It had been two full weeks, and Akiko was making steady progress with her core. She was almost at yellow, while Azazul still lingered in deep red.
He could see and feel her elemental magic strengthening as her core improved, while he himself remained behind.
While they were meditating, he caught himself staring at her. The bandages were gone, but he wasn't looking at the scar—his eyes were fixed on her peaceful, tranquil face. He was admiring her. Then she suddenly opened her eyes and stared directly at him. Azazul flinched and quickly looked away, letting his long jet-black bangs fall over his face.
Softly, she asked,
"Is the scar that bad?"
Azazul hurriedly blurted,
"No! It's—it's fine… no, I wasn't looking at the scar."
Akiko gave him a teasing smile.
"Oh really? Then what were you looking at?"
Azazul forced himself to look back at her.
"You… I was looking at you."
Akiko's smile vanished, replaced by a flustered blush.
"I thought you wouldn't stare because of the scar…"
Azazul frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Akiko ignored the question and instead asked,
"When we reach the academy… how are you planning to infiltrate the castle?"
Azazul thought it was strange for her to dodge the topic, but it was Akiko—he was used to it.
"Well, I don't really know… I only heard about the battle for a spot as one of the Captains' underlings. But I'm not strong enough. If I enter that tournament, I'll be facing the best of the best. I need to at least be at my best, you know?"
"I get what you're saying. Let's just wait until we get there. Planning will be easier then."
"But still… Akiko, you're almost at yellow. I only just left black, I don't—"
Before he could finish, Akiko pressed a thin but soft finger to his lips.
"Don't finish that sentence. Come on, let's go—"
But before she could finish her sentence, a massive explosion shook the second mountain they stood upon. The shockwave was so strong that Akiko, who had been standing, toppled over—straight onto Azazul. Their closeness made him tense, but before he could react, Matthew burst out of the cabin and ran to the edge of the platform.
What he saw shocked him.
The entire village below was burning.
Matthew immediately sensed the difference between the flames below and ordinary magical fire. He had fought alongside a deity before—and was training one now. This was unmistakably deity elemental magic.
"So the day has come…? I didn't expect it to be so early."
Azazul and Akiko reached the edge beside him, eyes widening as they took in the burning village.
"Uncle, what's happening?"
Matthew didn't answer.
"Azazul—give me your tachi."
Azazul unsheathed it and handed it over. But when Matthew grabbed the hilt, the blade slipped from his grip and fell to the ground. He tried to pull it up, but it refused to budge—almost as if the sword longed to remain with its master.
"This won't work… Azazul, do you know how to break the contract?"
Azazul's eyes widened with fear.
"No… I don't. I didn't even know how to form one."
"It's okay."
He gave the sword back and issued orders.
"Azazul, Akiko—go down the mountain and rescue the villagers. I'll go after whoever caused this."
And with that, Matthew flew off.
Azazul watched him disappear into the sky, then led Akiko down the mountain. While running, he told her,
"Akiko, the night we encountered that corrupted S-rank… I sensed a mana signature. It was suppressed, but I still felt it. What I'm saying is—I think the person behind this fire is the same one. But now I sense two other signatures with them."
Akiko nodded calmly.
"Yeah, I feel them too. All of them, actually. What's the plan? Split up, rescue villagers, regroup afterward?"
"Yeah. If we split up we can save more people, then meet up with Uncle. So… your plan works."
But then a massive fireball dropped straight toward them.
Azazul spun, grabbed Akiko, pressed her head into his chest, and dove left—off the side of the mountain.
As they tumbled downward, he held her tight, taking the brunt of every impact. Massive boulders slammed into them on the way down; Azazul twisted each time, letting his back absorb the hits. He felt his ribs crack, his legs go numb—then quickly knit themselves back together.
Just before they hit the ground, Azazul summoned his serpent. Its massive body cushioned their fall.
Below them, the village continued to burn. The screams of villagers echoed through the smoke.
"Akiko, you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
He released her.
"I'll go right—you go left."
Akiko whistled, summoning her shapeshifter back from the sky.
