His so-called partner was already on her way down to the arena. He didn't know her at all — then again, he barely knew anyone here besides Sylvia, and even that was stretching it. Still, something in his gut whispered that her opponent was about to be annihilated.
The icy blue–eyed girl stood across from her opponent. From where Azazul sat — all the way in the back, thanks to his partner's seat choice — he couldn't see the other girl's face, only her light brown hair.
The two girls lunged toward each other. The brown-haired girl was taller, but not faster. And thanks to the Eye of Darkness, Azazul already knew who held the advantage. Physically, Rin was weaker — but core-wise, she was stronger. Her opponent was only at the beginner phase of her Yellow Stage.
Once they exchanged blows, Rin dodged every attack effortlessly. Her counters were weak without elemental magic, weapons, or mana-enhanced strength, so she couldn't overpower her opponent. But her evasion… even he felt a chill. Her reflexes were even faster than the orange-eyed deity he killed.
Rin slipped past another strike and snapped a nasty uppercut. The brown-haired girl stumbled back.
'Oh wow… she might not be so useless.'
The girl recovered quickly. She seized Rin's left forearm, flipped her over her shoulder, slammed her into the ground, and threw a left hook at her face — but Rin blocked it with her free hand.
Then Sylvia spoke.
"Enough."
'That was quick… I wanted to see more.'
As the Sylvia's voice echoed, calling for any other students who wished to spar, Rin hopped off the arena without hesitation. She headed straight for her seat and looked at her new partner.
'What? Why is she staring at me like that?'
"So the rumors were true," she said.
"Huh? What rumors?"
"About the Fallen God's eyes — one solid gold and the other black."
Azazul stayed silent.
"Look," Rin continued, "since you're destined to become the leader of the demons of darkness… you and I? This place is gonna be hell for us."
Azazul swallowed nervously.
"Yeah how so.?"
"I mean the training. They're going to work us to the bone."
She sighed softly, then asked in a flat tone, "Have you killed yet?"
Azazul hesitated before answering.
"Yes… but only once. Uuuhh… actually twice, but I wasn't really in control the.... this damned eye played with my head.And if you must know — it was that crazed lunatic's brother, and the other woman… whoever she was."
"Oh wow. Thanks, weirdo. That makes everything a hundred times better!"
"Are you saying I should've let that lunatic's brother kill me? I wanna cling to life, thank you!"
Rin shot back quickly, "Let's just hope we don't run into them outside this place."
"Yeah… I don't think I could take him on. He's way stronger than his brother."
Sylvia suddenly appeared at Rin's side. Azazul and Rin had been so deep in conversation they hadn't even noticed the other students still sparring.
"Rin," Sylvia said, "have you decided?"
Rin rolled her eyes.
"No… are you sure I have to do it?"
"It's up to you. But it will strengthen your connection with him. And you're going to do it sooner or later anyway."
Rin glanced at Azazul.
"What if he doesn't want to?"
Sylvia grinned.
"I doubt that. But come on — you two need privacy to decide."
Azazul was confused about what "better connection" meant, but he followed them out of the arena.
They entered a room he and Rin had never seen before. It looked like a study: bookshelves lining both sides, a massive desk at the far end, and a towering window behind it — though oddly little natural light reached the room.
Azazul and Rin sat in front of the desk while Sylvia took her seat behind it.
Azazul spoke first.
"What did you mean by 'better the connection'?"
Sylvia folded her hands.
"Why don't we discuss the demons first? I'll explain that part afterward."
Azazul leaned back.
"You may start, Sylvia."
"Well then," she began, "you two are familiar with the war of the angels and the ones who rebelled against the Creator, yes? Of course you are — everyone knows that story. To battle the demons, the Creator made the Five Guardians: the Goddess of Creation, the Goddess of Love, the God of Peace, the God of Order, and the God of Life.
"But when those five overwhelmingly powerful beings were born, four new powers rose to rival them: the Demon of Destruction, the Demoness of Hate, the Demon of War, and the Demoness of Chaos."
"I do not know what truly happened to the God of Life — the information was lost. But I do know he was chosen to join the demons who rebelled. He became the Demon of Death. No one knows why or how. I have a theory…"
Azazul tensed.
'Lost? What does she mean lost?'
"What theory?" he asked.
Sylvia paused.
"Well… deities were immortal. There was no need for a Demon of Death. But when the God of Life died, immortality ended. I don't know how he died or transformed into the Demon of Death. Some say he chose it freely to rule over Hell — but there is no ruler of Hell, so that makes no sense. Others say he was corrupted and rebelled. But he was the Creator's prodigy — the strongest of the Guardians. There was no reason for corruption.
"I think he was killed — making him the first death, and the first successor of its power."
Azazul's mind raced. But one question burned above the rest.
"Where does that leave me in this war?"
Sylvia met his heterochromic gaze.
"I don't know, my prince. The Guardians want you dead, and so does the demons. But let me clarify something — the Guardians do not fear you. They fear what you can become. The demons don't fear you either — if they did, a demon would've killed you, not a mere foot soldier."
