It was a great day.
Rose started the day as always.
She woke up, got teased, then went to clean the area outside the tower.
When she reached the first floor, Rose was greeted with the sight of her little master jumping up and down, frantically smacking at the top of the medicine cabinets with a broom.
"Damn cat, do you think just because you can climb up I can't reach you!"
Rose watched Petra chase around the cat maid that had recently joined them.
Sighing, Rose just found a sea to the side
That was definitely her broom.
As she watched Petra run around swinging, she thought about her current life.
Rose was a young master from a small family in the West. She was kidnapped when she was around 12 and subjected to an unspeakable experiment. After that she was locked up in the black market where she had been taken around the continent over the course of a few years.
During this time, she had suffered in countless ways.
When Petra had 'bought' her, she, or 'he', at the time, had already started to devolve into some kind of berserk and mindless beast. Rose would never admit it, but if it wasn't for the shock of suddenly becoming a girl immediately after she woke up, then perhaps there would be no future for her.
Ironically, this new form of torture was the thing that woke her up one last time.
Rose still hated sleeping, changing, and showering with other girls. Not because it was embarrassing, instead, every time she did, she understood that the chances of turning back into a man were reduced.
Rose reached up and squeezed her chest.
A shock ran down her spine and she let go, quickly looking around to see if anybody had seen.
Her eye twitched as she caught the cat that Petra was chasing peek at her with a weird look.
Rose turned her head away, pretending that nothing had happened.
She had been a girl for around a year now. At first, it was very uncomfortable, but as she got used to it, she slowly started to accept it.
Rose was unaware of her tail swaying below the table.
Rose was currently the main combat teacher for the maids.
If Lilly and Luna were Petra's personal maids, then Nebula was her shadow guard, Mell was the head maid managing resources, Wind was the head maid managing logistics, and she was the head maid managing combat.
Rose was surprisingly good at teaching people how to fight.
Even she herself was unsure as to where she learned it, but she had a vast range of combat skills. She usually just fought like a wild beast, but she was very skilled when she needed to be.
Rose watched Petra throw away the broom and jump up to latch onto the cat maid's tail.
Even she felt a twinge when Petra's full weight came down with a 'NYA!'.
Rose turned her red face to the broom that had been flung to the side.
She got up to pick it up, then left to begin her morning routine.
* * *
In another place, a young priest followed one of the three angels as an assistant.
It was a blessed duty, one that many priests envied.
The sun hung high in the sky, casting short shadows over the street. The air was fresh, carrying a faint scent of mint that seemed to calm the senses.
They walked steadily, moving through the bustling city under the watchful eyes of the masses.
People paused to bow or avert their gaze, fearful and reverent at the same time.
The boy wore a simple white robe, a thick tome tucked securely under one arm. He followed with quick, careful steps. Keeping his head low and quiet. He looked no older than ten, small and unassuming, yet very attentive.
The angel beside him had many roles.
Beyond spreading light and cleansing darkness, angels often acted as teachers, guiding humans.
The angel glanced down at the boy. "What do you think of the Church?"
The boy hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "Lord Angel… I think the Church is often slandered. I don't understand why they don't stop those bad rumors."
The angel nodded, unsurprised by the cautious answer. "It is a common thought among young priests, but very rarely asked."
He turned slightly, wings stretching gracefully, catching the sunlight. "The Church of Light is not as pure as you are taught. We are the hands of the Sun God. Our purpose… and soon, your purpose… is to protect the world from the darkness beyond."
The boy frowned, puzzled. "beyond of what, my lord?"
The angel tilted his head, a faint smile on his lips.
"There are many answers to that question. Let me ask you this, how do you feel about the calamities and their mastermind?"
The young priest pouted. "They are naturally evil! I believe the Church will punish the evils that caused them!"
The angel chuckled, the sound deep and warm. "We may… or we may not. How would you feel if I told you all of this was caused by love?"
"Love, my lord? I… I don't understand."
The boy's brow furrowed. How could love destroy the world? He could not imagine such a thing.
The angel's gaze softened, and his voice took on a distant tone. "We do not know for certain what caused the calamities. But we have a theory. The unnamed emperor of the High Elven Empire was once deeply in love. It was said that his love could reshape the world."
The young priest listened intently.
It reminded him of the love he felt for his parents.
The angel continued. "That love… was rejected."
The boy gasped. "Huh! No… how can that be!"
The angel laughed quietly. "Don't worry too much. It was one-sided. That woman would never accept such a clingy man."
"I… don't understand, my lord!"
"One day you will. For now, know this… the calamities come from the excess of love, or so we believe."
The boy's eyes glazed over, and drool dripped from the corner of his mouth. He clearly did not understand.
The angel shook his head, but suddenly paused.
His eyes narrowed, scanning the shadows.
A flicker of movement caught his gaze, and he saw a shadow disappearing into a nearby alley.
"Boy," he said, voice firm, "go back and tell the Paladin captain to come here. It's time to hunt."
The boy stiffened, his expression suddenly becoming very serious.
His little legs trembled for only a moment, then he bolted, running as fast as his tiny body could carry him.
The angel remained, unmoving, staring down the alley.
His eyes flickered with golden light, and the halo above his head started to spin faster.
-
The young priest ran as fast as his little legs could carry him, barely noticing the wind whipping past his face as he ran in a stumble.
The group from the Church of Light was staying in a large villa, a gift personally arranged by Atom. The walls gleamed white under the sun, and the gates were flanked by two imposing guards. The boy didn't pause. He darted past the guards, shouting as he ran.
"Master! Master! The lord angel has asked me to find the Captain of the Paladins! He needs help!"
The priest in charge, a man with a strong build and calm expression, looked up from his scripture. "Calm down. Tell me what happened."