While the two of them split up and rescued villagers, Matthew was already facing overwhelming odds.
A woman stood before him—long black hair, azure eyes—looking like an older version of Akiko. Two more figures hovered in the sky, watching.
Matthew asked calmly,
"Why are you here?"
The woman tilted her head, a wide grin spreading.
"Such a stupid question. I hope all lessers aren't this dumb."
"Lesser, huh? So are you answering or not?"
She sighed.
"Very well. Since I ought to kill you anyway, I'll explain. I'm here for our prince."
She added,
"I was sent to retrieve him. With the throne empty, he is to be king."
"I thought his bloodline was banished—unable to ascend."
"Good, you're learning. Yes, I was sent here to kill him… but I won't. There's too much potential. No—what I'll do is use him. Or rather, use his lineage."
"Use his lineage? The Eye of Darkness?"
"No. That treacherous eye isn't the only thing the gods fear. Who do you think he got the gold eye from?"
"The Fallen God?"
She laughed.
"Typical lesser. Always half a story. Listen well—before your death."
"The fallen god you just mentioned was The God of life he was once one of the strongest Guardians if not the strongest...and when he was killed we discovered that our creater chose him as the Demon of death and he had to join the 5 demons of Hell...and this power will be passed down through his blood...this power was extraordinary,see we as immortals life thousands of years almost nothing can kill us,but he has the power to end a deity's life within seconds...and with his grey eye given to him by the god of creation.He is a walking miracule.You know when two dieties with different Lineage abilities bring a baba into the world that baby will only have one Lineage ability...but the prince. Oh No, he is one in a billion with three lineage abilities....with the power of the god of creation he can creature literal galaxies he can create timelines and matter itself....now add the blood of the God of life and The demon of Death.....he can be a god...."
The women smile mockingly and spat.
"Did you know that even though the Prince is half deity he still has more potensial then full blooded deities,his deity blood is so concentrated that he is almost full blood why do you think he looks just like his mother?"
"When did you see him?"
The women's grin grew even more then she said...
"You really like questions don't you ?".
Matthew summoned his weapons—two amethyst dragon-bladed daggers connected by a chain.
"If what you're saying is true, then only one of us walks away."
She grinned.
"Oh? Show me, lesser."
Despite his arrogance, Matthew was a solid white-core manipulator—one of the few to reach such a level. He had a chance.
His first strike was fast—a thrust toward her face. She dodged. He twisted into a horizontal slash—barely missed. She moved in with a right hook; he caught her wrist—
—and saw a dagger in her palm.
When did she—?
Before he could react, a left hook smashed into his face, sending him flying. He recovered midair and shot back at her, vanishing from sight.
A moment later, three wounds bloomed across her body—chest, neck, leg. She dropped to one knee—
—then healed instantly, except for the cut in her ribs.
She caught his left wrist mid-strike, allowed his dagger to stab into her right palm, then kicked him square in the chest. He flipped and landed on his feet.
'Her strength… her healing… she's not even using elemental magic.'
He barely had time to process before the two deities descended behind her.
I'll die today… but I'll take at least one with me.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, Azazul, Akiko, and their shapeshifters appeared at his side.
Akiko froze when she saw the woman.
Azazul swallowed.
"Akiko… is that—?"
But Akiko didn't respond. She lifted her dagger and shouted:
"Runa! What the hell?!"
The woman smirked.
"Little sister… it's not what you think."
"What I'm thinking is that you're NOT the real Runa. So explain."
"It took you long enough. Bad little sister." She shrugged.
"I drained her mana and copied her body's information. You know what that means."
Akiko's voice cracked.
"Did you kill my sister? Answer me! I'll kill you for that—even if it's the last thing I do!"
The woman laughed.
"You mortals are adorable. Kill us? We're gods. You're just insects."
Her gaze slid to Azazul.
"Except you, my prince. You might actually kill one of us today."
Then she raised her arms, inviting attack.
"Come then, little sister. Show me how useless your struggle is."
Akiko clenched her jaw. She knew—her pristine white dagger couldn't even fully kill Azazul, let alone a deity with instant healing.
'Damn it…'