《Demon Eater》 Demon Eater - Chapter 1: I Will Become A Purger For You! Long ago, there lived a man named Sano, a brave adventurer and devoted family man with a wife and two young children. Their life was simple and peaceful until tragedy struck: his wife fell gravely ill. Desperate to save her, Sano sought help from every healer and doctor he could find, but her illness was beyond any known remedy. Refusing to give up, Sano set out on a relentless journey across forests, mountains, and rivers, seeking a mythical herb rumored to cure any ailment. Along the way, he encountered strange people and faced perilous challenges, but despite his determination, his wife¡¯s condition worsened. Hope dwindling, Sano heard of a rare and powerful herb hidden deep within a cursed forest, a place whispered to be haunted by malevolent spirits. With no other options and driven by love for his family, Sano ventured into the foreboding woods. The deeper he went, the darker and more oppressive the forest became until he stumbled upon a cave shaped like an ominous ¡°M.¡± Believing the herb might lie within, he entered cautiously, his every step echoing in the cold, damp darkness. As Sano pressed onward, he tripped over a loose rock and tumbled down a jagged slope. The fall seemed endless, but he miraculously survived without serious injury. Rising shakily to his feet, he dusted himself off and noticed something glimmering faintly in the dim light¡ªa golden chest, partially buried in the cave¡¯s depths. Hope reignited in his chest. He approached and carefully opened the lid, but instead of a cure, a torrent of shadowy smoke burst forth. Dark sprites materialized, their forms like swirling mist, their eerie whispers filling the air with riddles. As quickly as they appeared, the sprites dissipated, leaving the cave shrouded in an ominous silence. What emerged from the chest was far more than shadows. An otherworldly energy, later called ¡°Essence,¡± was unleashed upon the world. While this Essence granted ordinary people incredible powers¡ªcontrol over fire, wind, and even healing¡ªit also awakened ancient demons. These fearsome beings roamed the earth, wreaking havoc and feeding on humanity for strength. For 5,000 years, the world became a battleground between the gifted and the monstrous. In the bustling city of New Rise City, a 14-year-old boy named Devon worked tirelessly in a small donut shop. From cleaning the tables, floors, and even the roof, to scrubbing the kitchen, taking out the trash, and washing Momo¡¯s car, he handled it all with determination. This shop wasn¡¯t just where Devon worked¡ªit was also his home. Momo, his adoptive parent, had taken him in when he had nowhere else to go. She ran the donut shop with a no-nonsense attitude but cared deeply for Devon, even if she didn¡¯t always show it outright. As Devon finished wiping down the last table, he approached the counter where Momo was counting the register. ¡°Momo, I finished all my tasks. Now sign it,¡± he said, handing her a piece of paper. Momo looked up, frowning as she read the bold print at the top of the page: "Enroll today to become a Purger. Take on the Purger Trials and protect humanity. Her brow furrowed, and she set the paper down on the counter. "Devon, we¡¯ve talked about this. You don¡¯t need to get yourself mixed up in something so dangerous," she said firmly. "But, Momo," Devon protested, his voice pleading. "This is what I want to do. I¡¯m strong¡ªI can handle it. And it¡¯s not just for me, it¡¯s for us. The money would help with the shop and everything else. Please sign it as you promised me.¡± Momo hesitated, her voice trembling slightly. ¡°But your parents¡­¡± After a long pause, she sighed deeply and picked up the pen. With a shaky hand, she signed the form, filling it out completely. ¡°Thanks, Momo!¡± Devon beamed, snatching the paper from her hands. Without waiting for a response, he bolted out the door and ran down the street toward the nearest mailbox. A man named Cloudy entered the shop. He was a Purger and carried himself with a calm confidence. He sat in the chair in front of the counter. "Hey, Momo. How are you doing?" he asked with a friendly smile. "Hi, Cloudy. I¡¯m... doing fine, I guess," Momo replied. "You want the regular?" "You know me so well," he said with a chuckle. Momo nodded and headed to the back. She started preparing Cloudy¡¯s usual order: a cup of black coffee and three chocolate donuts. Cloudy noticed Momo¡¯s movements were stiff, her usual ease replaced with a tension he hadn¡¯t seen before. When she returned, she placed the cup of black coffee and three chocolate donuts in front of him. ¡°Here you go. Hope you enjoy,¡± she said with a small smile, but it didn¡¯t reach her eyes. Cloudy took a sip of his coffee, studying her carefully. ¡°Momo, is there something wrong?¡± ¡°What? No, no, no, I¡¯m fine,¡± she said quickly, avoiding his gaze as she busied herself wiping the counter. Cloudy raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. ¡°Come on, tell me,¡± he said gently. ¡°I can tell something¡¯s up.¡± ¡°Well, Devon is signing up to become a Purger,¡± Momo admitted. ¡°Really? That¡¯s nice. That kid would do wonders,¡± Cloudy said with a grin, taking a bite of one of his donuts. ¡°Nice? No, it¡¯s not nice,¡± Momo snapped, her frustration bubbling up. ¡°He¡¯ll die if he joins up. I¡¯m hoping he fails the trials so he can come back here.¡± Cloudy said ¡°God, Momo, you don¡¯t believe in your kid?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not my kid¡­ well, he is, but¡­¡± She sighed, her shoulders slumping. ¡°I just don¡¯t want him to die. I¡¯ve heard Purgers don¡¯t make it past the age of 25.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a lie!¡± Cloudy exclaimed, gesturing to himself. ¡°Look at me¡ªI¡¯m 30! Plus, he¡¯ll be fine. He just needs to make some friends, and everything will be nice and dandy.¡± Momo frowned, clearly not reassured. ¡°Still, I don¡¯t want him joining...¡± She paused, her eyes lighting up with an idea. ¡°Wait¡ªCloudy! Maybe you can convince him not to join. That¡¯s a good idea. Can you do that for me?¡± Cloudy responded. ¡°Convince him not to join? You do know the kid¡¯s probably set on this, right? I can talk to him, but no promises. He seems like the stubborn type.¡± ¡°Please, try something, Cloudy,¡± Momo pleaded. ¡°Alright then,¡± Cloudy said with a sigh, grabbing a donut as he stood up. Meanwhile, Devon was standing near a mailbox, holding the envelope addressed to the Purger Organization in his hands, a determined look on his face. ¡°Devon!¡± Cloudy called out, walking toward him. Devon turned around, surprised. ¡°Oh, hi, Cloudy,¡± he said. ¡°What are you doing, Devon? Who are you sending mail to?¡± Cloudy asked. ¡°Oh, to the Purger Organization!¡± Devon said enthusiastically. ¡°I¡¯m gonna become one!¡± ¡°Wow, aiming for a good career, huh?¡± Cloudy said with a nod, his tone casual. ¡°But hey, come sit on this bench with me for a sec.¡± He gestured to a nearby bench under the shade of a tree. ¡°Umm... okay?¡± Devon replied. They both sat on a bench near a serene lake, the golden rays of the sunrise glimmering on the water''s surface. The scene was calm, but Cloudy¡¯s tone carried a hint of seriousness as he turned to Devon. ¡°To help out Momo,¡± Devon replied earnestly. ¡°She took care of me my whole life, so I wanted to repay her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s very noble of you, Devon,¡± Cloudy said with a nod. ¡°But I think it¡¯s better if you don¡¯t join.¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Why not?¡± Devon asked. ¡°Because she really cares about you,¡± Cloudy explained, his tone softening. ¡°If you joined and something happened to you... it would break her heart. She took care of you your whole life, and the best way to repay her is to live¡ªto be safe and happy.¡± Devon paused for a moment, staring at the rippling lake. ¡°Yeah, I understand, but... I¡¯m still joining either way,¡± he said, his voice resolute. Cloudy sighed inwardly, realizing his words hadn¡¯t swayed the boy. Alright, time to try something different, he thought. Cloudy looked at Devon, his expression softening. ¡°Devon, I knew your parents when I was in my 20s,¡± he said, his tone calm. ¡°They were great people, dedicated to protecting humanity. They fought bravely, but... they died facing a powerful demon. Before they died, they entrusted you to Momo, ensuring that you would live and grow up safe. So if you died... that would sour your parents'' sacrifice, you know?¡± Devon¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± Cloudy blinked, caught off guard. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about my real parents,¡± Devon said firmly, his voice unwavering. ¡°I didn¡¯t know them well enough to feel anything about them. What I care about is the person who¡¯s here for me now¡ªMomo. She¡¯s the one who raised me, the one who¡¯s been there every day. I¡¯m doing this for her. For all she¡¯s done to take care of me. I will join, get enough money to be sure she can live in luxury.¡± Cloudy sighed, realizing that no matter what he said, Devon was determined to join the Purger organization. The boy had made up his mind, and nothing short of a life-altering experience would change that. He had to try something different. I can¡¯t stop him, Cloudy thought, but maybe... maybe I can help Momo come to terms with it. ¡°Alright, Devon,¡± Cloudy said, standing up from the bench. ¡°I get it. You¡¯re set on joining. But I¡¯m gonna try something else.¡± Devon looked up at him curiously. ¡°I¡¯m going to talk to Momo,¡± Cloudy continued, ¡°and I¡¯ll try to make her understand that this is what you want. Maybe if she hears it from me... maybe she¡¯ll be a bit more accepting. But I can¡¯t promise it¡¯ll be easy.¡± ¡°Right!¡± said Devon. Cloudy walked back into the donut shop, his footsteps heavy. Momo immediately looked up from behind the counter, her face filled with anxiety. "Did you talk him out of it?" she asked, her voice trembling. Cloudy shook his head. "No, I tried, but no luck. The kid¡¯s determined, Momo. He¡¯s made up his mind." Momo¡¯s expression dropped, and she placed her hand on her head, as if the weight of the situation was too much to bear. ¡°Oh no...¡± she muttered, her eyes clouded with worry. Cloudy stepped closer to her, trying to calm her down. ¡°Momo, calm down, okay? He¡¯s going to be fine.¡± Momo''s hands trembled as she looked down at the counter. "It¡¯s a promise I made to his parents... "What promise?" he asked gently. Momo said ¡°It¡¯s a promise I made to his parents... before they died. They trusted me with Devon, Cloudy. They asked me to protect him, to give him the life they couldn¡¯t. They wanted him to have a future. The Purger Organization is dangerous, and he¡¯s determined to join them. I¡¯m failing him.¡± Cloudy smiled gently. "Well Momo, you¡¯ve done everything you could. You¡¯ve raised him, loved him, and given him a life full of care. You kept your promise to protect him, and you did that." Momo sighed. "I guess." "Look, he wants to repay you for everything you''ve done. Let him join and be a Purger, and I¡¯ll look after him." "Will you, Cloudy?" "Yep, I¡¯ll watch over him, so there¡¯s nothing to worry about." Cloudy added "He''s a pretty strong kid, you know." Devon placed the envelope in the mailbox and turned to head back to the donut shop. When he runs into Cloudy. ¡°Cloudy, what did she say?¡± Devon asked. Cloudy nodded. Devon knew what that meant. It was a sign that the decision had been made¡ªMomo had agreed he felt a huge amount of glee in his body. Devon walked into the shop and immediately pulled Momo into a tight hug. ¡°Thanks, Momo. I promised to make you proud. I won¡¯t die on you. When I become a Purger, I¡¯ll make sure you can live an easy life.