Previously, El had not immediately used Hell Path on herself because she knew that the effects of the ability would be too heavy if used on her in such a condition.
Once El finally activated Hell Path, the effect was so great that El lost consciousness first, before he had a chance to enter the Hell King's mouth.
El's gaze then shifted to the three little girls. Seeing their frightened faces, El stepped closer to Sawa, who was sitting expressionlessly.
"I forgot, you're blind," El said flatly, her voice cold but without malice.
Without giving them time to react, El single-handedly lifted Sawa's body. Before anyone could protest, she threw Sawa into the King of Hell's mouth.
The mouth closed again, this time silently, as if quietly swallowing the soul. The atmosphere became silent, only the stifled breathing of Kayo and Aoi could be heard, while they could only watch in confusion and fear, especially Aoi.
The Hell King's mouth slowly opened again, accompanied by a gust of cold wind sneaking out. From within the darkness, Sawa's figure stepped out with a dumbfounded expression.
The blindfold that had been covering her eyes was now off, revealing the Cursed Child's crimson irises that shone in the darkness.
Sawa stood transfixed, her eyes blinking several times, adjusting to the surrounding light. "I... can see? How can I?" she murmured, voice trembling with disbelief.
Sawa looked around with new eyes, seeing the dim moonlight revealing the figure of her sister, the tearful Aoi, and the two strangers in her eyes that she recognized as El and Kayo.
"Sister!" Aoi ran to her, tears streaming down her face. She hugged Sawa tightly, her body shaking with sobs. "I thought you were going to be eaten by that strange creature!"
Sawa was silent for a moment, feeling the warmth of Aoi's embrace for the first time after years of living in darkness. Slowly, she returned the hug, tears beginning to fall from her eyes.
In the next second, the Hell King's head began to tremble, slowly distorting as if it was dissolving into beads of purple energy lost in the air. The piercing cold air from before was now gone, replaced by the warmth of the original room.
El's eyeballs returned to their usual black color, showing deep fatigue after using the Six Path Technique ability: Hell Path.
El stood still for a moment, observing the emotional scene in front of his, Aoi who was crying hugging Sawa, and Sawa who now looked more alive with her new eyes.
El gave a small nod, without saying a word. With steady steps, he walked out of the room, his shoulders looking a little heavier than before.
Kayo, who had been watching everything, soon followed behind El. She quickened her pace, trying to match the man's.
"Adrian-san," she called softly, her voice trembling slightly. "I want to talk about what happened while you were unconscious."
El gave him a quick glance, his face remained flat, but there was no rejection. "Tell me everything. Did anything unexpected happen?"
The two of them stepped out, leaving Sawa and Aoi still immersed in their happiness in the room. The atmosphere was now calm, but filled with new hope.
In the dimly lit living room, El sat on the sofa with her body still feeling tired. Kayo stood nearby, her face serious, trying to explain everything that had happened during the two days El had been unconscious.
"During your unconsciousness, nothing was really unexpected," Kayo said, her hands folded in front of her chest. "However, the rioting between the two camps intensified.
"One camp wants the Cursed Child to be treated unfairly, while the other camp wants them expelled," said Kayo, seriously.
Seriously, Kayo lowered her head slightly and stared at the table in front of her. "Plus, Seitenshi's announcement about the possible collapse of the monolith has only made things worse."
El listened quietly, his hand resting on her chin. His gaze was sharp, as if analyzing every detail Kayo told her. "So, the situation is getting chaotic just because of their fear," she muttered, more to herself.
Kayo nodded slowly. "However, Seitenshi-sama managed to control the situation before it got worse. He minimized the chaos without causing any casualties or injuries."
Hearing that, El smiled faintly, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. His cold gaze softened, showing genuine appreciation. "Hmm, he did a good job," he murmured softly, voice almost a whisper.
Kayo stared at El for a moment, noticing the rare expression that appeared on the man's face. For a moment, the atmosphere lightened, though the threatening shadow of the monolith coming down still hung in the air.
El leaned back on the sofa, his body feeling lighter despite the gnawing fatigue. His eyes closed for a moment, trying to calm his incessantly spinning mind.
In the silence of the living room, his mind began to dwell on the next step to take.
'All my wounds are healed...' El thought, his body that was once weak and full of blood was now back in shape. 'Reusing Demon Slayer Mark, no problem...'
However, even though his physique had recovered, doubts remained. 'But, the problem is that the attacking Gastrea is about 3,500. It's definitely not easy and will take a lot of casualties,' he thought, a blank stare behind closed eyelids.
***
The Sector 0 Conference Area is located on the outskirts of the city, a strategic zone still under the protection of the Black Monolith. This place became the center of the Civil Security movement before the Third Kanto War began.
The atmosphere there was full of activity, with dozens to hundreds of Civil Security passing by, preparing for the big battle to come.
Around the main area, there are rows of tents selling various war equipment, such as varanium ammunition, varanium-based sharp weapons, and protective gear.
Weapons sellers were busy serving customers, while Civil Security personnel could be seen trying out weapons or discussing strategies.
The sound of clinking metal, serious discussions and footsteps create an atmosphere of tension and preparation.
Not far from the bustling center is a quieter area, with green grass and old train tracks running through the grounds.
This place felt like a contrast to the hustle and bustle near the tent, like a small space to breathe amidst the bustle.
In the center of this large area, El and Kayo stood ten paces apart, both holding swords in their hands.
El exuded a calm aura, though her eyes were sharp, while Kayo, smaller in stature but full of vigor, seemed to be preparing for some serious training.
However, they were not alone. A small group of people were gathered at the edge of the field, watching with curiosity. Satomi Rentarou, Kisara Tendo, Enju Aihara, and Tina Sprout stood among them.
Meanwhile, four other members were also watching with equal interest. They were the new members who had joined Adjuvant Rentaro, including the couple Shouma Nagisawa and Fuse Midori, and Tamaki Katagiri and Yuzuki Katagiri.
Shouma Nagisawa, a tall man with neat gray hair and soft blue eyes, stood tall while quietly observing El and Kayo.
Shouma wore a long light gray trench coat, paired with a black turtleneck shirt that gave him an elegant yet serious look. His demeanor was calm, but his eyes radiated the alertness of a veteran.