Chapter 32
Angel Lucas was on an even higher level than Drake. He was the underworld's overall boss—a being so powerful that his name sent ripples of fear even in the grimmest corners of the soul realm. But in the human world? He was the president of their country, the face of justice and peace.
"Drogen, it's been a long time," Lucas said with a smile, waving casually as though they were old friends catching up.
He looked like a gentleman in his early thirties, his tailored suit immaculate, his movements smooth and commanding. But there was no mistaking the weight of centuries behind his sharp, observant eyes.
Drogen froze. He hadn't expected Lucas to show up at his door, unannounced, of all places.
"What... why..." Drogen stammered, his usual composure slipping.
"Am I not invited inside?" Lucas teased, the corner of his lips twitching in amusement.
Drogen immediately snapped out of his shock, stepping aside and opening the door wider. "Oh, no, sir... please, come in."
Lucas signaled for his bodyguards to stay outside and entered with the air of someone who owned the place, his mere presence making the room feel smaller.
As Natasha caught sight of him, her jaw dropped. "Mr. President!"
Lucas turned to her, his calm smile unwavering. "Ah, you must be the human Drogen revived."
Natasha leapt to her feet, hastily smoothing her hair and wiping her mouth. "Sir, are you... are you also a grim reaper?" she asked, eyes wide.
Lucas chuckled, his laughter warm and disarming. "No, I'm not. I'm actually an angel."
Her jaw dropped further. He didn't seem dangerous or intimidating like Drake; instead, he had a peaceful, almost serene aura about him.
Drogen, still on edge, gestured for Lucas to take a seat. The angel settled onto the couch with ease, his expression shifting to one of seriousness.
"To what do I owe this... pleasure?" Drogen asked, sitting across from him.
Lucas leaned back slightly, his smile fading. "The seal is weakening," he said.
The air in the room grew tense. Drogen's fists clenched involuntarily.
"The seal of Donman Kroger..." Drogen muttered, his voice low and grim.
Natasha frowned. "Who's that?"
Lucas glanced at her, his tone measured as he explained. "Donman Kroger was an archangel who once waged war against the soul society. Five hundred years ago, he believed that eliminating the circle of death would end human suffering. Many souls were lost trying to stop him. In the end, we managed to seal him away, but it was a temporary fix. That seal... it's now falling apart."
"And if it breaks?" Natasha asked hesitantly.
Lucas's eyes met hers, and for a moment, the serene angel looked as dangerous as the apocalypse itself. "If it breaks and he returns to carry out his plan, the balance between life and death will collapse. The living will never die, but the dead will never rest."
Natasha shivered, leaning closer to Drogen unconsciously.
Drogen exhaled sharply. "How much time do we have left?"
"Five months," Lucas replied.
"Not long enough," Drogen muttered.
"You'll need to find that thing within this period ," Lucas added.
"Thing?" Natasha perked up. "What thing?"
"A very rare one," Lucas said simply, his smile returning as he looked at her with amusement. "But not the kind you'll find in your grocery store."
Drogen nodded, already calculating the challenge ahead. "I'll start working on it right away."
Lucas leaned forward, a gleam of approval in his eyes. "Good. This task won't be easy, but I expect nothing less from you."
As the tension eased slightly, Lucas turned his attention back to Natasha, a playful curiosity in his tone. "So, Natasha, tell me... how's living with this stubborn reaper treating you?"
Natasha blinked, caught off guard. Then she smiled hesitantly. "Stubborn? That's putting it lightly. He's impossible sometimes."
Lucas chuckled. "Oh, trust me, I know. He's been like that for centuries."
Natasha raised a brow. "Centuries, huh? I guess that means there's no hope of him improving anytime soon."
Drogen groaned. "Can we not make this about me?"
But Natasha was warming up now, and she wasn't letting it go. "He barely talks unless he's scolding me, and his idea of bonding is glaring at me from across the room. Is that normal reaper behavior?"
Lucas laughed, the sound rich and genuine. "Absolutely. Though, between us, I think he just doesn't know what to do with you."
"Hey," Drogen interjected, his expression souring. "I'm right here."
Lucas ignored him, leaning toward Natasha conspiratorially. "Don't let him fool you. Under all that grumpiness, he's actually got a soft spot."
Natasha glanced at Drogen, whose face had turned an impressive shade of red. "You're right about that" she wispered to Lucas
The banter continued, lightening the mood until the earlier tension was all but forgotten.
Finally, Lucas stood, smoothing his suit. "I should go. But Drogen, don't delay. Time isn't on our side."
Drogen nodded. "I won't."
As Lucas turned to leave, he paused, glancing back at Natasha. "It was nice meeting you, Natasha. Keep an eye on this one for me, will you?"
She smiled. "I'll do my best, Mr. President."
When the door closed behind him, Natasha turned to Drogen, her expression thoughtful.
"So... what's the first thing we need for this seal?"
Drogen stared at the closed door for a moment before replying, his voice filled with resolve. "Something ancient. Something lost to time... and nearly impossible to find."
Drogen hesitated for a moment, his gaze distant, as though searching through the labyrinth of his memories. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and deliberate.
"The first thing we need is an artifact from the Era of the First Reapers... the Oblivion Chime."
Natasha tilted her head. "Oblivion Chime? Sounds... eerie. What is it?"
"It's a relic that predates even the oldest seals. A single strike from the chime resonates through realms, creating vibrations that stabilize any magical construct. But..."
"But what?" Natasha pressed, leaning closer.
"It hasn't been seen in over a thousand years," Drogen said, his tone grim. "The last time it was used, it vanished into the void it helped seal. Finding it will be nearly impossible."
Natasha frowned, but her curiosity burned brighter. "So, where do we even start looking for something that's supposedly lost to the void?"
Drogen gave a faint smirk. "If I'm right, the last clue to its location is buried... in a place humans fear to tread. The Shadow Cathedral."
Natasha's eyes widened. She didn't know what the Shadow Cathedral was, but by the look on Drogen's face, it wasn't going to be a pleasant journey.