¡± Momo hugged him back, her face softening into a warm smile. "I know you will, Devon," she whispered. Two days passed, and the Purger Trials had finally begun. Devon stood on the sidewalk, waiting for the bus that would take him and the other new recruits to their destination. Momo stepped outside, holding his backpack full of supplies. She handed it to him, then pressed a donut wrapped in paper into his hand. "Here," she said with a small smile. "For the road." Devon chuckled, taking the donut. "Thanks, Momo. You always know what I need." She nodded, her eyes glistening. "Take care of yourself, Devon. And remember, don''t die okay.¡± "Right, I won¡¯t," Devon said with a small smile. The bus pulled up with a hiss of its brakes. Devon took a deep breath before stepping onto it. As the doors closed behind him, he turned to wave back at Momo. She stood on the sidewalk, waving with a warm smile, her eyes filled with a mix of pride and worry. In this vast world, there were four massive zones, each a unique realm of activity and culture. The first was New Rise City, a sprawling metropolis filled with countless districts and neighborhoods. At its heart was Star Wide Plaza, a grand and bustling area where the Purger Trials were being held. Star Wide Plaza was also home to the Purger HQ, a colossal building where Purgers lived, trained, and carried out their duties. In New Rise City alone, there were a total of 30 Purger HQs, each a vital hub for maintaining order and safety. These headquarters were scattered across the globe, acting as the backbone of the Purgers'' mission to protect humanity and uphold justice. The bus came to a halt at the designated location, its doors sliding open with a hiss. Devon stepped out, his eyes widening as he took in the scene before him. The towering Purger HQ loomed in the distance, its sleek, modern design a testament to power and purpose. Around him, people from all walks of life, representing countless cultures and corners of the world, gathered with the same goal: to become guardians of humankind. As Devon started walking toward the HQ, he muttered to himself, ¡°Okay, no pressure, Devon. You¡¯re going to be great. I just need to get to know people. I¡¯ll start by making some friends. That¡¯ll help ease the nerves.¡± Devon stepped inside the HQ and was immediately overwhelmed by the sight of what looked like thousands of recruits filling the massive atrium. The air buzzed with chatter, excitement, and a hint of nervous energy as people from every corner of the world mingled. He weaved his way through the crowd, eventually finding a bench where he could sit and take a breather. ¡°There are a lot of people here,¡± Devon muttered to himself. ¡°It¡¯s super hard to navigate through them.¡± As he scanned the crowded room, a man dressed in white with a dark green jacket and matching pants approached and sat down next to him. Devon glanced at him, thinking, Oh, he looks nice to talk to. ¡°Hello there,¡± Devon said, offering a friendly smile, hoping to strike up a conversation. The man in the dark green jacket replied, "Hi." Devon smiled nervously. "Hey, so my name is Devon. My mother is Momo, and I¡¯m here to become a Purger t¡ª" "Geez, calm down, chatterbox," the man interrupted. "Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s unwise to tell someone everything, especially when you just met them? Plus, you didn¡¯t even ask my name yet." "Sorry," Devon said, scratching the back of his head. "Well, my name is Devon. What¡¯s yours?" "Joey Bohen," the man replied with a smirk. "Nice to meet you, Joey," Devon said with a friendly smile. "Hey, can I ask why you¡¯re here to become a Purger?" Joey sighed, his expression turning serious. "It¡¯s a long story. When I was a kid, me and my little brother got separated. I ended up with a foster family, but I don¡¯t know what happened to him. I have no idea if he¡¯s dead or alive." "A foster family? Were they good people?" Devon asked. "Yeah, they¡¯re great," Joey said, a faint smile forming. "I still live with them. Actually, they¡¯re the ones who signed me up to be a Purger since they¡¯re Purgers themselves." "Wow, that¡¯s cool! So, you¡¯re hoping to find your brother, right?" Devon said "Yeah," Joey admitted, his voice softening. "But I don¡¯t know where to start. All I remember is that he had red eyes, average ears, and kind of an Nubian nose." "Maybe I could help you out?" Devon offered. "Really? But why help out a stranger?" Joey asked, raising an eyebrow. Devon grinned. "Well, I know your name now, so you¡¯re not a stranger anymore. Plus, I think I¡¯d have an easier time here if I had friends. Helping you out sounds like a good way to start a friendship." Joey chuckled. "What a way to make friendships, Devon. Alright, sure¡ªwe can be friends." "Great!" Devon said with a big smile. Joey stood up and stretched. "Okay, let¡¯s get moving. The Trials could start any moment, so let¡¯s not waste time." "Right, Joey," Devon agreed, quickly following him. They joined the crowd of potential future Purgers, a sea of hopeful recruits all buzzing with anticipation. At the center of it all was a massive stage with a microphone set up at the front. Behind the stage, a man with white hair named Marco Summers paced nervously. He was supposed to address the crowd, but the sheer size of it had him on edge. Taking a deep breath, Marco tried to calm himself, repeating his training techniques to steady his nerves. "Okay, Marco, you got this," he muttered to himself, clutching the sheet of paper tightly. "Just go up there and read the script you were provided with." He glanced down at the paper, which outlined everything he needed to say to the recruits. Demon Eater - Chapter 2: Let the trials begin! A short man, his body wrapped in bandages except for his feet, wearing black pants, tapped Marco on the shoulder, startling him. ¡°Ah!! Gabriel!¡± Marco exclaimed, spinning around. ¡°Ha heh kekek! Got you, Marco,¡± Gabriel chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t scare me like that! I¡¯m already nervous about walking on stage,¡± Marco said, clutching his chest. ¡°Calm down, Snow White,¡± Gabriel teased, giving Marco a cheeky grin and a thumbs-up. ¡°You¡¯ll do great. I believe in you.¡± Marco sighed, still fidgeting with the paper in his hand. ¡°Yeah¡­ great. But seriously, why did Yukio put me as the examiner for the trials instead of you? You¡¯re way more bubbly and fun. This is not my thing.¡± Gabriel shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°I tried, but Yukio had to go on a little voyage with Asher. Said it was super important or something. So, he told me to take his place until he gets back. That means I¡¯m stuck doing his missions and everything else on his to-do list.¡± ¡°Lucky me,¡± Marco muttered, rolling his eyes. ¡°Kekek! Don¡¯t sweat it, Marco. Just read the script and keep it together. You¡¯ll survive,¡± Gabriel said with a grin. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll do that,¡± Marco said with a resigned sigh as he began walking toward the stage. ¡°Wait, Marco, here,¡± Gabriel called, handing him a small remote. ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡± Marco asked, examining the device with a puzzled expression. ¡°For a visual presentation. You¡¯ve got a big screen behind you to show the potential Purgers what they¡¯re in for,¡± Gabriel explained with a smirk. ¡°Oh¡­ thanks,¡± Marco replied. The room buzzed with chatter as the potential Purgers mingled, their excitement palpable. Conversations swirled about the trials, their aspirations, and the challenges ahead. Marco stepped onto the stage, clutching the microphone nervously. Clearing his throat, he raised the mic and called out, ¡°Attention, everyone!¡± The noise died almost instantly, the recruits falling into an anticipatory silence. ¡°It¡¯s starting,¡± Devon whispered to Joey, sitting beside him on the bench. ¡°Yeah,¡± Joey replied. Marco took a deep breath and steadied himself. Raising the microphone, he spoke clearly, ¡°I am Marco Summers, Rank A Purger.¡± A wave of whispers rippled through the crowd. ¡°He¡¯s a Rank A Purger?¡± someone murmured. ¡°That¡¯s super sweet,¡± another recruit whispered. ¡°You all have signed up to become humanity¡¯s guardians,¡± Marco said, his voice steadying as he addressed the crowd. ¡°For that, I want to thank each and every one of you!¡± With that, he pressed the red button on the remote in his hand. Behind him, the large screen lit up, displaying an outline of everything that would take place during the trials. The crowd¡¯s eyes widened as they took in the detailed visuals. On the screen, four bold titles appeared in sequence, detailing the stages of the trials:
  1. The Purger Choice Trial
  2. The Endurance Trial
  3. The Arena Trial
  4. The Demon Score Trial
Each title was accompanied by brief visuals. Devon leaned forward, staring at the screen. ¡°Woah, look at that,¡± he whispered. Joey crossed his arms. ¡°Yeah, this is going to be serious.¡± Marco¡¯s voice echoed across the stage. ¡°Now, allow me to go over all four trials. The first trial is the Purger Choice. All new recruits will take a multiple-choice test before proceeding with the rest of the trials. The test will consist of 40 questions, and you must score 60% or higher to advance.¡± Devon froze. A test? he thought, panic creeping in. I didn¡¯t know there was a test! I should¡¯ve done my research before signing up! Marco adjusted his glasses, his tone firm. ¡°There is one important rule for this trial: no cheating. If you are caught cheating, you will be immediately disqualified from the Purger Trials. No exceptions.¡± Devon swallowed hard No cheating? he thought. Not that I planned to, but man, this just got even more stressful. Joey glanced at Devon and smirked. ¡°You¡¯re sweating already. Relax, it¡¯s just the first step.¡± Devon sighed. ¡°Easy for you to say. I didn¡¯t know there¡¯d be a test.¡± Joey said ¡°How didn¡¯t you know? You could¡¯ve looked online for the details.¡± He pulled out his phone and handed it to Devon, the screen already open to a page filled with Purger test answers. ¡°Here, study this for a while. It¡¯s better than panicking.¡± Devon¡¯s eyes were in awe as he took the phone. ¡°Seriously? Thanks, Joey!¡± Joey nudged Devon. ¡°Try to cram as much as you can before that test starts. You¡¯ll need it.¡± Meanwhile, Marco continued explaining the trials. ¡°Next is the Endurance Trial. This one¡¯s pretty simple. All new recruits have to run from Star Wide Plaza, where we are now, to Pit City District¡ª50 miles away. That¡¯s about 80.5 kilometers. The run typically takes 8 to 12 hours.¡± The crowd erupted into murmurs, a mix of disbelief and nervousness rippling through the potential Purgers. A recruit shouted, ¡°We have to run for that long?¡± Marco nodded, his expression serious. ¡°Yes. The Endurance Trial is where most recruits fail. It''s a test of your stamina, willpower, and mental toughness. Demons won¡¯t wait for you to catch your breath. After that you all will have to run back to the HQ.¡± Devon said ¡°Fifty miles? That¡¯s insane!¡± Marco continued, ¡°Next is the Arena Trial. In this trial, recruits will face off against each other in combat. This is your chance to showcase your strength, skills, and abilities in a controlled setting.¡± The crowd buzzed with excitement at the mention of combat, some recruits exchanging determined glances. Marco raised a hand to silence them. ¡°But there are strict rules:
  1. You cannot kill your opponent¡ªonly knock them out or force them out of the ring.
  2. If anyone interrupts the fight, they will be immediately disqualified¡ªand so will the opponents involved. So keep it clean and fair.¡±
Devon said ¡°We have to fight each other? I don¡¯t even know what half of these people can do.¡± Joey smirked. ¡°Well, this is your chance to find out.¡± Marco continued, ¡°The final trial is The Demon Score Trial. After enduring the earlier trials, this is where the real Purgers are made. You will all be assigned these.¡± The screen behind him lit up, displaying a sleek, futuristic watch with glowing indicators. ¡°These are Score Watches,¡± Marco explained. ¡°They track the number of demons you kill. To pass this trial, you must reach a score of 150 points by eliminating demons. Each demon¡¯s difficulty will determine the points awarded¡ªstronger demons give higher scores.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. The crowd murmured in awe and apprehension. ¡°Wait,¡± someone in the crowd said, ¡°does that mean we¡¯re going to face real demons?¡± Marco nodded. ¡°Yes. This is no simulation. You¡¯ll be sent into the field to fight actual demons in designated zones. This trial will test your courage, skills, and ability to adapt under pressure. But be warned¡ªthis is dangerous. Purgers don¡¯t get second chances, and neither will you.¡± Devon¡¯s heart pounded. He clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. ¡°This is it,¡± he thought. ¡°This is what I signed up for.¡± Marco said, "After everything I¡¯ve explained, let the Trials begin! The Purger Choice trial will commence shortly at 8:45 AM. Prepare yourselves.¡± The crowd buzzed with anticipation as Marco stepped away from the microphone. Devon turned to Joey, his nerves showing through his voice. "So, Joey, this is going to be hard." Joey crossed his arms and gave a confident smirk. "Yep, but hey, we¡¯ll make it through. Meanwhile, Marco descended the stage stairs, letting out a sigh of relief. ¡°Okay, that was easier than I expected. Good job, Marco,¡± he muttered to himself, a small smile of pride. Joey said, "Okay, we should wait until then." Devon nodded in agreement. There we see a girl standing in confusion. She has long blue hair, dressed in gray pants and just a bra under a long, flowing trench coat. She rubs her head in frustration, muttering to herself, "Ah! I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m doing here." Nearby, a boy with white and black hair leans against a trash can, casually sipping a soda. His outfit consists of a long white shirt paired with black pants, featuring two yellow stripes running down each leg. He grins to himself, clearly excited. "This is going to be fun. I can finally get out of the house for a change." he said. The time was 8:45 AM, and all the recruits were spread across various classrooms, ready to take the test. Each room had its own examiners, ensuring the process went smoothly. The rooms were numbered 300, 301, 302, 303, and so on, each with their own group of participants. Devon and Joey were in room 305, their assigned classroom for the exam. In room 305, the atmosphere was filled with a variety of faces, each with their own determination. Spike Hammer, a burly teen with long blond hair, sat confidently with his girlfriend, Khmila Rains, whose long black hair cascaded over her shoulders. Next to them was Xia, a boy whose eyes burned with the goal of becoming the very best Purger. His posture was straight, and there was a focused intensity about him. The room was arranged with five rows of tables, each row seating 20 recruits. Devon and Joey sat in the fourth row, their attention divided between the task ahead and their surroundings. Next to Devon was the girl with long blue hair, still looking a bit disoriented, rubbing her head as she tried to focus. She glanced occasionally at Devon, clearly unsure of what to expect next. Next to Joey sat the man with white and black hair, sipping his soda with an easy grin, as if he were already in his element. The girl being nervous and uncertain and the boy calm and casual. Khmila leaned over toward Spike, rubbing his broad chest affectionately. "Honey, do you think we¡¯ll become Purgers?" she asked. Spike shrugged, his expression nonchalant. "Hell if I know. I don¡¯t really care about this killing demons stuff," he said, leaning back casually. "I heard they pay good, though¡ª700,000k a year. That¡¯ll definitely help out my club. Hey, you do have the answers, right?" Khmila smirked and discreetly pulled out a small piece of paper from her pocket, showing it to him briefly. "Nice," Spike said with a sly grin. "Now put it away. Don¡¯t wanna get caught, babe." Khmila quickly tucked the paper back into her pocket, glancing around nervously to make sure none of the examiners had noticed. Spike, on the other hand, looked as relaxed as ever, completely unbothered by the risk. Devon tapped the girl with long blue hair on the shoulder, concern written on his face. "Hey, are you okay? You''re sweating badly," he said softly. The girl flinched slightly but turned toward him with a shaky smile. "O-oh, I¡¯m fine¡­ Just nerves getting to me," she replied, her voice unsteady. "Well, here," Devon said, taking out a napkin and handing it to her. She hesitated for a moment before accepting it. "Thanks," she murmured, dabbing her forehead. "What¡¯s your name?" "Devon," he replied simply. "Thanks, Devon," she said again, her smile a bit more genuine this time. "But hey," Devon added, leaning in slightly. "What¡¯s getting on your nerves? Are you scared you¡¯re going to fail?" The girl sighed, her shoulders slumping as she spoke. "Well, kinda, yeah. You see, my parents put me up to this because my sisters are Purgers, and they want me to become one too. I told them I wanted to be a baseball player, but they didn¡¯t accept that." She glanced away, her voice trembling slightly. "So now I¡¯m here, thinking the worst. Like, if I fail the trials, they¡¯ll be disappointed in me. But if I actually become one... what then? I could die fighting demons, or worse, be eaten by one." She clenched the napkin in her hands, her fear and frustration clear in her expression. "It¡¯s just... so much pressure, you know?" she added. Devon nodded, trying to offer some reassurance. "I get it, but look here. Maybe your parents are just thinking this would be the best career for you. I mean, I¡¯ve heard there¡¯s a lot of money to be made doing this. I¡¯m sure they care for you, don¡¯t they?" The girl sighed deeply and said "They do... I know they love me, but..." She looked up at Devon, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "I don¡¯t want to be here. This isn¡¯t my dream." Her voice softened as she continued. "I just wish they¡¯d understand that I want something different for myself. Something that doesn¡¯t involve risking my life every day." Devon offered her a kind smile, leaning in slightly. "Hey, how about this? We can be friends, and I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re safe. You won¡¯t have to face this alone." "Really, Devon?" she asked. "Yep," Devon said confidently, grinning. "I¡¯ll make sure you won¡¯t have to fear for your life." She hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Well, okay then," she said softly, a small smile creeping onto her face. Devon leaned back in his chair, trying to lighten the mood. "And maybe, after the trials, we could play some baseball. Then grab some pizza with my friend Joey." Her smile grew wider, and a little laughter escaped her lips. "Yeah, that sounds great," she replied, her nerves visibly easing as she relaxed in her seat. Each room had five examiners stationed strategically to ensure no recruits attempted to cheat. Among them was Cloudy. who stood near a window overlooking the training grounds. He crossed his arms. Observing the recruits as they whispered among themselves. His attention lingered briefly on Devon, who was chatting with the girl beside him. In his mind, Cloudy mused, Seems like Devon is getting along nicely. A faint smirk crossed his lips before he straightened his posture, resuming his watchful demeanor. The examiners moved methodically through the rows, passing out tests and pencils to each recruit. The room grew quiet. "Oh, we''re starting," muttered the boy with white and black hair, taking his test with an easy grin and twirling his pencil between his fingers. Once all the tests were handed out, one of the examiners, a stern-looking woman. stepped to the front of the room. Her voice was commanding "You all will begin the test when I say ''start.'' You will have 20 minutes to complete it. If you do not finish within the time limit, you will fail this trial." She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "Now then... Start!" The room immediately erupted with the sound of pencils scratching against paper as all the recruits began scribbling down their answers. Concentration etched across every face, the clock ticking away. Devon stared at the test paper, his eyes scanning the questions quickly. He tried to recall what he had seen on Joey''s phone earlier. "Okay," he thought to himself, gripping his pencil tightly. "Answer one is A, second is C, third is D..." His confidence faltered as he reached the fourth question. "Oh no... I forgot the fourth one!" Devon panicked internally, his mind scrambling for the answer. "Maybe I can take a quick look at Joey¡¯s paper," Devon thought, glancing over at his friend, who was rapidly jotting down answers with an almost unnerving speed. "Geez, he¡¯s going so fast," Devon muttered under his breath, leaning slightly to get a peek. As he shifted closer, a shadow loomed over him. Devon froze. One of the examiners had silently approached, standing right behind them. Devon immediately sat back, pretending to be deep in thought, his pencil hovering over the test paper. The examiner lingered for a moment, scanning the room, but eventually moved on without a word. Devon let out a quiet sigh of relief. "That was way too close," he whispered to himself. Devon leaned in slightly, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Joey," he hissed. Joey barely looked up from his paper. "Hm?" he mumbled, still focused on writing. "What¡¯s the answer to question four?" Devon asked as quietly as possible, glancing nervously around to ensure no examiners were nearby. Joey replied under his breath, "B." "All right," Devon whispered back, quickly marking the answer on his test. The girl with the long blue hair stared at question 13, her pencil hovering just above the paper. She tapped the eraser against her temple, trying to coax the answer out of her brain, but nothing came. Her mind raced with possibilities. "Okay," she thought to herself, trying to reason it out. "There are four answers: A, B, C, and D. That¡¯s a 25% chance one of them is right... but a 75% chance I¡¯m wrong." She frowned, biting her lip. "I can¡¯t afford to mess this up. I don¡¯t want to take the risk of guessing." Her eyes darted around the room cautiously, scanning her neighbors'' papers. "I... I have to cheat, but how?" she thought. The girl with the long blue hair noticed the boy with the white and black hair casually leaning back in his chair, his arms folded behind his head. His pencil lay idle on the desk. "He¡¯s not writing..." she thought. "Maybe he¡¯s already finished. If he¡¯s done, maybe he can help me out." She reached over and gently tapped Devon on the shoulder. "Hey, Devon," she whispered. "Yeah?" he replied, leaning slightly toward her. "Try to get the guy with the white and black hair. Ask him if he¡¯s done with his test. If he is, tell him I need it," she murmured. Devon hesitated but nodded. "Alright," Devon leaned toward Joey, whispering ¡° Hey Joey, can you ask that guy for his paper. I really need it.