After a moment she continued,
"The Guardians always held two advantages over the demons: Creation and Life. But they no longer possess Life. And Creation… they do not have that to themselves anymore either.
"And you are the only bearer of all three lineages."
Azazul frowned.
"If my heritage gives demons an advantage… then why do the demons want to kill me?"
"It's obvious, my prince. You are not a demon, nor a guardian. Right now, you're more human than anything. You may be a deity by blood, but you were raised as a human. Some see that as a weakness… I see it as an advantage."
Azazul narrowed his eyes.
"Everyone I've met has thrown that fact in my face. Why do you think it's an advantage?"
Sylvia sighed.
"Because humans feel. You have people you love and want to protect. Deities do have emotions — but from a young age, they are taught to abandon them. That, in my opinion, was our greatest downfall."
Her explanation was strange, but it made sense. When Azazul had fought the orange-eyed deity, he saw something in the boy's eyes — the ease of killing. The familiarity. The… enjoyment. That deity was around Azazul's age and had already killed hundreds. And his brother, a silver core, had likely killed thousands.
And Azazul had hoped — just maybe — he wouldn't have to kill again.
'Is killing someone again… inevitable?'
He asked quietly,
"If the Guardians were created to protect humanity from the demons… then why is there a war between humanity and the Guardians?"
Sylvia chuckled.
"That's a good question. The Guardians and deity clans became corrupted long ago. The Creator gave them too much power. Instead of a mutual relationship with humans, they began to see humanity as… a mistake. Something to erase. Something that puts them at a disadvantage."
This time Rin spoke, confusion softening her gentle voice.
"So they want to kill every human in the Human Realm? Is that what you're saying?"
Sylvia smiled faintly.
"Rin, I didn't expect you of all people to care about human affairs. But yes — the Guardians and the deity clans want to wipe out humanity and claim the Human Realm the demons of hell alike. Humanity is in a very tight spot."
Rin lowered her head.
Azazul felt shaken. He'd always believed humanity must've angered the gods somehow. But this — deities trying to enslave humanity — was something he never imagined. They were created to aid humans.
'So they want to control us?… but humanity refuses to bend. Was I born to protect humanity's freedom?'
Sylvia's voice cut through his thoughts.
"But fortunately, my prince doesn't need to worry about Guardians or demons hunting him. Because he is… dead."
Azazul stared.
"Dead?"
"Yes — or rather, that is what I told them. I was entrusted with killing you. According to them, I succeeded. But we know the truth."
Her casual tone struck him deeply. She made defying the demons sound like a minor inconvenience.
Azazul inhaled slowly, gathering his words.
"So you gave me temporary peace… and in exchange, you want me on your side in this war. I'm assuming you'll eventually turn on the demons, but for now you pretend to be their ally. And when that day comes, you want me with you. Am I right?"
Sylvia's expression hardened.
"You are clever, my prince. Yes. But this benefits you too. It is your destiny to protect your kin — you are the only one who can. The Creator did not order your death, so I will help you protect them."
She paused before continuing.
"One of my lineage abilities allows me to see the consequences of a divine being's actions. In simple terms — I can see how their life will unfold. You are one of those beings… yet I cannot see your future. The last time that happened was when I met your mother."
Azazul leaned forward, heart pounding.
'Maybe she knows where she is.'
"My mother? Where did you meet her? When? What did you talk about?"
Sylvia let his questions hang before answering calmly,
"Yes. Your mother and we knew each other in the deity realm. She wasn't the only demon undercover. She told me you would be her spitting image — that you would think and act just like her."
Azazul blinked.
'How did she know?'
'Could she see the future?'
'But how? The three lineages don't include time…'
"So you were close friends with my mother? And how would she know what I'd look like?"
Sylvia smiled, her eyes softening.
"We grew up together, though I wouldn't say we were close. More of a love-hate relationship. I did most of the hating, to be honest.
"And as for how she knew — I thought you would've pieced it together... since your so clever. Your mother had power over time."
Azazul's heart skipped.
'She knew everything? Or only some things?'
'If she could see time, why didn't she change anything? Could she? Or would changing things make everything worse?'
'If she had the power over time and fate… can I learn it too?'
"Sylvia," he asked quietly, "which lineage did she use to control time and fate?"
"The God of Life, of course."
Azazul exhaled.
'I haven't progressed at all with that. I'm relying solely on the Demon of Death. I need to work on Creation too…'
"Okay."
After a long silence, he continued, voice tinged with melancholy,
"Would you mind if I came to you sometimes? So you could tell me… what kind of person my mother really was?"
Sylvia's smile reached her eyes.
"I would not mind at all, my prince."
Azazul nodded.
"And about this 'better connection'… what is that?"
"Oh. Since we'll be working together from now on, Rin will accompany you to the Human Realm. She will be my eyes and ears."
Azazul turned to Rin.
"And you agreed to this?"