"What the hell are you going to get from there?!" Mel shouted, her anger clear.
The old man rubbed his forehead in frustration. Out of all the possible responses, this was what Asura came up with. "Can you really get information about the cultists there?"
"Mhm, totally. One hundred percent." Asura nodded vigorously, crossing all his arms. "No doubt about it. Anything you want is there."
He spread his arms wide, like a dealer trying to prove his authenticity.
"Technically, we don't even have to go to one." He pressed. "Look, I know she'll answer me there, but I don't have any other way to contact her. I bet we can figure out a lot from them." The ogre leaned forward, a smug grin on his face. "Just trust me. Okay? I know a guy who knows a guy who had a brother who worked at one. He said he got what he wanted."
The old man sighed, knowing he would regret this but seeing no other choice. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. They may have found one of Malachi's hideouts, but that had only happened because of Asura's intervention. Many had tried and failed to track Malachi down using traditional methods, but somehow, he managed to hide or block any incantations or blessings meant to locate him.
They had already searched the factory before. No leads, no evidence, nothing. Who knows what would've happened if not for Asura's little excursion?
"Asura," His voice filled with exhaustion. "Let's see if you can actually bring back some useful information," he said, his gaze narrowing into a sharp warning. "This will be the one and only time I trust you. If you disappoint me, we'll be having a very different conversation."
Asura shot out of his chair, throwing his hands in the air with a triumphant grin. "I'm useful for something!!! Woooo!" he shouted as he pumped his arm at his side.
Mel groaned, disgusted that the old man was even considering Asura's idea. She sank back into her seat, baffled by his agreement to such an absurd plan. Ash's rage flared, left in disbelief. Why is he entertaining this?!
"If this is some sick joke to get us to the strip club for fun, I swear, I'll slit your throat." Ash's voice seethed with anger. "I don't care if I have to tear the blade from Hephestine herself to kill you."
Wain glanced nervously between the old man and Asura, unsure how to react. Finally, he asked, "Can we really go to a strip club? The Angels only bless those who follow Judex Divinum's law." He cautiously asked.
"Yes, it's fine." The old man stroked his beard thoughtfully. "It's not against the rules if the investigation calls for it. Otherwise, it normally would be off-limits."
"Lame." Asura plopped back down in his seat, propping his feet up again. "Y'all can't have fun, can ya'?"
The old man ignored Asura's comment and continued, his voice steady. "Mel will take the lead and act as the battery, as usual. Wain will provide support, backing up Asura and Ash if needed. Ash will be the frontman, and Asura will be the defender." His gaze shifted from one person to the next before settling on Wain. "And Wain, save your herbs unless it's necessary."
"Battery? Like, a battery that goes in a remote?" Asura raised an eyebrow, his confusion evident.
"Yes, Asura, like that," the old man replied, his tone patient but firm. "I suppose we never explained the team structure. Our holy power comes from an Angel's gift—a contract between an angel and a human." He displayed his mana with a golden flame in his hand. "This contract bestows holy mana, which allows us to use incantations. Just like I mentioned in the lecture before,"
He paused for a moment to let it sink in, then continued. "However, when an Archangel gives a blessing, we can only store holy mana within our bodies, not create. We have a limit, though, as to what we can hold. Once the mana runs out, we can't replenish it ourselves. We need to pray in a cathedral or find other ways to refill it."
He paused again, assuring Asura retained the information. "The exception is someone we call a battery. These individuals form a special connection with their Angel, allowing them to communicate freely. They can receive mana directly and provide it to others if needed. Mana is not restricted to those with the same Angel's gift because it comes from Judex Divinum. We can all share its divinity."
His expression suddenly grew serious as he finished. "Using mana constantly without rest will lead to Purity Burn."
"Purity Burn?" Asura asked, genuinely curious.
"It's like mana exhaustion for monsters, but worse. Our bodies can store and use a certain amount of mana, but if we keep pushing it, we'll start to deteriorate. It's like lifting heavy weights without resting. The more we do it, the weaker we get. Eventually, our bodies can't handle it, and it leads to internal combustion. There are signs, large golden cracks spreading across the body."