¡± Joey nodded and shifted closer to the boy with the white and black hair, lowering his voice. "Hey, are you done with your test? If so, can you pass me your paper?" The boy glanced at Joey, then shrugged, "Sure," and reached for his test paper. Just as he was about to hand it over, an examiner walked by them. "Crap," the girl with blue hair muttered quietly under her breath. Chapter 3: Cloud and Cloud. The examiner stood behind them for what felt like an eternity. "Is she ever going to leave?" the girl with blue hair thought, her fingers nervously tapping the desk. "How long has it been? I need to figure out a way to make her go away." Her mind raced, and then it hit her. She remembered her special ability. "Oh, I¡¯ve got it," she thought, her heart pounding as she discreetly took out the napkin Devon had given her earlier. Concentrating, she imbued the napkin with her essence, a soft white aura enveloping it as it hardened into a makeshift projectile. "Okay, here goes nothing," she murmured. She flicked her wrist and launched the essence-hardened napkin across the room. It flew silently, ricocheting off a window near where Cloudy was standing. Then, with precision, it struck the examiner square in the face. The sharp impact made the examiner yelp in pain, clutching her now bleeding forehead. "Ahh!" she screamed, her hands trembling as blood began to seep between her fingers. The entire room froze. Every recruit turned to stare, their faces painted with shock and disbelief. Even Cloudy raised an eyebrow, curious about the sudden commotion. The girl with blue hair tried to keep her expression neutral, pretending to be just as surprised as everyone else. The injured examiner cried out, "My forehead is bleeding!" Another examiner rushed over, steadying her as blood trickled down her face. "Recruitments, continue taking the test! You all have 12 minutes remaining to complete it!" he barked, his voice firm, trying to maintain order. He gently guided the injured female examiner toward the door, her hand still pressed against her forehead. The room remained tense, but the recruits obediently returned their focus to their papers as the door closed behind the two examiners. The girl with the blue hair smirked subtly to herself, her heartbeat beginning to settle. "Nice!" she thought, feeling a small sense of victory. ¡°She¡¯s bleeding,¡± Devon whispered. ¡°Damn, that was a lot of blood,¡± the boy with white and black hair muttered. ¡°She got hit with something... something sharp,¡± Khmila observed. ¡°I feel bad for her. I hope she¡¯ll be okay,¡± Xia added softly, his expression genuinely concerned. The girl with the blue hair swallowed her guilt, muttering under her breath, ¡°Okay, now I¡¯m feeling bad, but I have to pass this test.¡± She turned to Devon, keeping her voice low. ¡°Devon, pass me the paper.¡± Devon hesitated, torn between her request and the events that had just unfolded. Meanwhile, Cloudy, standing near the window, was lost in thought. How did she... Wait, I know what she did. She infused her essence into that napkin to harden it, turning it into a projectile. I thought she was just going to wipe her nose or something... But the precision¡ªshe knew exactly what she was doing. The question is, should I report this? Get her disqualified? His gaze shifted to Devon, who had been talking to the girl earlier. They seem to be getting along... She could be a friend of his. Maybe I should keep quiet about this... for now. Cloudy crossed his arms. Minutes ticked by until, finally, the timer buzzed. A male examiner stepped to the front of the room and shouted, ¡°Pencils down! The timer has stopped!¡± The room filled with the sound of pencils clattering onto desks as the recruits complied. Beads of sweat rolled down many foreheads, the tension palpable. ¡°Now then, it¡¯s time to grade them. Everyone, bring your tests to the desk at the front!¡± the examiner instructed. Devon sighed, clutching his test as he muttered under his breath, ¡°I hope I pass...¡± Spike stood, his usual confident smirk plastered on his face. ¡°Bebe, I¡¯ll take yours,¡± he offered. Khmila handed her paper to him with a smile. ¡°Thanks, honey.¡± Xia with excitement and determination burning in his eyes. ¡°Come on, Xia! I know I passed! I¡¯m going to become the best Purger there ever was!¡± he thought. ¡°Joey, do you think you passed?¡± Devon asked, glancing over at his friend. ¡°Sure I did. The test was very easy,¡± Joey replied. The boy with white and black hair leaned back in his chair and sighed. ¡°I need another soda... but I don¡¯t have another dollar on me,¡± he muttered, checking his empty pockets. He looked around. ¡°Hey, do you guys have a dollar?¡± Joey shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± The girl with blue hair shrugged. ¡°Me neither.¡± Devon patted his pockets and smiled. ¡°Oh, I might have one.¡± ¡°Really? You¡¯re a lifesaver,¡± the boy said. Devon handed the boy the dollar with a smile. ¡°Thanks. Hey, what¡¯s your name, by the way?¡± the boy asked. ¡°Devon,¡± he replied. ¡°Devon, huh? I¡¯m Juno,¡± the boy said, extending a hand. Devon shook it. ¡°Nice to meet you, Juno.¡± The girl with blue hair crossed her arms and pouted slightly. ¡°Devon, you never asked my name,¡± she teased. ¡°Oh, sorry. What¡¯s your name?¡± Devon asked, turning to her. ¡°I¡¯m Aokami,¡± she said with a small smile. Juno smirked. ¡°Aokami? Doesn¡¯t that mean Blue Hair? Very fitting,¡± he said, chuckling. She laughed. ¡°Well, that¡¯s my nickname.¡± ¡°Hmm... What¡¯s your actual name?¡± Juno asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°No way¡ªit sounds funny,¡± she said, waving her hand dismissively. ¡°Come on, tell me,¡± Juno pressed. ¡°Yeah, I want to know too,¡± Devon chimed in. ¡°Me too,¡± Joey added, leaning in with interest. ¡°Umm¡­ It¡¯s ¨­kashira¡­¡± Juno struggled to hold in his laughter. ¡°You better not!¡± ¨­kashira warned. Devon turned to Joey, confused. ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°It means big head,¡± Joey replied. Juno couldn¡¯t contain himself anymore and burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. He nearly fell out of his chair. ¡°It¡¯s not funny!¡± ¨­kashira exclaimed. ¡°Wait, why would your parents name you that?¡± Juno asked between laughs. ¡°It¡¯s not funny!¡± ¨­kashira grumbled. ¡°They named me that because when I was born, I had a big head!¡± Juno wiped his eyes, still chuckling. ¡°Well, at least they were accurate. Your head does look big.¡± ¡°What!¡± ¨­kashira exclaimed. ¡°Devon, tell him it¡¯s not as big as he thinks!¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°I mean...¡± Devon hesitated. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®mean¡¯?¡± ¨­kashira shot back. ¡°Joey, help me!¡± Joey shrugged and said, ¡°I mean, it does look a little on the bigger side.¡± ¡°Huh!?¡± ¨­kashira stared at him, stunned. Juno chuckled, unable to hold it in. ¡°Oh, you three are assholes!¡± ¨­kashira grumbled. ¡°Hey, Juno started laughing! I was just being honest!¡± Devon protested. Juno grinned, ¡°Calm down, big head, it¡¯s not that serious.¡± ¨­kashira shot him a glare. ¡°Hey, Joey, do you have a phone?¡± ¡°Yeah, I do,¡± Joey replied, handing it to her. ¨­kashira smirked as she infused her essence into the phone, then hurled it at the wall. It ricocheted off and struck Juno in the face. ¡°OW!¡± Juno yelled. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re getting it now, big head!¡± The two began to bicker, exchanging playful jabs as Devon and Joey laughed at the chaos unfolding. Meanwhile, Cloudy observed the scene from a distance, a smile creeping across his face. ¡°Hm¡­ I¡¯m glad Devon is getting along. Looks like he found a little friend group. I should call Momo about this. She¡¯ll be so happy to hear it.¡± After a while, a male examiner stood at the front of the room, holding a stack of graded papers in his hands. ¡°All the papers have been graded,¡± he announced. ¡°I will now pass them out. If your paper has a ¡®P,¡¯ that means you¡¯ve passed. An ¡®F¡¯ means you¡¯ve failed. If you receive an ¡®F,¡¯ I strongly recommend stepping out of the classroom immediately.¡± The room was thick with tension as the male examiner carefully placed each paper face down on the desks. The process felt agonizingly slow, the size of the classroom only adding to the pressure. Every recruit sat frozen, their nerves stretched taut as they waited for their fates to be revealed. After what felt like an eternity, all the papers were finally handed out. The examiner stood at the front, his voice cutting through the silence. ¡°Now then, on the count of three, I want you all to flip your papers and see your results.¡± ¨­kashira wiped her sweaty palms on her pants, thinking, Come on, come on¡­ Devon clenched his fists tightly, silently whispering, I will pass for you, Momo. Joey sat in his chair, calm and collected, exuding an air of unshakable confidence. Juno, meanwhile, leaned back with a carefree smirk, thinking to himself, Can¡¯t wait to grab another soda after this. ¡°Three... two... one... flip!¡± the examiner announced. All at once, the recruits flipped their papers. The room filled with the sound of rustling paper as they stared at their results. The atmosphere grew heavier as the weight of success or failure settled in. Among the 100 recruits in the classroom, a significant number immediately rose from their seats and left the room in shame, their faces downcast. The sound of their retreating footsteps echoed through the tense silence. Now, only 40 recruits remained in the room. Across the trials as a whole, out of the initial 1,000 candidates, only 759 recruits remained in the running for the Purger Trials. Devon exclaimed, ¡°I passed! I passed!¡± ¨­kashira let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank goodness.¡± Xia pumped his fist in the air. ¡°Yes!¡± Spike smirked. ¡°Heh, I¡¯m very smart.¡± ¡°Yeah, you are, babe,¡± Khmila said with a grin as they rubbed noses affectionately. The examiner addressed the room. ¡°To those who passed, congratulations. You will now move on to the second trial, which will begin in five days.¡± ¡°Five days? What do you mean by that?