The scene before us was strange.


    People stood in perfect lines, each of them picking up a baby from the cradles, moving forward in an eerily synchronized march toward the massive doors ahead.


    A ritual?


    That’s what it looked like.


    I had read about them before, but this was the first time I had ever witnessed one in person.


    Yet, despite our presence—despite Azrael’s very obvious habit of standing out—no one even glanced at us.


    It wasn’t like they hadn’t noticed us.


    No, they were deliberately ignoring us.


    A stark contrast to how these same people had treated us above ground, throwing insults, brimming with hostility.


    And yet, now, they moved like we didn’t exist.


    It was unnatural.


    I would have preferred to stay still, watch, and try to understand what they were doing…


    But Azrael had other plans.


    He strode forward and nudged a man in the line, asking,


    “What’s happening here?”


    The man didn’t even react.


    No flinch, no hesitation—he simply picked up a baby and kept walking as if Azrael were just another piece of furniture.


    I knew Azrael was pissed.


    Yet strangely, he did nothing.


    Instead, he simply turned back toward me, expression unreadable.


    Then, in the most deadpan voice possible, he said,


    “I think we should do the same. Grab a baby and let’s move forward.”


    I laughed.


    Oh, I was not letting this go.


    “The great Azrael, ignored like an afterthought? That’s gotta sting.” I smirked.


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    He didn’t respond. Just glared.


    Fine. I had my fun.


    I sighed, grabbed a baby, and stepped into the procession alongside him.


    And just like that, we were one of them.


    No one questioned us.


    No one stopped us.


    They let us enter the line without resistance.


    If it weren’t for the fact that none of these people could actually harm us, this would have been highly suspicious.


    ……


    Passing through the doors, we were greeted by a robed figure standing at the center.


    His face was obscured by a hood, and his movements were deliberate, precise.


    He didn’t ask who we were.


    Didn’t demand to see proof that we belonged here.


    Instead, he simply gave directions.


    Azrael and I were given separate paths, but before I could even comment, Azrael immediately ignored his and followed me.


    Still, not a single person questioned us.


    Not even the robed man.


    We followed the path into a spiral staircase leading upward, the stone steps worn from years of use.


    At the top, we found a pedestal covered in scribbles, the symbols almost glowing with power.


    Beside it?


    A single cradle.


    I frowned, shifting the baby in my arms.


    “What the hell is this?”


    No answer came.


    Only expectation.


    I took a deep breath and placed the baby into the cradle.


    Immediately, the pedestal rose, inching toward the ceiling above.


    And then—


    A dense energy engulfed the child.


    The air around us vibrated, filled with an all-too-familiar cosmic pressure.


    Azrael’s voice broke the silence.


    “So… they’re nourishing babies?” He tilted his head. “That’s their grand experiment?”


    I scoffed.


    “This isn’t ‘nourishment.’”


    Azrael turned to me, brow raised.


    “These kids won’t survive exposure to potent cosmic energy,” I explained. “They’ll either die instantly or—worse—mutate.”


    “Mutate?” Azrael repeated, frowning.


    I nodded.


    “It’s a recorded phenomenon. Excessive exposure, especially in early-stage portals, has turned people into creatures before.”


    Azrael exhaled slowly.


    “Damn.”


    I gave him a pointed look.


    “You didn’t know that?”


    “That’s surprising?” He shrugged. “I was kind of… out of it during those years.”


    I rolled my eyes.


    Sometimes, Azrael acted like the most observant guy in the world.


    Other times?


    It was like he had spent the entire early portal era in a coma.


    He crossed his arms.


    “So, Kaltain. What do we do? Stop this nonsense or let them continue their little party tricks?”


    “This isn’t a party trick,” I said dryly. “These people are probably brainwashed. Someone else is running this show.”


    “That much is obvious,” he muttered.


    My eyes narrowed.


    “If I had to guess, I’d say this ‘someone’ is from the upper levels. Maybe even the Association.”


    Azrael’s jaw tensed at that.


    “First things first,” he said. “Let’s stop this.”


    I hesitated.


    “Even if we stop this, these kids won’t have good lives.” I sighed. “The people here don’t even have the infrastructure to raise children. They lack food, shelter—”


    Azrael cut me off.


    “Providing creature carcasses earns you credits, right?”


    I blinked.


    “You want to help?”


    He gave a self-deprecating laugh.


    “I’m not that bad,” he muttered. “I at least have a soft spot for babies.”


    I smirked.


    “That’s a surprise.”


    “Enough chit-chat,” he said. “Let’s wreak havoc.”


    ……


    The moment the pedestal reached the ceiling, the floor beneath us collapsed.


    Azrael and I remained suspended in midair, both of us using our abilities to keep from falling.


    I manipulated gravitational fields, while Azrael used his black holes as anchors.


    Together, we descended.


    The robed man was still there, directing people toward their ritualistic deaths.


    I landed softly behind him, reaching for his shoulder.


    Leaning in, I whispered,


    “Care to stop this nonsense?”


    The air changed.


    The people surrounding us reacted instantly, their heads snapping toward us like a hive responding to an intruder.


    Azrael exhaled.


    “Hit a sore nerve, I guess.”


    The robed man stepped forward, slowly pulling down his hood to reveal a scarred, battle-worn face.


    His lips curled into a sneer.


    “You upper-level vermin,” he spat. “We showed you generosity by ignoring your intrusion, and yet you insist on meddling in affairs that are none of your concern.”


    He took a step closer.


    “Now, you will face the wrath of a battle-hardened warrior—”


    Before he could finish, I punched him.


    Hard.


    Bone cracked.


    Blood splattered across my face and clothes.


    His body collapsed instantly.


    The people who had been shouting, rallying around their precious fighter, fell into a stunned silence.


    I wiped some blood from my cheek and grinned.


    “Who’s next?”


    For a moment, there was only silence.


    Then—


    The fight began.


    A bloodbath.


    Even with their leader dead, they still fought.


    That… I could respect.


    But respect or not—


    It didn’t matter.


    Because soon enough, they all will follow their precious leader into the afterlife.