The group was left stunned as they waited for Aliza to continue. None of the five could grasp the concept of lacking seven years of sleep. "How would that work? I'd be dead on a couch." Asura thought as he tried to comprehend that Sandman had fought him without sleeping for seven years. The ogre whispered in astonishment,
"What a monster..."
Mel pressed the tips of her fingers against her forehead as she leaned forward onto her supported arms,
"Everything I hear about him gives me a headache. It's just stories that don't make sense."
Aliza smiled as she watched even Rose's face twist in confusion. The woman who hid most of her feelings was unable to keep a mask up as she asked,
"What exactly do you heal then?"
"I remove the exhaustion building up in his mind. Azrealia's mana causes a soothing sensation that provides the same benefits sleep does. However, it isn't perfect."
The woman sighed and folded her hands in her lap. She felt helpless in the face of Sandman's infliction.
"It's a miracle he is still sane. He is a prodigy..."
Asura could not contain himself and burst out with a quick laugh,
"Prodigy is an understatement. That guy kicked my... butt."
To Asura's surprise, she seemed uninterested in his statement. Although he caught himself, he figured he would still catch a motherly glare. However, she looked over at a wall to her side. Her eyes were trained on a clock as she spoke,
"It is getting late. Tomorrow, you will all go out and search the city. You should get some rest tonight and prepare."
The ogre furrowed his brow and placed his hands on his hips. Asura tilted his head to the side as he asked,
"If it's killing people, shouldn't we go out tonight? It's kinda dire, ain't it?"
Aliza shook her head and rose from her chair.
"No. I suspect it's a shadow. If I am right, it would be impossible to fight at night.
Asura crossed his arms in defiance. A smug look spread across the ogre's face, and a wicked smile revealed his sharp teeth.
"I'm pretty confident I'd kick their... We'd kill them. Those guys got nothin' on us. Plus, theres people out in the city, right? Won't more die if we wait?"
Mel and Rose nodded in agreement while Gabe and Tristen looked to Aliza for an answer. The two brothers wished to save every life they could, fulfilling their oath when they became Paladins. However, the creature had created a cage that suffocated them as it toyed with its prey.
Their abilities felt meaningless as it killed relentlessly. Gabe relived the moment he had first heard and witnessed its destruction and brutality. He had walked into a cafe and found nothing but spilled blood and corpses of powerless citizens who trusted him. Their eyes were all open, and their faces were painted with terror as if frozen in the exact moment of their death.
Then, another attack happened, and another, and before they realized it... The city was left covered in blood, and the residents fled to them for safety. Aliza, a beacon of love and kindness, took in as many as they could. However, problems arose as the population within the Cathedral walls kept rising.
Thousands were crammed within the cathedral walls, which prevented them from using facilities. To remedy this problem, Aliza reluctantly forced them to certain rooms and outside the cathedral walls. She created a barrier to protect them, but as Aliza stared out at the barrier walls, she looked uncertain about their capabilities. Gabe asked,
"Will the walls keep it out?"
Aliza turned with sad eyes and tried to force a smile,
"I don't know. However, I believe Judex Divinum will provide."
The two brothers watched Aliza walk up to Asura from behind her desk and rested a hand on her shoulder. Her voice was low and soft as if dreading tomorrow's fate,
"I am glad you are confident, but I can't lose anyone else. If you make one mistake and it strikes... Who knows how many would die."
"What about those outside the walls? You said people are still in the city, right?"
Aliza walked past Asura without answering. The silence hung as they all watched her walk past a bookshelf and to the door to the office. She grabbed hold of its golden doorknob engraved with intricate floral designs. Without looking at the group, she answered,
"Those that chose to stay in the city accepted their fate... I warned them all, and they ignored it. We will do what we can tomorrow to save them."
"Tristen and Gabe, please show our guests their rooms."
Aliza left without another word, leaving the five in silence as they watched the joyful and caring woman leave with a dreadful expression plaguing her motherly face. The defiant ogre who raced into battle was left speechless by the woman's answer. His heart squeezed at the thought of this creature.