¡± Xia asked, raising his hand. The examiner explained, ¡°Each trial takes time to complete. We give recruits breaks to train and prepare themselves for the next challenge. We don¡¯t run them all in one day. During this break, you¡¯ll be staying in assigned rooms, but you¡¯re allowed to share rooms with other recruits if you wish.¡± Devon¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Really? Oh, that means we can all hang out!¡± ¡°Yeah, I like that idea,¡± Juno added, nodding with enthusiasm. ¡°All right, then. With no further questions, everyone is dismissed. But before you leave, grab a card¡ªthose are your room numbers,¡± the examiner announced. The remaining recruits stood up and began filing out of the classroom, each taking a card from a bag by the door. ¡°Come on, guys, let¡¯s go,¡± Devon said, motioning to his friends. Devon¡¯s friends followed him toward the door, chatting excitedly about their results and the next trial. Just as Devon was about to leave, Cloudy stepped in front of him. ¡°Devon,¡± Cloudy said in a calm but firm tone. ¡°Cloudy? You were here the whole time? I didn¡¯t even notice,¡± Devon replied, blinking in surprise. ¡°Yeah, I see you¡¯re getting along with people,¡± Cloudy said. ¡°Yep, I think I made some new friends,¡± Devon replied with a smile. ¡°Well, friends are very important. They help you get through life,¡± Cloudy said, placing a reassuring hand on Devon¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Understood, Cloudy,¡± Devon said with a nod. ¡°Oh, here, Devon. I let this slip my mind.¡± Cloudy handed him a letter. ¡°Who¡¯s this from?¡± Devon asked, curious. ¡°Momo.¡± Devon¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Momo?¡± ¡°Make sure to write her back, and bring it to me when you¡¯re done.¡± naked Cloudy. ¡°Got it,¡± Devon said, tucking the letter carefully into his pocket. ¡°Devon! We got our room cards!¡± Joey called out from the doorway. ¡°Coming, guys! Nice talking to you, Cloudy. See you later!¡± Devon said as he dashed out the door Cloudy stood alone in the now-empty classroom, a faint smile on his face as he recalled a memory. In his mind''s eye, he saw a younger Devon walking alongside Momo. The boy was full of energy, goofing around, jumping, and making all kinds of noise. ¡°Devon, hush!¡± Momo scolded, her patience wearing thin. ¡°No!¡± Devon exclaimed defiantly, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. Without missing a beat, Momo lightly bopped him on the head. ¡°Ow!¡± he yelped, rubbing the sore spot. ¡°Where are we going anyway?¡± he asked, his curiosity piqued. ¡°We¡¯re going to a friend¡¯s house. You¡¯ll be staying there for a while,¡± Momo replied, her tone firm yet kind. ¡°Is it a he or a she?¡± Devon asked, tilting his head. ¡°He,¡± Momo answered simply, her steps steady as Devon continued to chatter beside her. Momo knocked on the wooden door of a modest house nestled deep in the woods. The door creaked open to reveal a man with long white hair cascading past his shoulders, wearing a finely crafted hat. It was Cloudy. ¡°Momo? What are you doing here?¡± Cloudy asked, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity. ¡°I need to leave little Devon here for a while,¡± Momo said, her voice firm but exhausted. ¡°I¡¯m taking a little break for myself. Can you watch over him?¡± Cloudy raised an eyebrow. ¡°Let me see him.¡± Momo stepped aside, gesturing behind her. ¡°He¡¯s right he¡ª¡± She froze mid-sentence, her eyes darting to the empty spot where Devon should have been. ¡°Where is he?¡± Cloudy frowned. ¡°You tell me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t¡ªI don¡¯t know! He was just here!¡± Momo exclaimed, panic creeping into her voice. Suddenly, a muffled thud echoed from inside Cloudy¡¯s house, followed by a series of clatters and a boyish giggle. ¡° That coming from inside my house!¡± Cloudy and Momo ran inside and saw little Devon making a mess and eating all the food and snacks he could find. ¡°You little menace!¡± Cloudy shouted. ¡°Bad Devon! Bad Devon! Bad Devon!¡± order Momo. Cloudy swiftly rushed over and grabbed Devon by the waist, gently but firmly pulling him down from the banister. ¡°Now, why the hell are you making a mess?¡± Cloudy asked, his voice sharp as he set Devon back on his feet. ¡°I was hungry!¡± Devon exclaimed, a mischievous grin still on his face. ¡°I didn¡¯t eat anything before we came here!¡± Cloudy let out a heavy sigh. He turned his gaze to Momo, who stood nearby. ¡°Momo,¡± Cloudy said, his tone more serious now. Momo winced, realizing she had, in fact, dropped the ball on this one. ¡°Well, I wanted my break,¡± she muttered defensively, avoiding Cloudy¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯re lucky this place is stocked with food, or else I¡¯d be sending you both back out to find something to eat,¡± Cloudy remarked. Momo sighed, defeated. ¡°I know, I know. I¡¯m sorry, Cloudy. I just thought... he needs time to adjust.¡± Devon, now completely distracted by a bowl of fruit he¡¯d grabbed from the counter, muttered, ¡°I¡¯m fine now.¡± He shoved an apple into his mouth with enthusiasm. Cloudy chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°Yeah, I can tell. Okay then I will look after him Momo. go enjoy yourself.¡± ¡°Thank you so much, Cloudy.¡± She then went to Devon and kissed his forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll be back, okay?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He took another bite of the apple. Cloudy sank into the chair, letting out a long exhale. ¡°Okay, Dev¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m bored!¡± Devon interrupted. Cloudy rubbed his temples, already feeling the exhaustion creep in. ¡°Already? You just got here,¡± he thought, a mix of disbelief and resignation. ¡°Well, okay,¡± he finally said aloud. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Devon tilted his head, considering for a moment before his face lit up with excitement. ¡°Mmmmm... Fight me.¡± Cloudy blinked. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Fight me! I want to wrestle!¡± Devon repeated, bouncing on his heels with enthusiasm. ¡°Wrestle?¡± Cloudy asked, ¡°Why wrestle?¡± ¡°Because I saw it on TV! Those guys fighting each other¡ªit¡¯s so cool!¡± Devon exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement. ¡°And because it¡¯s fun! Plus, I¡¯ll totally win!¡± Cloudy responded. ¡°I¡¯m not going to wrestle a kid. Besides, if I wanted to, you¡¯re too small and fragile. I might end up breaking your bones. You don¡¯t want that, do you?¡± Devon puffed out his chest, undeterred. ¡°I don¡¯t care! Wrestle me now!¡± Cloudy sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Really? He¡¯s this stubborn?¡± ¡°Okay, fine,¡± Cloudy said, standing up. ¡°I¡¯ll wrestle you.¡± He moved into a playful sumo stance, lowering himself slightly. ¡°Alright, Cloudy,¡± he thought to himself, ¡°just let the kid win, and he¡¯ll be happy.¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna get ya!¡± Devon shouted, charging forward. Cloudy grabbed Devon and effortlessly picked him up. ¡°Ha! I won. You can¡¯t escape¡ª¡± Before he could finish, Devon balled up his tiny fist and punched Cloudy square in the face. Cloudy yelped in surprise and stumbled back, dropping Devon. ¡°OW! Devon!¡± Cloudy growled, rubbing his cheek. ¡°Why did you punch me?!¡± Devon dusted himself off, a triumphant grin on his face. ¡°That¡¯s what they do on TV! I had to escape from your grasp!¡± Cloudy sighed, rubbing his sore face while muttering under his breath, ¡°Damn, that kid''s punch was furious. Felt like I got hit by a rock going at lightning speed.¡± Cloudy rushed forward and grabbed Devon again, this time tossing him gently against the wall. "There. I won," he declared. But Devon wasn''t one to give up. He jumped up quickly, grabbed the chair Cloudy had been sitting on, and hurled it with surprising force. Cloudy barely dodged it, ducking just in time as the chair clattered against the floor behind him. ¡°What the¡ª? How can he lift that chair with his tiny body?¡± Cloudy muttered, wide-eyed, as he turned to face Devon. Devon charged forward with surprising speed and launched himself into the air, landing a dropkick square on Cloudy¡¯s face. Cloudy stumbled backward, clutching his nose as blood began to trickle down. ¡°Ow! Are you serious, kid?!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°That¡¯s what they do on TV, right?!¡± Devon said, striking a victory pose. Cloudy held up his hands in surrender, still rubbing his sore nose. ¡°Okay, okay, you win. I give up, kid. You¡¯re too much for me.¡± ¡°Yeah! I told you I¡¯d win! I¡¯m the champ!¡± Cloudy sat back, still nursing his bruised nose. "How is this kid so strong at his small age? Was he born like this?" he thought to himself. He leaned forward, rubbing his chin. "Devon," he asked, "how are you so strong? You''re just a kid. Demon Eater 4: Sin and Saint. Devon said, "I don''t know." Cloudy rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe you have some unique genetics or DNA." Devon¡¯s eyes widened with excitement. "Really? Like, unique genetics? You think I¡¯m a mutation?" Cloudy smirked. "You could be one." Devon¡¯s grin stretched ear to ear as he started bouncing around the room. "Oh yeah! I could be Wolverine or Cyclops! He mimicked shooting laser beams from his eyes and made clawing motions with his hands. Cloudy observed Devon¡¯s endless energy with a small sigh of relief. "This kid is very strange, but at least he¡¯s having fun," he thought. "I should think of another activity for us to do before he destroys my house." He cleared his throat. "Devon, would you like to go fishing?" Devon tilted his head curiously. "Fishing? I don¡¯t know how to fish." "That¡¯s okay. I can teach you," Cloudy said with a warm smile. He pointed toward a corner of the room. "Grab those two rods over there, and let¡¯s head outside." Devon picked up the two rods and walked alongside Cloudy. ¡°Where are we fishing at? In a lake or something?¡± he asked. ¡°Nope, we¡¯re heading outside of New Rise City,¡± Cloudy replied. As they walked, the city¡¯s noise grew louder until they reached 83rd Street, where cars sped past in a constant rush. Devon glanced around, watching the busy traffic. ¡°So... where¡¯s the water?¡± Cloudy smirked and pointed at the nearby bus stop. ¡°We¡¯ll take the bus.¡± ¡°The bus?!¡± Devon exclaimed. They stood by the bus stop, Devon fidgeting with the rods in his hands while Cloudy patiently waited. Cars zoomed past, and Devon¡¯s excitement began to grow again. ¡°Are the fish we¡¯re going for really big or small?¡± Devon asked. ¡°There are big and small fish where we¡¯re going,¡± Cloudy replied. ¡°It¡¯s a great fishing spot out by the ocean, with a huge variety of fish.¡± ¡°That sounds fun! I¡¯m gonna catch the biggest fish ever!