He paused, letting the gravity of the situation settle in.
"Batteries don't experience Purity Burn the same way, but they can still burn out if pushed too far. Most batteries have nearly unlimited mana, but there's a catch. They're usually only given defensive blessings, so they're not capable of fighting most monsters on their own. Mel is the only one here who can share her mana."
Asura's confusion only grew. "How the hell do you share it? Like, telepathically or something?
"You can transfer mana without touching, but it's less effective. The best way to think of it is like the mana swirling inside you, then imagine it leaving your body to flow into someone else. It's all about focus."
Asura's eyes widened as he processed the information. "Then why is Mel the battery? Her guns seem way more effective than Ash's sword skills at killing monsters."
"She's more than capable of dealing with any monster—except for you, of course." The old man smiled slightly. "You saw her skills firsthand when she took down those beasts that chased you. She has two blessings from two different Arch Angels, one for defense, the other for offense."
"Two?" Asura asked, now genuinely intrigued. His hands folded before him.
The old man nodded before continuing. "Though there are a few exceptions, most humans can only bear one blessing. If they try to take more, we explode." He gave a dry chuckle. "Funny, isn't it? How everything we do has the potential to end with us exploding. The mana burns through our bodies like an out-of-control nuclear reactor, unable to be contained."
He paused to let the weight of his words sink in before continuing. "However, as you can see, Mel is fine after acquiring two. Her ability to maintain and distribute her mana is unparalleled, even among others with gifts. With enough training, she could even become an Arch Knight one day, if she fixed her attitude."
At the praise, Mel sat a little taller, her pride swelling. She ignored the latter part of the statement as her ego bloomed, clearly pleased with herself.
"Most teams have individuals who take on specific roles. Battery, support, defender, frontman,"
Asura scratched the side of his head, still processing the information. "So, Wain's the support, and Mel's the battery? Why is Ash the frontman and not me? It can't be Ash." He gestured with one of his hands at Ash. "He's too weak. His blade couldn't even cut me."
Ash snapped, his patience wearing thin. "All you do is take hits. You can't even kill monsters." He scoffed. "We need someone who can fight back, not just stand there and get pummeled."
As Asura's face twisted into annoyance, he reached into Wain's bag, pulling out an orange he had seen earlier. His lips curled into a smile as he held the fruit, ready for mischief. With a wicked grin, he jumped up from his seat and took a few steps back, winding up like a baseball pitcher. He threw the orange with all his might, sending it crashing into the back of Ash's head with a loud squish. The impact flattened the fruit instantly, splattering juice everywhere.
Ash's head jerked forward, slamming into the desk with a thud. A beautiful sight, Asura thought as he triumphantly jumped. The old man sighed while Mel chuckled, and Wain just stared, mouth agape in disbelief. To Asura's surprise, the old man ignored the outburst as if nothing had happened and continued with the lesson.
"Asura, you'll be the defender. Protect the group," he commanded, narrowing his eyes in warning. "Don't run off on your own. Without demonic mana or a holy weapon, you can't kill anything. The best you can do is disable a monster for a while." His eyes drifted to Ash, who remained still on his desk. "Ash will handle the offense alongside Mel. With her abilities, you should be fine. Although you should remain vigilant and prepared."
Ash rubbed his forehead, slowly lifting his head from the desk. A large red splotch from the fruit now marked his skin, and Asura could not help but snicker. Ash shot him a fiery glare, his anger simmering just below the surface as he struggled to keep his cool.
"The strip club won't be open at this time," Ash stated. "It's about eight a.m."
The old man nodded, about to speak, but Asura cut him off.
"Of course, you would know that, you unholy priest!' The ogre taunted. "We should punish the adulterer!" Asura laughed, pointing at Ash, who turned bright red in embarrassment. Ash's fist clenched as he shot up, ready to strike.
"It's common knowledge!" Ash retorted, his voice laced with frustration. "Why on earth would a strip club be open at eight in the morning?"