The boy panted, struggling to catch his breath.
He spoke quickly, explaining how they had been walking and talking casually, how the angel had suddenly stopped mid-step, and how he had seen something flicker in the shadows of a nearby alley.
The moment the priest understood, a strange light flashed in his eyes. He straightened, voice sharp. "Good. You've done well to report immediately."
He transformed from a kind mannered man of god, into something almost creepy, like he became overly eager to do something.
Without wasting another moment, the priest took the boy by the hand and led him to the leader of the Paladins, a towering man in shining armor and a stern expression that seemed to command the room around him.
The leader listened, arms crossed, as the boy recounted the events once more.
"Prepare yourselves," the Paladin leader said after a pause. "We move at once."
The boy caught the same strange shift in expression.
Was it… excitement?
Within ten minutes, the villa was alive with activity. Horses were saddled, weapons readied, and the air thickened with a sense of urgency. Orders flew through the corridors as the Paladins and their assistants moved like a well-oiled machine, each step deliberate, each motion precise.
The young priest felt his heart pound with a mix of fear and excitement.
He had never seen such organized determination.
Finally, the Paladins mounted their horses. The priests fell into formation beside them, and the young boy took a position near the back, still clutching his book.
The leader raised his hand, and a deep, resonant voice echoed through the villa's gates.
"Today, we hunt! Today, we strike at the darkness that hides in the shadows. For the Sun God, for the Church, for the world!"
The ground seemed to tremble under the voice as the Church of Light surged forward.
* * *
"Shit, shit, shit! He definitely saw me! Shit!"
The disguised demon tore through the narrow back streets in a black blur, feet barely touching the ground as his heart hammered in his chest.
The moment those golden eyes had locked onto him, a chill ran through his entire body.
He clenched his teeth, mind racing.
Should he try to return to the secret base, or risk trying to send the city into chaos and use that to escape? He knew how the angels hunted.
They were relentless, precise, like hunting dogs that never tired.
His only hope was that the angel would not make a spectacle before the tournament began.
And, as if fate had laughed at him…
ZROOOP!
The sky above him cracked open with a violent tear, and a blinding light spilled through the crack like molten gold.
Two streaks of white wings shot out from the rift, crackling with energy as they slammed onto the streets around him. The demon's eyes constricted.
"I~see~you~"
Booooom!
A violent explosion shook the city.
-
Alarms rang and magic shields flickered alive. In a few minutes, the automatic defence system that covered the whole city flickered to life.
When the crusade caught up to the angel, they found him pressing down on a black clothed man in a large crater.
The surrounding buildings had collapsed, and the marble ground was caved in.
The angel sat leisurely on the fallen demon's body, one hand on his head. A golden light pulsed rhythmically as the angel extracted something from the dying demon.
A moment later, the angel stood up, flicked his hand, then incinerated the demon with a ray of light.
He turned his gaze to the approaching city soldiers, then turned back to the crusading paladins.
He grinned with malice.
"I found them, lets go!"
swoosh!
* * *
In another place, hidden beneath the city, one of the thirteen demon commanders suddenly jerked back, eyes wide with shock.
His connection with one of his 'subordinates' was cut.
Next to him, the middle-aged woman from before tilted her head, her expression calm. "What happened?" she asked.
"They found us! We need to move, now!" the man shouted, jumping to his feet.
All thirteen of the demon commanders were instantly on alert.
The black-haired young man with three earrings, the one Petra had met before, lowered his eyes. "How long do we have?"
The man shook his head, a cold dread spreading across his face. "I don't know. That angel… it used some ability, like teleportation! It tore through the void."
The bald demon with backwards-facing horns felt his heart jump. "That… that is an ability only six-winged angels and up should possess. This is bad. If they're in disguise… then this isn't a normal group from the church."
The old man, frail and white-haired, his broken horn glinting in the dim light, "I heard a rumor, a witch was found in the Sky Tower. Could it be true? (Bell)"
The young man clicked his tongue, he calmly pulled at his black glove and spoke clearly. "What the hell? A witch? Here?"
The bald man slammed a fist into the wall. "I thought it was just a rumor! Why would a witch run to the Sky Tower? That's suicide!"
A soft, calculated voice cut in. "No, it's clever. She won't be found like that. If she was found, then it should be an accident outside."
The handsome man with three earrings shook his head. "It doesn't matter. We don't have time for debates, we need to move."
The middle-aged woman's eyes narrowed. "Escape the city?"
"No. There's no time… We scatter, separate, and regroup later."
"Agreed," the old man said grimly. "Those lunatics will tear us apart if we stick together."
"Then go!"
BOOM!
The ground shook violently above them.
The young man's eyes widened. They found us already? How is that possible?
"Go!" the middle-aged woman shouted. "If this is truly one of the top teams… they won't hold back, not even in the city!"
"Good luck!"
"You as well!"
BOOM!
Another explosion rocked the room, dust and debris falling from the ceiling. Something above them was digging into the earth. It wouldn't be long before it reached the hidden chamber.
Only two remained.
The middle-aged woman and the young man with the black hair and three earrings.
"What will you do?" she asked, voice steady despite the chaos.
He straightened, determination flashing in his eyes. "I have to stay. I've made up my mind, I'll rescue him. Even if my guess is wrong… I'll still do it."
The woman nodded, a hint of pride in her eyes. "Then I'll hold them off. You need to escape."
He gave a small nod. "Thank you, Raina."
She shook her head, a bitter smile on her lips. "It's my duty. Even after being trapped in this stalemate, we've still lost too much. If there really is an heir to the Demon Kings bloodline… you need to find them."
"I know," he said, his voice firm.
BOOM! The ceiling trembled again, dust scattering like snow. Time was running out.
* * *