelia continued to practice the moves Asuka had showed her. While she did that, Asuka got into her meditative position and closed her eyes. When they opened, the familiar sight of her inner world revealed itself. A little bit ahead, a lone figure stood. It's body was covered in a black mist which blocked her true form. The figure had its right arm stretched out to the side and it seemed to be holding some kind of a blade which was stuck inside the ground.
"Only two days remain. Your control over your contra is still far below average. I doubt you'll be truly ready by then to face a true demon. But that doesn't mean your completely helpless."
The figure them pulled out the sword from the ground and held it in a ready stance.
"No anima. Only use your contra. I will show you how to take full advantage what you have now. But even if this is just training, don't think I won't cut you apart."
Asuka let out a small dark laugh and the Annie's words. She then unsheathed her sword and got in her ready stance.
"Not like you ever held back before."