Clearly fed up, the old man slammed his foot onto the ground. The impact shook the desks, sending dust swirling through the room. "Enough bickering!" he snapped. "We'll meet later tonight after they open. You've all been up for days, so take this time to rest."
Without waiting for objections, the old man tossed his glasses onto the desk and marched out of the room. "Guess he's busy today..." Asura muttered, watching the old man leave.
Mel followed closely behind, exiting in silence, while Ash shot a final burning gaze. "Count your days, Asura." His words were spoken in a low growl.
Ash's glare remained locked on Asura as he stormed out, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. The sight struck Asura as amusing. With a smirk, he mockingly mimicked the priest's furious expression, raising his eyebrows and pushing them down with his fingers.
"Oh, look at me. I'm a stuck-up, angry priest who gets mad at everything," Asura mocked, and Wain could not contain his laughter.
Wain exchanged a look with Asura, both still chuckling at Ash's barely contained frustration. Wain had never seen Ash so flustered and embarrassed. Though he usually stayed clear of revenge, he could not help but find it oddly satisfying that the one who so often belittled him was completely powerless against someone as juvenile and immature as Asura.
After a few moments, their laughter gradually subsided, and the two finally decided it was time to head back to their rooms. As they made their way down the hall, they were caught off guard when Lily suddenly appeared from the shadows, running directly at Asura. Startled by the unexpected rush, he quickly caught her as she tried to bury her face in his arms, her flustered expression clear. Just then, Marco and Joel rushed up, followed by the nun Asura had met earlier.
"Lily, you can't run like that! What if you fall and hurt yourself?" She scolded gently.
Lily giggled, clutching Asura's shirt as she spoke. "It's fine. Mister Demon would catch me." She grinned widely, clearly pleased with herself.
Asura snorted in amusement. "Quit calling me a demon, you little rat. It's mean. Just call me Asura."
"Okay, Mister Asoora," she teased, her tone light. "What are you doing?"
"Getting ready to beat up some bad guys." He pinched her nose. "Shouldn't you be getting ready for school?" Asura replied, raising an eyebrow.
Before Lily could respond, Marco and Joel eagerly nodded in unison, answering on her behalf. The nun, her expression tight, held her breath, her hands trembling slightly in a well-hidden panic. "Thank you for catching her," she said, her voice strained. "Yes, she needs to get ready. Please, give her to me."
Asura passed Lily into the nun's arms, his fingers grazing the woman's skin as he did. He noticed her recoil slightly, and though she tried to hide it, she wiped her hand as if to erase his touch. The subtle gesture was not lost on Asura. He knew people hated him because of his race, but it stung a bit more seeing that rejection so clearly in her actions.
Guess four days of being nice can't replace thousands of years of monsters eating them, Asura thought, trying to push down the bitterness.
"I'm not going to hurt you, lady," he spoke bluntly. "You can't fight me, so I'm not interested," he muttered.
With that, the nun took Lily entirely into her arms, and Asura turned to walk away. "I'm sorry for my assumptions," the nun called after him, her voice trying to soften to be sincere. "I'm just a little scared from previous experiences." She paused, her eyes avoiding him. "Forgive me. I know you've been working with The Temple."
Asura waved back, clearly annoyed by the constant stream of excuses. With a flick of his hand, he motioned for Wain to follow him. "Whatever. Just quit assuming," he called out as he walked away.
As Wain followed closely behind, he glanced back at the nun holding the squirming Lily. The little girl waved enthusiastically at Asura as they walked away, her small hand fluttering in a cheerful goodbye. "Goodnight, Mister Asura!" she called, her voice filled with innocence.
"Goodnight," Asura replied with a smile, his voice softening.
Just then, an odd scent filled his nose, a faint, unmistakable smell of petrichor. His face wrinkled in confusion. Quotidian mana? How? Wain watched as Asura whipped his head around, searching the hall, trying to pinpoint the source of the smell.
"You good?" Wain asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Uh, yeah..." he replied, his tone uncertain.
Who could it be? His gaze drifted to the children. Not Lily or the kids—they carried that gross but new sweet scent.