"It can't be that bad, right? She's giving me the creeps from her reaction. Like were fightin' the boogeyman or somethin'."
Gabe and Tristen's faces wore the same grim expression as they stood up from their chairs. The older brother spoke first, catching Asura off guard as he prayed for Judex's protection.
"I pray so. Let Judex guide and help us slay the demon who hunts his children.
Gabe followed with his own scary statement,
"We can't let our guards down when we go out tomorrow. Otherwise, Azraeus will be visiting us."
Asura's spine crept with goosebumps, and he shivered at the mention of the angel of death.
"Alright, let's calm down there, guys. You're creepin' me out sayin' that guy's name."
Mel snorted as she leaned against Asura like an annoying sister,
"What? The big bad ogre getting scared from the big bad guy hiding in the shadows?"
The ogre rolled his eyes as she mocked him, shoving her away with his four arms.
"Yeah, well, I'll still kick your ass like I did in every mock battle we had at your sister's place. You became so boring I had only to fight Lydia for fun.
Mel waved a hand at Asura's remark as she left the room as if she knew where she was going,
"Whatever you say, dingus. I beat you a few times, but you can't accept it."
Asura was left with the vile words lingering in his mouth as he realized Mel had disappeared down the hallways. "Asshole." He muttered to himself as white fire exploded in his mouth and overflowed from the edges of his lips.
Gabe's eyes widened as the fire dripped from the corners of his mouth, and asked,
"Is your blessing acting up?"
Asura raised an eyebrow at Gabe's question before asking,
"What?"
The Paladin pointed at Asura's mouth,
"Your mouth is on fire. It's white like the flame on your arms."
"Oooooh. No. That dumbass angel put a curse on me."
Asura coughed as white flames forcefully caused his mouth to open as if he had swallowed water incorrectly. While Asura struggled with the white flames pouring off his tongue, Tristen laughed with a broad smile on his face,
"Uriel is for sure the wisest angel."
He grabbed hold of his bat and slung it against his shoulder as he told his brother,
"You take Asura to his room, and I'll show Rose hers."
Gabe asked before Tristen could leave,
"What about Mel?"
"She's been here before."
"Hm. Okay."
After Tristen and Rose left, the two remaining followed shortly after. As Asura walked out, Gabe shut the door behind him and motioned for him to follow as he began their walk through the halls.
The maze-like structure they called a cathedral still baffled Asura every time he walked through one. If he wished to walk to any room, it felt like an eternity as the monotonous walls stretched for miles. Asura swore to himself he had offended Judex and was cursed to walk these halls to atone for his sins.
"I must've sinned like Sisyphus... Who's that rolling that rock over there? No man can tell. Offended our God, when he was alive!" Asura began singing a song to himself in an old blues rhythm he had heard on the internet about the legendary man tasked with rolling a boulder up a hill.
Lost in thought, Asura was caught off guard as Gabe spoke up and asked,
"What was Uriel like?"
Asura stared at the back of Gabe's shaved head. He responded with sarcasm, clearly aiming to highlight his snarky tone,
"Uh, big. Golden and stuff. Large four wings. A spear. Kinda cool but kinda a dick."
"How amazing... To think you saw him up close. My brother and I used to dream about being his blessed soldiers. We'd be epic warriors to our family and make our grandma proud."
Asura frowned as he realized what type of person Gabe was. His resemblance to Wain caused the ogre to feel bad for his actions and mockery. "He's genuinely interested... I'm a dick." The ogre let out a deep sigh as he walked behind,
"Although I am grateful for the Angel who blessed me, don't get me wrong. Michael is just as great!"
Gabe spoke like Michael could hear him as if trying to assure the Angel that he wasn't ungrateful. Asura asked,
"So Michael blessed you?"
"Yep!"
"What'd he give you?"
"Oh. I guess we never discussed our abilities. We'll probably need to do that when we meet tomorrow so the team can work seamlessly."