¡± Devon said excitedly. The bus pulled up with a loud hiss, its doors opening with a mechanical groan. Cloudy and Devon stepped inside and looked around. The bus was already packed with people¡ªelderly passengers sitting quietly, teenagers glued to their phones, and others chatting with their friends. They made their way to the back, where the last few empty seats were. Cloudy sank into his seat with a sigh, resting the fishing rods against his leg, while Devon bounced in place, too excited to sit still. As the bus continued its route, the city streets blurred past the windows. After a while, the bus came to a sudden, jarring stop, nearly throwing everyone forward. Cloudy looked up. a figure standing in the middle of the road, arms raised as if to halt the vehicle. The bus doors hissed open, and the figure calmly stepped inside. He was a man cloaked in a crimson robe that draped to the floor, the back adorned with a strange symbol: Ѫ¤ÎÅõ¤²Î¡°Blood Offering.¡± Cloudy tense immediately. He could feel it¡ªa sinister essence radiating from the man, dark and heavy. But there was something more. Cloudy¡¯s instincts flared. The bus driver, confused and irritated, turned to the man. ¡°Hey! Why were you just standing in the middle of the road? What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± The man slowly lifted his head, his face obscured by the hood of the robe. In a low, chilling voice, he said, ¡°The blood... for our god.¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean¡ª¡± Before the driver could finish, the man reached into his robe, pulled out a handgun, and shot him point-blank in the head. The deafening bang echoed through the bus. Blood splattered against the windshield as the driver slumped forward, lifeless. The bus erupted into chaos. Passengers screamed, some ducking for cover while others froze in place. The sound of terrified cries filled the air. Little Devon grabbed onto Cloudy, his small hands clutching tightly to Cloudy¡¯s sleeve. Though his face remained stoic, his body trembled slightly¡ªhe was scared. Cloudy didn¡¯t need to look down to know it. Cloudy¡¯s eyes locked onto the man in the red robe, his mind racing. This isn¡¯t just some random act... this is planned. ¡°Devon, don¡¯t move a muscle,¡± Cloudy muttered under his breath, his eyes fixed on the man in the red robe. The robed man turned toward Cloudy with a twisted grin. ¡°Ah, another offering. How sweet.¡± Without hesitation, he raised the gun and aimed directly at Cloudy¡¯s head. BANG! The shot rang out. The entire bus screamed in horror, passengers ducking and covering their heads, convinced they had just witnessed another death. But when the chaos settled, Cloudy was still standing, completely unfazed. The bullet had passed through him¡ªno blood, no wound, nothing. Cloudy tilted his head slightly, his expression calm. ¡°I think you missed.¡± The man¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°What?¡± Snarling, he fired again. BANG! BANG! BANG! The sound thundered through the bus, but each bullet passed harmlessly through Cloudy¡¯s body as if he were made of smoke. The man staggered back.¡°How¡­ how is this possible?!¡± Cloudy stepped forward and grabbed the man¡¯s wrist firmly, his grip like iron. ¡°Step out of the bus,¡± he ordered. Devon, still clinging to his seat, couldn¡¯t help but marvel. ¡°Wow, Cloudy is so cool!¡± he whispered in awe. Outside, the man in the red robe was forced to stand at gunpoint. ¡°Why are you attacking the bus?¡± Cloudy demanded. The robed man smirked, unfazed by his predicament. ¡°For our god. And you¡­ you would make a perfect offering.¡± Cloudy¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°A god? What god do you speak of?¡± The man chuckled darkly, his laughter low and menacing. ¡°The god of everything¡ªthe world, the dawn before time. The one who is above all humans and demons alike. A god of supreme ruling.¡± Cloudy frowned and thought, " This guy is crazy. Maybe I should turn him in an¡ª ¡° Suddenly, Cloudy leapt to the side, narrowly dodging a sharp, crackling streak of energy that pierced the air where he had just stood. ¡°What the¡ª?!¡± Cloudy spun to face the new threat. From the shadows, another man emerged. He was taller, his presence even more imposing than the first. His red robe bore the same symbol. ¡°Wait¡­ how many of them are there?¡± Cloudy muttered. The robed man on the ground sneered, his expression smug. ¡°Two,¡± he said. Cloudy raised his gun and began firing at the tall man. The bullets, however, ricocheted harmlessly off the man¡¯s body, clinking to the ground. The tall man smirked, his confidence unshaken, and charged forward. In an instant, he was upon Cloudy, throwing a flurry of rapid punches. Each strike was powerful enough to shatter bones, but every blow passed straight through Cloudy¡¯s body as though he wasn¡¯t there. The onlookers on the bus gasped in confusion and awe. Devon¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What¡¯s happening?!¡± Cloudy¡¯s form shimmered faintly, wisps of vapor trailing from where the punches landed. His essence ability was in full effect. By shifting all his essence within his body, he turned himself into an intangible form, almost like smoke or clouds.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The downside, however, was glaring¡ªwhile in this state, Cloudy couldn¡¯t retaliate. Cloudy analyzed the situation. ¡°This guy is relentless. My bullets didn¡¯t even scratch him. He¡¯s probably using his essence as a shield around his body. ¡° The tall man suddenly attempted a sweeping kick aimed at Cloudy¡¯s legs. Cloudy nimbly dodged, stepping back just in time. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see what I¡¯m dealing with,¡± Cloudy muttered. He focused, channeling his essence into his eyes. His vision shifted, revealing the tall man¡¯s essence flowing heavily into his fists, amplifying their power. However, Cloudy noticed something important: the essence protecting the man¡¯s body was significantly weaker. So he¡¯s sacrificing defense for offense, Cloudy thought. All I need is one good opportunity. The tall man lunged forward again, throwing a powerful punch. This time, Cloudy sidestepped, grabbing the man¡¯s arm mid-strike. Before the tall man could react, Cloudy swung his gun upward, slamming it into his forehead with a sharp, resounding crack. The force of the blow sent the tall man sprawling to the ground, momentarily dazed. Devon, still watching from the bus, jumped up and cheered. ¡°Whoa! You got him, Cloudy! That was awesome!¡± Cloudy looked at Devon and gave a thumbs up. ¡°Heh, you knocked him to the ground,¡± said the man, still pinned in place as Cloudy held him at gunpoint. He turned his attention back to the man he had at gunpoint. ¡°Alright, talk. Who sent you two here, and what are your names?¡± The man smirked defiantly. ¡°Why would I tell you that?¡± Without hesitation, Cloudy shifted his aim, pressing the gun firmly against the tall man¡¯s forehead. ¡°Because if you don¡¯t, your buddy here gets a head full of lead. Now, start talking.¡± ¡°Okay, okay!¡± The man raised his hands in mock surrender. ¡°No need to be so mean. My name¡¯s Sin, and his name¡¯s Saint.¡± Cloudy arched a brow. ¡°Sin and Saint? Seriously?¡± Sin nodded with a sly grin. ¡°Yep. And we¡¯re here because our leader sent us.¡± Cloudy narrowed his eyes. ¡°Leader? Who¡¯s your leader?¡± Sin chuckled softly. ¡°Our leader is someone far greater than you could imagine. We are his faithful followers, bound to his will. Everything we do is to fulfill his prophecy.¡± Cloudy tightening his grip on the gun. ¡°Prophecy, huh? What kind of prophecy are we talking about?¡± ¡°The one to bring great despair to the world,¡± Sin said with a twisted grin. ¡°A force, a calamity that no man or demon could ever imagine in their wildest nightmares.¡± Cloudy¡¯s expression hardened as he thought to himself, These two are completely insane. I should just take them out before they cause more trouble. But before Cloudy could act, the tall man, Saint, suddenly grabbed his leg and hurled him to the side with immense strength. Cloudy hit the ground with a grunt, rolling to his feet quickly. Saint turned his head slightly, addressing his brother. ¡°Sin, are you just going to stand there and watch while your little brother does all the work?¡± Sin smirked and cracked his neck. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Saint. Big brother¡¯s got this.¡± With a dramatic motion, Sin extended his hand, and dark energy began swirling around it. Moments later, a sinister blade materialized, its edges glowing faintly with a crimson hue. Cloudy steadied himself, glancing at Sin as he approached, blade in hand. "What is that thing?" he muttered, watching the weapon hum with dark energy. Sin smirked and slashed the air, sending a crimson wave of destructive energy barreling forward. Cloudy reacted quickly, shifting into his essence form. The deadly slash passed harmlessly through him but continued on, slicing clean through two buildings in its path. Cloudy turned, his eyes widening in disbelief at the devastation. "What the hell was that?" Inside the bus, chaos erupted. One of the passengers, terrified beyond reason, bolted for the door. A teenager sitting nearby grabbed his sleeve. ¡°Don¡¯t! You¡¯ll die if you go out there!¡± ¡°Let go! If we stay here, we¡¯re as good as dead anyway!¡± the man shouted, breaking free and running outside. Sin, noticing the man¡¯s escape, swung his blade again. A second red slash shot out, heading directly for the fleeing passenger. Cloudy dashed after him, shoving the man to the ground just in time to dodge the attack. The slash soared overhead, carving a deep trench in the asphalt. The man scrambled to his feet, panicking. ¡°What are you doing? Let me go!¡± Cloudy grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. ¡° Stop, why did you leave the bus?¡± Sin and Saint stood side by side, both grinning wickedly as they prepared for their next move. Sin rested his blade casually on his shoulder. ¡°Hey, before we turn you into an offering, why don¡¯t you tell us your name?¡± Cloudy narrowed his eyes, gripping his gun tightly. ¡°It¡¯s Cloudy.¡± ¡°Ah, Cloudy,¡± Sin repeated with a sinister chuckle. ¡°Well then, Cloudy... let¡¯s see how long you can survive against me and my little brother.¡± Cloudy gritted his teeth while Sin and Saint closed in. With only two bullets left in his gun, he knew he couldn¡¯t rely on firepower alone. He had to fight smarter. Sin¡¯s blade came at him again, slicing through the air with incredible speed, while Saint moved in with heavy punches, aiming for Cloudy¡¯s chest. Cloudy dodged the blade by a hair''s breadth but couldn¡¯t avoid Saint¡¯s kick, which sent him crashing into the ground. His body felt the sting of the blow, but he pushed through the pain, getting back to his feet. barely able to keep up with their synchronized assault. Every time he grabbed Sin¡¯s arm to block the blade, Saint would strike, his kicks powerful enough to knock Cloudy off balance. As he struggled to hold his ground, Devon watched from the bus, his face filled with concern. ¡°Cloudy¡¯s in trouble!¡± he cried. Without thinking, he darted for the door. ¡°Wait, child!