His eyes then shifted to the nun walking away with Lily. The only other person... her? He kept his gaze on her as she melted into the shadows of the cathedral. No, it couldn't be her. Maybe it rubbed off from me when she touched me earlier... But I have no mana...
Asura stared at her retreating form, piecing together the puzzle in his mind. It doesn't make sense. Why would someone like her have quotidian mana? Wain, who had been silent, watched Asura inspect the hallway with a furrowed brow.
He was expecting some kind of explanation but was met with nothing as Asura walked away. Shrugging, he simply followed, used to his friend's erratic behavior by now. Still, there was something that intrigued him—Asura's smile at Lily. It was different, more genuine than usual.
"Guess the big bad monster has a soft spot for kids," Wain teased, poking Asura lightly.
Rolling his eyes at Wain's comment, Asura punched him in the arm, sending him crashing against the wall. "Shut up," Asura grumbled, though a hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Wain rubbed his shoulder, wincing in pain but still wearing a playful smile. As the throbbing persisted, he decided it was best not to tease any further. So, the two walked in silence, heading back to their rooms. Asura, however, was lost in thought, surprised by the humans' lack of knowledge on Succubi.
Succubi had existed in this realm for years, a truth well-known to Asura. They were creatures of desire, capable of engaging with all races. Given their social abilities, it was no wonder that Succubi gained extensive knowledge on all their clients. However, humans believed they had complete control over the realm, oblivious to the monsters' influence behind the scenes.
The two finally arrived at their room, and exhaustion took over as soon as they stepped inside. They collapsed onto their beds without a second thought, and Asura pushed aside the lingering thoughts from before. He sprawled like a spider, his limbs splayed wide across the surprisingly soft mattress. It was softer than anything he'd ever experienced in his own realm, a stark contrast to the jagged rocks he typically slept on.
The comfort felt like a sweet blessing to his weary body. He snuggled deeper into the sheets, letting the softness wrap around him. For a brief moment, he let go of everything and allowed himself to truly relax. And as the pull of sleep settled over him, his thoughts drifted into the quiet darkness, and he was consumed by rest.
His mind faded into darkness, slipping into the land of the Sandman.
A chilling wind whipped across Asura's face, dragging him out of his deep slumber. He shot upright, his palms sinking into sand as he pushed himself off the ground.
"Sand?" he murmured, confusion clouding his thoughts.
He looked around, instantly recognizing the desolate wasteland stretching before him. The same endless and barren white sand greeted him, an empty void with no monsters in sight. A heavy sigh escaped his lips. This place, once home to a great and prosperous kingdom, was now a haunting reminder of the past.
Memories of countless battles flooded his mind as he glanced down. The weight of those recollections hit him all at once, and a sudden, sharp headache pierced his skull. He groaned, clutching his head in agony. "Fuck, man..." he muttered through gritted teeth.
For what felt like an eternity, he writhed on the ground, battling the pain. Then, as suddenly as it had come, the headache subsided.
He managed to push himself up, his senses still reeling. The air around him began to distort, rippling and crackling as if alive. Asura watched in horror, powerless to do anything. The atmosphere seemed to tear open like a curtain, revealing a door to another realm.
"Gates... and several of them," he realized, dread sinking in. He knew exactly what this meant, the kings were trying to invade this realm, to take it as their own. This land, this wasteland, held value in their schemes. His blood boiled in response.
"Hey! Stop that!" Asura shouted angrily. "This is my graveyard! I'm the only one allowed in this shitty place!"
A voice, cold and ghostly, echoed from behind him. "They cannot hear you. Nor would they care."
Asura spun around, his heart racing, to find a tall, black, ghostly figure standing far too close for comfort.
"Holy crap..." Asura yelped, stumbling back. "Personal space, dude! Step back, okay?"
The figure's smoky, black form flickered in and out of existence, as if it could not hold onto reality. A swirling purple light pulsed from within its shadowy body, flashing like lightning in a storm. The voice spoke again, its tone deep and haunting.
"Come back and take what is yours."