"Yeah, but can you tell me now? I'm kinda curious. Maybe we can spar so I can see it."
Asura smiled wickedly as excitement grew within his heart. The thought of another warrior fighting like Lydia was thrilling—a fight that could make his heart race. This creature was already presented as a formidable foe, causing Asura's mind to race as anticipation grew. However, he hadn't realized until this moment that there were two others he could fight with unique abilities that could present newer obstacles to overcome.
Gabe shrugged and looked back for a moment,
"Yeah, it doesn't hurt to tell you, but we can't spar due to Aliza's orders. We must rest and be ready."
"Ah, whatever. So what do you do?"
"I rip off my limbs and make weapons with them."
Gabe's blunt tone left no room for speculation about whether he was joking. The statement slammed into Asura's face like a brick, leaving him stunned. After waiting for him to continue, Asura asked,
"Rip off your limbs?"
"Yeah."
"And make a weapon?"
"Yeah."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."
Asura tilted his head and scratched the side of his head as he thought about the ability.
"So what... Like... Does it hurt?"
"No. Well. Only if the weapon breaks."
"Well, that makes sense since it's your limb, but you take off your arm, right? And you make it into a weapon, right?"
"Yep."
"And you use it?"
"Not necessarily... I can use them, but I mostly support them. I often give it to a priest or another weaponless Paladin. Oh, and I can make them into a shield or related item."
"Oh... OH. You can give them to people?"
Asura's eyes widened at the thought. He imagined a great battleaxe resting in his hands.
"Yeah, since it's my arm or leg, it's filled with my mana and can be used like a holy weapon. However, the weapon transforms into my arm after my mana runs out."
The ogre exclaimed in amazement,
"THAT'S SICK!"
Gabe laughed at the ogre's response,
"Haha. I'm glad you think so."
"But, what happens to your arm... like where your arm should be? Won't you bleed out?"
"No. So I get an arm to replace it with mana. Like a golden arm that takes its place, and I can use it to defend myself.
"Oh, dude, we need to go spar or let me try this out. "
"Haha. Tomorrow. I won't disobey Lady Aliza's orders."
"It won't be long. We can do it real quick."
The ogre pleaded, but Gabe shook his head with determination,
"No. I was told to take you to your room."
"Come onnnn. You can't just tell me that and not show it."
"Apparently, it did hurt to tell you that."
"Ugh, fine."
Asura sighed before asking,
"So what's your brother do?"
Gabe hesitated before responding,
"He's... complicated."
Asura raised an eyebrow as Gabe turned a corner and down another hallway. The ogre followed behind and stated,
"Look, I won't ask for a fight again if you tell me."
"... It's hard to explain."
"Well, try it. It can't be that bad."
"You know that bat he has?"
"Yeah."
"So, that bat is a holy weapon, but it's tied to his ability. He creates a baseball and can put a crazy force behind it when he hits it. I'm talking over a few hundred miles per hour."
"So it becomes like a bullet?"
"Kinda, but it gets better. He can direct its movement."
"He can move it mid-air? Like, curve it?"
"It's not really a curve, but he can redirect it in the air as if it hit something. For example, if it flies past a target, he can make it come back mid-air on command. It moves like it gets hit by the bat again, but without being hit."
"That's crazy! Judex, I want to fight him too!"
"Hahaha, you made a deal."
Asura rolled his eyes,
"I know. I know. I meant another day."
"That's not the end of what he can do, though."
"What?"
"You know baseball, right?"
"Yeah, use to watch it all the time in my realm."
Gabe's head bobbed as if surprised, and he threw a quick look of confusion at Asura,
"You watched baseball in a monster realm?"
"Do you guys all think we are cavemen or something? We have cable, ya dingleberries."
"Well... sorry. I guess I assumed."
"Yeah, well, assuming doesn't get you anywhere. Makes you single-minded and stupid."
"Sorry. But I meant to say he has a rule system like baseball. Three strikes, and you're out."
"Three strikes and you're out? How does that work? Does he kill something on a third hit?"