¡± an elderly passenger called out, but Devon was already out of earshot. Cloudy¡¯s thoughts raced as he dodged another slash. His stamina was wearing thin, and he couldn¡¯t keep this up for much longer. "I can''t lose to these guys..." he muttered, his body aching from the constant barrage of attacks. ¡°If I lose, they¡¯ll kill everyone on that bus... including Devon. If I let these two win and let Devon die, I can¡¯t imagine how Momo would feel.¡± he muttered. "Hey!!" someone shouted. Cloudy turned to see Devon. "Who¡¯s that?" Saint asked. "Leave Cloudy alone!" Devon shouted as he charged at the brothers. "No! Devon!" Cloudy cried out. The young Devon mustered all his strength and struck Saint''s knee, but it had no effect. ¡°Oh, he¡¯s trying to be a little hero,¡± Sin smirked. Saint grabbed Devon effortlessly with one hand. "Let me go!" Devon yelled. "Okay," Saint said with a cruel smirk. He slammed Devon to the ground, then kicked him hard, sending him flying into a nearby lamppost. "You bastard!" Cloudy shouted, rushing to Devon to check if he was okay. Cloudy knelt beside Devon, panic rising as he realized the boy wasn¡¯t waking up. Sin stepped closer, a mocking grin on his face. "Is he alright? I hope my brother didn¡¯t hurt him too badly." Without a second thought, Cloudy swung hard, his fist connecting squarely with Sin¡¯s face. "Oh... didn¡¯t see that coming," Sin muttered, staggering slightly. Cloudy unleashed a flurry of punches, each one landing with precision. Saint rushed to his brother''s aid, throwing a powerful punch, but Cloudy caught it mid-swing. Sin quickly followed, swinging his blade to stab Cloudy, but the blade passed straight through him. Cloudy¡¯s essence ability, Smoke and Clouds, had activated, making him intangible. Using the moment to his advantage, Cloudy delivered a sharp kick, sending Saint stumbling backward. "Ah, I see," Sin muttered, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. "He blocked my brother''s punch without activating his essence. But just in time to dodge my blade, he turned it on. Clever." Sin swung his blade again, sending two crimson waves slicing through the air. They passed harmlessly through Cloudy, his essence rendering them ineffective. Growing impatient, Saint glanced toward the bus. ¡°Brother, should we just kill everyone on that bus?¡± ¡°Sure, but you do it,¡± Sin replied, his eyes fixed on Cloudy. ¡°I¡¯m busy trying to kill him.¡± Saint smirked and started walking toward the bus. Cloudy¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°No!¡± he shouted, rushing toward Saint to stop him. But before he could reach him, Sin intercepted with a powerful punch, sending Cloudy flying. Sin walked over to Cloudy and crouched down, a mocking grin on his face. "Hey, if it makes you feel any better, I can kill you and let the kid live. He seems to know you, right?" Cloudy¡¯s hand shot up, gripping Sin''s neck as he tried to choke him out, his determination unwavering. Sin grimaced and thrust his blade into Cloudy¡¯s chest. Blood trickled down, but Cloudy, gritting his teeth, refused to let go. "My... vision," Cloudy gasped, his strength faltering. "Bye," Sin sneered, raising his blade for the final blow. Suddenly, a mailbox smashed into Sin, knocking him away. ¡°What the¡ª?¡± Sin growled, stumbling as he looked for the source of the attack. It was Devon, standing shakily but with fierce determination. "Leave him alone!" he shouted. "Devon?" Cloudy muttered in disbelief. "Oh, the kid¡¯s still standing," Sin said with a smirk, walking toward him. Before Sin could get any closer, Devon grabbed the lamppost and ripped it out of the ground with surprising strength. With a fierce yell, he swung it like a bat, sending Sin flying into the distance. "What?!" Sin sputtered, staggering to his feet far away. "How is that boy so strong?" Saint glanced at Sin. ¡°Need help, brother?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got it,¡± Sin replied, brushing off the dust. But then, a powerful aura filled the air, sending a shiver down both brothers¡¯ spines. ¡°This... this power...¡± Sin muttered, his confident smirk fading. ¡°Saint, we need to go. Now!¡± ¡°But what about the offerings?¡± Saint asked hesitantly. ¡°It¡¯s fine! Just move!¡± Sin barked. Without another word, the two brothers turned and bolted, vanishing into the distance. Cloudy, still catching his breath, looked up in confusion. ¡°Where are they going?¡± ¡°Yeah, run away, cowards!¡± Devon shouted. Cloudy felt the powerful aura as well, his mind racing to understand what it was. Suddenly, someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to see¡­ "Howdy, Cloudy." "Gabriel?" Cloudy blinked in surprise. "Yep, it¡¯s me," Gabriel said casually. "Say, have you seen two guys wearing red robes around here?" Cloudy pointed down the street. "They went that way¡ªwait, how did you even¡ª" "Find my way here? Oh, you know me," Gabriel interrupted with a grin. "Anyway, I¡¯ve got a mission to take out two guys: one tall, the other with a scar across his face. They''ve been killing people all over this district. Been tracking them for¡­ let¡¯s see... one, two, three... five days now." Chapter 5: Lets Have a Race. ¡°What? They¡¯ve been killing people... why?¡± Cloudy asked. ¡°Don¡¯t know,¡± Gabriel replied with a shrug. Cloudy frowned, thinking back. ¡°Hmm... they told me they were doing it for a god.¡± ¡°A god?¡± said Gabriel. ¡°What god?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Cloudy admitted. ¡°But they killed the bus driver. Thankfully, no one else was hurt.¡± ¡° Good, I see you fought against them quite well.¡± ¡°I tried my best.¡± Cloudy looked at Devon ¡° But I got great help.¡± ¡°Who..the kid?¡± Gabriel asked, his gaze shifting to Devon. Without waiting for an answer, he activated his essence, letting it flow into his eyes. As he examined Devon he saw a little white aura in his heart.¡°Nice. The kid¡¯s essence is starting to form and flow through him. How old is he?¡± Cloudy shrugged. ¡°No idea. But if I had to guess, I¡¯d say around seven or eight.¡± ¡°So, is he like your son or something?¡± Gabriel asked, tilting his head. ¡°No,¡± Cloudy replied. ¡°He¡¯s my friend¡¯s kid. I¡¯m just looking after him.¡± Gabriel studied Devon for a moment ¡°I can see some great potential in him.¡± ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m going to catch those crazies and make sure the passengers are safe,¡± Gabriel said confidently. ¡°Gabri¡ª¡± Cloudy started, but when he turned, Gabriel was already gone. ¡°He¡¯s gone now¡­¡± ¡°Cloudy, did you see that?!¡± Devon exclaimed. ¡°Yeah, you were very brave, Devon,¡± Cloudy said with a small smile. ¡°Do you have any bruises or wounds?¡± ¡°No, I feel pretty good!¡± Devon replied, beaming. ¡°Oh, thank goodness,¡± Cloudy said, letting out a sigh of relief. Still, a strange thought lingered in his mind: Who were those two men? Meanwhile, in a secret, rundown warehouse, Sin and Saint paced inside, their expressions grim as they reflected on what had happened. ¡°Why did we have to retreat, brother?¡± Saint asked, his voice tinged with frustration. ¡°We could¡¯ve turned everyone there into offerings!¡± ¡°I felt a powerful essence user heading straight for us,¡± Sin replied sharply. ¡°It was better that we ran.¡± Saint scoffed. ¡°If you say so... but the leader is going to be pissed.¡± ¡°No need to dwell on that,¡± Sin said with a sly grin, pointing toward a stack of cargo boxes. ¡°Check those out.¡± Saint walked over, wrinkling his nose as a foul stench of rotting flesh grew stronger. He opened one of the boxes, revealing five decaying corpses inside. ¡°There are more in those cargo boxes,¡± Sin said, motioning toward the stack. ¡°We¡¯ll load them into a van and take them to the nearest cargo ship. Once they¡¯re on board, we¡¯ll head back to Crimson City. The leader will be proud.¡± ¡°Nice,¡± Saint said, then paused, a thought crossing his mind. ¡°But... Can the leader even summon a god?¡± Sin chuckled. ¡°I mean, we wouldn¡¯t be doing all this if he couldn¡¯t. You know why we joined his cult.¡± ¡°For wealth and power,¡± Saint replied confidently. ¡°Exactly. With enough power, we can do anything we want. And once we¡¯ve achieved our goals, we¡¯ll kill the leader, take over his cult, and become feared by many.¡± Saint¡¯s grin widened. ¡°I like that goal.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Sin said, nodding. ¡°Now let¡¯s get those boxes in the van and get out of this city.¡± Sin and Saint were part of a cult. But what kind of cult, you might ask? A sinister organization with a single, terrifying goal: to summon a demon god. This being, whispered about in ancient folklore, was so feared that its arrival was said to herald the end of the world. Its name was... Meanwhile, back at the bus, a group of Purgers arrived, investigating the aftermath of the chaotic event. They carefully wrapped the body of the deceased bus driver and loaded him into a van. ¡°Poor man,¡± one of the Purgers muttered, shaking his head as the bus driver¡¯s body was loaded into the van. A Purger approached Cloudy, clipboard in hand, and asked, ¡°So, who attacked the bus, Cloudy?¡± Cloudy took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding. ¡°One of them was tall with long white hair. The other was average height, also with white hair. They both wore red robes.¡± ¡°Red robes...¡± the Purger mused, then snapped his fingers as a thought struck him. ¡°Ah, wait. Did they mention something about a god?¡± ¡°Yeah, they did,¡± Cloudy confirmed. The Purger¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Oh, it must be that cult.¡± Cloudy raised an eyebrow. ¡°What do you know about them?¡± ¡°Plenty,¡± the Purger replied grimly. ¡°They¡¯ve been committing murders all over the city.¡± Cloudy¡¯s thoughts raced. So, there¡¯s more than just those two¡­ ¡°How many of them are there?¡± he asked. ¡°We¡¯ve captured about 20 so far,¡± the Purger said. ¡°They¡¯re all charged with homicide and will be sent to prison.¡± ¡°How do you know it¡¯s a cult?¡± Cloudy asked. The Purger nodded knowingly. ¡°We got the information straight from one of them. They confessed that the murders were part of some ritual¡ªoffering lives to a god. That¡¯s why we¡¯re certain it¡¯s a cult.¡± ¡°That makes sense,¡± Cloudy Replied. ¡°This cult needs to be stopped. If it grows, the murder rate could skyrocket¡ªpossibly rivaling the demon rate.¡± Around the world, demons plagued humanity across the four major zones. Yearly deaths caused by demon attacks were estimated at 300,000, a staggering number that had been slowly increasing over the years. Despite efforts to contain them. Cloudy¡¯s thoughts lingered on the weight of the situation. ¡°We already have enough trouble dealing with demons. If humans start contributing to the chaos on this scale¡­¡± The Purger crossed his arms ¡°That is why we must stop this cult from growing.¡± Devon walked up to Cloudy, tugging gently on his sleeve. ¡°What is it?¡± Cloudy asked, glancing down at the boy. ¡°I thought we were going fishing,¡± Devon said, holding up a small fishing rod with a hopeful smile. Cloudy blinked, momentarily taken aback by Devon¡¯s calm demeanor. ¡°Oh... right. Sorry, Devon,¡± he said, scratching the back of his head. ¡°You seem... pretty unaffected by everything that happened today.