It had been four weeks since Azazul and Rin started their training, and Rin's "bad feeling" turned out to be dead-on—those four weeks were absolute hell. They were pushed past their limits, broken down and rebuilt again. Even though Rin was a girl, she went through the exact same torture as he did.
They learned multiple martial arts styles and how to wield various weapons. Azazul trained with spears and daggers, and even got decent at throwing shurikens and knives. The dagger was the easiest, mostly because Akiko had given him a few pointers back on the Azaroth Mountains. They were also trained in several ways to kill a person quickly.
…Not that he'd ever actually use any of those techniques… right?
"Yeah, I will totally not use them."
Sure, Azazul. Sure.
---
One morning, while they were on their way to the training arena, Sylvia stopped them. She let the rest of the trainees spar with their partners, but she pulled Azazul and Rin aside and brought them to her study. Then she broke the news.
"No training for you two today. You're going on a mission tonight."
Both Azazul and Rin snapped their heads up.
"Tonight?"
"Tonight?"
Sylvia nodded, completely unfazed.
"Yes. Tonight. Your target is a demi-god. He was with us for two months, and I sent him on a mission… but he never returned. I sent some of my contacts after him to investigate, and none of them came back either. I've learned he's working with the King of the Humans. So your task is to eliminate him. I expect flawlessness. Your transport will arrive any minute."
Azazul's eyes narrowed slightly.
'So my father is working with demi-gods? He really is serious about protecting humanity… or protecting himself…'
Azazul responded confidently, "Transport? No need. I have transport."
Sylvia gave him a strange look but didn't question it.
---
Azazul and Rin went to gather their equipment and agreed to meet in the courtyard—something Azazul never even knew existed.
When he reached his room, he threw his cloak over his shoulders, picked up his mask, and ordered his panther to follow Rin's scent. He didn't know where the courtyard was, after all.
The courtyard was massive. The most beautiful one he'd ever seen. The courtyard had massive trees,the air thick with mana,the smaller trees trimmed into elegant shapes, three huge shimmering ponds… but his attention snapped away from the scenery when he saw Rin already waiting for him on the stone path.
"Sorry for making you wait," he said.
"It's fine… So? Where's your transport?"
Azazul looked down at his panther.
"Oh, that?"
He commanded the panther to transform. The creature's body grew larger and larger, black fur turning into pitch-black scales. Within minutes, a massive dragon stood before them—fangs long as swords, six onyx horns, and wings as dark as night.
Azazul was about to climb onto its back when Rin yanked him by his tied hair.
"Put your mask on first, you idiot."
He turned and saw she already had hers on. It looked similar to his, but hers had two horns while his had one.
"As you say, boss."
He slipped the mask over his face. The cold wood calmed his racing heartbeat. He jumped onto the dragon's back, and Rin followed. With nothing to hold onto, Azazul stabbed his sword into the dragon's scales for grip. Rin wrapped her arms around his waist.
---
✦✦✦
Under the dark veil of night and the soft shimmer of starlight, a lone man with pitch-black hair sat on his favorite chair on the back porch. His onyx eyes drifted over his plantation and the small fountain he built himself. His pale face twisted into a satisfied smile—he was happy. He had finished his art.
And gods, he was tired. Not from building the pond, but from the mental strain of obtaining that unique stone.
No wonder my wife loved it so much…
He blew off steam—literally—by smoking his pipe. A strange wind shifted around him.
He cursed under his breath.
'She really sent another one? Damn it… I don't want to ruin my backyard!'
A man appeared in front of him. Dark scaled armor, a short cloak, a sword still sheathed. His face was hidden behind a terrifying black demon mask with one horn. Long black hair flowed over the mask. He stood silently.
"How many of you will she send?" the man sighed. "I see she doesn't care how many I kill as long as she gets rid of me."
Azazul said nothing.
"Nothing? No last words? State your name, intruder. Or are you going to stand there with a mouth full of teeth?"
Azazul didn't attack, following Rin's plan. Since only solo assassins had been sent before, the target would never expect a partner.
Then Azazul spoke—his voice deep and demonic.
"My name…?"
Rin struck first. Her spear burst through the back of the chair and into the man's chest. But he grabbed the spear, stopping it cold.
Azazul moved instantly. One downward slash of his electric-blue tachi—
The man's arm hit the ground.
Rin ripped her spear back and, with lightning reflexes, drove the glowing red blade into the back of his skull.
"…is Belial."
"Good plan, partner," Azazul said.
"Of course it was good. I made it."
"Okay, that wasn't necessary."
"Just shut up, dummy."
They climbed back onto the dragon and left for the settlement of the Demons of Chaos.
---
By the time they arrived, morning had broken. People in the courtyard stared up in awe. The sight of a massive black dragon filled them with a deep sense of dread and wonder. The dragon landed heavily, and two riders became visible—black armor, black cloaks, demonic masks. One with jet-black hair and a single horn, the other with silver hair and two horns.
They dismounted. Rin landed first.
Azazul tried pulling off his mask but it wouldn't budge. He glanced at Rin—she already removed hers.
"Uhhh… Rin? How do I take off the mask?"
"You can't, idiot. You have to command it. Once it's on, it's bound to your soul."
"Huh? Disappear where? Wait—did you say bound to my soul?"
She shrugged.
Azazul commanded it mentally, and the mask vanished from his face like smoke.
Sylvia appeared, her scarlet eyes bright and excited. She was dressed in a crimson dress with matching lip gloss. A grin spread across her face.
"I do hope you bring me flawlessness."
Rin replied, "Yes. The target has been eliminated without any struggle."
Sylvia smiled widely. "Good, very good. I knew I made the right choice sending you two. Azazul, how was your first mission?"
Azazul scratched his cheek nervously. "It was alright. Since Rin was there, no problems."
"Good to hear. We'll hold a ceremony tonight to celebrate your success. Go wash up."
They bowed and left. Azazul's shapeshifter followed him to his room.
---
Azazul removed his armor, grabbed a towel, and headed to the baths. With everyone out training, he was alone. He sank into the warm water and let the silence sink in.
He felt victorious. No full fight, no use of the Eye of Darkness. Cutting someone's arm off didn't count as a problem… right?
"As long as I don't kill," he muttered.
But Sylvia's revelation still haunted his thoughts. Facing the Guardians alone was already extreme. With the demons of Hell included, he didn't stand a chance. Even if he scouted talents to join him, they would all march to their deaths.
But he still had to try.
For four weeks he'd been trying to awaken his Creation heritage. Zero progress. Understandable, since he had to learn from absolutely nothing. Only his mother and the Guardians knew creation magic, and asking the Guardians was impossible.
Still, he refused to feel disheartened. Because of Akiko, Emma, Meira, his mother, and every human on Earth. If he was the only one who could save humanity… then he would.
Azazul stared at his reflection in the water, then splashed his face.
'I refuse to give up. I need to be stronger.'
After washing up, he dried off and returned to his room. He changed into a fresh white linen shirt and black trousers, then sat cross-legged on his bed. His black sheath lay in front of him. He needed to learn how to create two more sheaths, but after four weeks of effort, he'd learned nothing.
To recreate something… I need to understand it on a microscopic level. Then rewrite that information with mana.
He had finally found a way to read microscopic information—but only with the Eye of Darkness, a power he still had no control over. The eye only activated in dire situations, almost like it kept him alive on purpose.
He glanced at his shapeshifter.
"Hey, Sally… how about we burst through a door? That sounds fun, huh?"