"No, it's not very offensive but somewhat defensive. Since he's a batter, he saves his comrades with it, like taking your team's strikes while sacrificing yourself."
"Every member gets a red tally over their head, and every tally represents how hurt the person is. If you reach three and they black out, the person dies."
Asura's eyebrows pinched as he stared in horror at Gabe,
"How's that helpful? Doesn't that mean people die cause of it?"
"No, no, no. He can remove the tallies and put them on himself. It heals you immediately with mana when he takes it. Honestly, I've never seen anything like it. A selfless ability to save your friends..."
"It doesn't really sound useful if it hurts him in the aftermath. If one person gets hurt and shifts it to himself, doesn't that still leave him injured? No one is getting healed."
"Well, he reduces the tally by one when he takes it. So, it does benefit the team in the end. Although he gets hurt, he can still help the team and be healed himself."
Asura processed the rules to the blessing Tristen wielded and was left dumbfounded by its complexity. He had not asked many about the rules behind how their power operated. However, after listening to Gabe explain his brother's blessing, the ogre was left pondering the rules to others.
Uriel imprinted the usage of his powers inside Asura's mind when he acquired his blessing. So, the ogre assumed every human acquired the same knowledge from their angels. However, using Uriel's flame seemed mundane when it came to the rules that defined its use. The fire obeyed his will, and that seemed to be the extent.
"But, what were Mel's defining rules? Or the old man's? Did Lydia have restrictions when it came to her lightning, or what form her angel could take? Are hidden limits preventing everyone from using their imagination to the fullest?" Asura was left with questions as he continued to picture everyone's powers.
To Asura, Mel seemed to lack experience in creating bullets. If she could imagine unique ammunition, her ability would be limitless. However, it was unclear whether her lack of experience now prevented her from doing so or whether a rule prevented her from doing so.
"That's crazy. Honestly. So he can just take tallies from everyone every time we get hurt?"
"Mhm. But he can't do it forever, so don't get too hurt. It takes a ton of mana from him, and he still experiences the pain."
"Gotcha. I don't get hurt, though."
"Well, you were bloodied and wounded when you entered, so just be careful."
Gabe's concern for his brother's health was evident as he spoke with certainty and authority.
"You got me there, but that was cause Titus has a cheat code in his weapon. That thing cuts anything if it can cut me."
"Just be careful, for my brother's sake, okay?"
Gabe stopped and turned around before a brown wooden door to their right. The door looked similar to the office door, with the same golden doorknob and matching hinges. Asura stopped beside him as the man opened the door, revealing two beds beside one another.
The room resembled the one he lived in at the old man's cathedral. However, after spending time at Mary's Cathedral in Stoliagate, Asura became used to the sight. It appeared to be the formal setup of all cathedrals in their residence rooms.
"Alright, whatever. Thanks for showing me to my room."
"Let Judex grant you a refreshing rest. We will need it for tomorrow."
"Yeah, yeah. You too. Get some good sleep."
Asura walked inside the empty room as Gabe shut the door behind him. It was clear to the ogre immediately that no one had resided in the room before him. The neatly made beds and lack of personal objects made the room feel like a fresh hotel. Without another thought, the ogre threw himself onto the left bed.
He stretched his four arms out and lay on top of the blanket. Asura found it felt less suffocating than when he tried to sneak under the covers at night. Back in his realm, he was used to lying in the open due to the extreme heat from the molten sludge that rose from the center of his realm.
Due to the inhospitable surface, his kind lived in caves that retained the heat. However, a blanket was not foreign during the cold shifts after the magma descended back into the ground depths. He preferred to light a fire instead.
As Asura lay on the bed, his eyes grew heavy, and his breathing slowed as he sank into a slumber. Although he enjoyed sleeping, the ever-increasing nightmares poisoning his mind caused a bit of dread as he laid to rest. In the final moment of his consciousness, a calm and tired voice spoke inside his mind, a familiar sound.
"Sweet dreams, Asura."