¡± ¡°Yeah, I try to forget traumatic experiences,¡± Devon said casually, his eyes focused on the fishing rod in his hands. Cloudy gave a small, thoughtful nod. ¡°That¡¯s... a good thing to do, I suppose,¡± he said, then offered a faint smile. ¡°By the way, thanks for helping out with those crazies back there. You were pretty brave.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome! Now, come on, let¡¯s go fishing!¡± Devon said eagerly, already heading off. Cloudy chuckled and followed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m coming.¡± By the time they reached the ocean, the sun was setting, casting hues of orange and pink across the water. Despite the late hour, they managed to launch their small boat into the calm waves. Cloudy adjusted his grip on the oars, the boat gently rocking as they ventured further out. ¡°This thing cost me a thousand bucks,¡± he muttered, half to himself. Devon leaned over the edge, peering into the water. ¡°Worth it! Look at how peaceful it is out here.¡±Stolen story; please report. The two settled in, the distant sound of the waves lapping against the boat. ¡°Okay, Devon, ready to catch a fish?¡± Cloudy asked, handing over a fishing rod. ¡°Yep!¡± Devon said enthusiastically, then hesitated. ¡°But, uh¡­ I don¡¯t know how to fish.¡± Cloudy laughed softly. ¡°It¡¯s easy. Just follow my steps.¡± He adjusted Devon¡¯s grip on the rod, showing him how to hold it steady. ¡°First, you cast the line like this,¡± Cloudy explained, demonstrating a smooth motion as his line soared into the water. ¡°Now, you try.¡± Devon copied the movement, though his first attempt sent the hook plopping a few feet away. ¡°Oops!¡± ¡°Not bad for a beginner!¡± Cloudy grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s try again. Flick your wrist a little more this time.¡± Devon gave it another shot, this time sending the line further into the ocean. ¡°I did it!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°See? Told you it was easy.¡± Cloudy settled back, keeping an eye on his own line. ¡°Now we wait and see if the fish are biting.¡± The two sat in comfortable silence. Five minutes passed, and Devon let out a loud groan, clearly bored. ¡°I haven¡¯t caught a fish yet,¡± he complained, staring at his unmoving line. ¡°Just wait a little longer,¡± Cloudy replied with a chuckle. ¡°But I want one now!¡± Devon said, pouting. ¡°Patience is the main key to fishing,¡± Cloudy explained. ¡°You can¡¯t rush things. The fish come when they¡¯re ready.¡± Just then, Cloudy¡¯s rod started to shake violently. His eyes lit up. ¡°Oh, I think I got one!¡± ¡°Really? Let me see!¡± Devon said, scrambling closer. ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ve got to reel it in first.¡± Cloudy gripped the rod tightly, carefully pulling it back and reeling in the line. The rod bent sharply, the fish on the other end putting up a good fight. ¡°Whoa, it¡¯s a big one!¡± Devon exclaimed. Cloudy grinned. ¡°Feels like it. This one¡¯s strong. Grab the net!¡± Devon grabbed the small net from the side of the boat, leaning over eagerly as the fish got closer. ¡°I see it!¡± he shouted. ¡°Careful, don¡¯t fall in!¡± Cloudy said. They finally reeled in a fish, a stunning Queen angelfish. Its scientific name: Holacanthus ciliaris, belonging to the class Actinopterygii. The fish measured an impressive 18 inches in length. ¡°Look at this, Devon,¡± Cloudy said, holding up the angelfish for him to see. ¡°Whoa! You actually caught one!¡± Devon exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement. ¡°So, what do we do with it now?¡± Without hesitation, Cloudy gently released the fish back into the water. ¡°Wait, what? Why¡¯d you throw it back?¡± Devon asked, confused. Cloudy chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s called catch and release. We don¡¯t need to keep every fish we catch, especially beautiful ones like this. Let it live another day.¡± ¡°But it was so big!¡± Devon protested, throwing his hands up. ¡°What if we don¡¯t catch another one?¡± Cloudy smiled and patted Devon on the head. ¡° Fishing is not just catching fish and keeping them. It''s about the experience, the patience, and respecting the ocean. Besides, That Queen angelfish is a special kind of fish.¡± Devon grinned and said, ¡°I guess that¡¯s cool, but I still need to catch one fish.¡± Cloudy chuckled. ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s keep fishing. Hey, how about we make it interesting with a little competition?¡± ¡°A competition?¡± Devon said, intrigued. ¡°Yeah, it works like this: whoever catches five fish first wins.¡± Devon¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s easy! Let¡¯s do it!¡± Cloudy smirked as he adjusted his grip on the fishing rod. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got, kid.¡± We kept on fishing, casting our lines into the calm waters under the setting sun. After a while, I ended up winning the competition. Devon looked a little downcast, his shoulders slumping as he sighed. He hadn¡¯t caught a single fish yet. But then, something unexpected happened. His fishing rod started to shake violently. ¡°Wh-what¡¯s happening?¡± Devon stammered, his eyes wide with surprise. ¡°You got a fish, kid!¡± Cloudy said, grinning. ¡°Reel it in, quick!¡± He reeled in the fish, and it turned out to be a small one, barely larger than his hand. ¡°Sorry, kid,¡± Cloudy said with a chuckle. ¡°You didn¡¯t get a big one.¡± But Devon didn¡¯t seem to care. He jumped up with excitement, his face lighting up like the sun. ¡°I did it! I did it!¡± he shouted, holding the tiny fish up triumphantly. ¡°But you didn¡¯t catch a big fish,¡± Cloudy said. ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Devon replied, beaming with pride as he held up the small fish. ¡°Because this little guy is my trophy!¡± ¡°Devon... You''re a good-spirit kid,¡± Cloudy thought to himself, a soft smile crossing his face as the memory of that moment began to fade. In the present, Devon was sipping on a soda while sitting with his new friends. ¡°So, what should we do until the next trial?¡± Aokami asked, leaning back casually. ¡°Maybe we could go for a run to build up our endurance,¡± Joey suggested enthusiastically. ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood to run,¡± Aokami muttered, crossing his arms. ¡°You¡¯re just lazy,¡± Juno said with a smirk. ¡°I am not!¡± Aokami shot back, Devon chimed in, ¡°I agree we should work on our endurance. However, is there a good place nearby to train?¡± Joey nodded, ¡°Oh, there¡¯s a baseball track not too far. It¡¯s perfect for training.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s head there,¡± Devon said. The group made their way outside, where they came across the track Joey had mentioned. ¡°So, how are we doing this?¡± Aokami asked. Joey stretched his arms. ¡°We could race, see who can do the most laps, or just time ourselves running the entire thing.¡± Juno said, ¡°I¡¯d rather race a little. Let¡¯s see who can get to three laps first.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll race you,¡± Joey replied with a grin. The two stepped onto the track, stretching their legs and preparing for the challenge. ¡°Aokami, you call it!¡± Juno said, ¡°Alright,¡± Aokami said. ¡°3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­ Go!¡± Joey and Juno took off, their feet pounding against the track as they sprinted forward. Joey tried to gain an early lead, but Juno stayed close. Juno picked up the pace, surging ahead of Joey with a smirk of confidence. Joey, noticing the gap widening, narrowed his eyes and activated his essence. His vision sharpened as he saw Juno channeling his essence into his legs, the energy pulsing like a rhythmic wave to boost his speed. ¡°So, that¡¯s your trick,¡± Joey muttered under his breath. Without hesitation, Joey channeled his own essence, focusing it into his legs. The surge of power made his strides longer and faster, his footsteps pounding against the track. They both reached the two-thirds mark of the track, their footsteps echoing in perfect rhythm. The air was charged with excitement as Devon and Aokami cheered from the sidelines. ¡°Yeah, Joey, you¡¯ve got this! Leave him in the dust!¡± Devon shouted, pumping his fist. ¡°Don¡¯t let him win, Juno! Show him who¡¯s boss!¡± Aokami yelled back. Joey gritted his teeth, his competitive spirit ignited by Devon¡¯s encouragement. ¡°I¡¯m not losing this race!¡± he thought, pushing his essence harder to maintain his pace. Joey clutched his chest, his breaths shallow as he tried to steady himself. A wave of confusion and panic washed over him. ¡°What¡­is happening? My heart¡­it feels tight,¡± he thought, struggling to regain control. His mind raced, piecing together the sudden sensation. ¡°Did¡­did Juno do this?¡± Meanwhile, Juno was already halfway through his second lap, his essence propelling him forward like a rocket. He didn¡¯t look back, laser-focused on the finish line. ¡°Come on, Joey! What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t let him win!¡± Devon shouted. Joey smirked as he steadied his aim. ¡°Playing dirty.¡± With a flick of his fingers, he mimicked a finger-gun gesture, his essence charging into a concentrated green beam. The shot zigzagged unpredictably through the air, striking Juno on the shoulder. ¡°Ah!¡± Juno stumbled, his balance faltering as he clutched his shoulder. ¡°Ow, what was that?¡± He turned his head slightly. Joey came charging ahead, narrowly crossing the line to complete his second lap before Juno. Juno followed close behind, a scowl on his face but clearly impressed by Joey¡¯s sudden surge. ¡°Whoa, Joey, what was that?!¡± Devon exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement. ¡°It came out of your finger!¡± Aokami added, pointing at Joey¡¯s hand in disbelief. Joey slowed his pace and caught his breath. ¡°That''s my essence ability. I call it the Laser Pointer.¡± ¡°Laser Pointer?¡± Devon tilted his head. ¡°What does it do, exactly?¡± Joey flexed his fingers and demonstrated the gesture again, though without firing. ¡°I can generate and control concentrated essence to make energy beams. Pretty cool.¡± ¡°So cool!¡± Devon and Aokami said in unison. Juno rolled his eyes but couldn¡¯t suppress a small smirk. ¡°Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let¡¯s finish this last lap already.¡± ¡°Sure thing,¡± Joey replied with a grin, crouching down into position. Aokami shouted, ¡°Okay, last lap... 3, 2, 1, go!¡± Juno and Joey sprang forward, their feet pounding the track in perfect rhythm. Juno surged ahead, his essence coursing through his legs, propelling him with incredible speed. Joey, refusing to back down, did the same, channeling his essence to match Juno''s pace. They reached the halfway mark of the track, neck and neck, preparing for the final push. Joey edged ahead slightly. ¡°Almost there,¡± he muttered through gritted teeth. But then, it happened again¡ªJuno activated his essence ability. Joey felt his lungs tighten painfully, as though they were being squeezed by an invisible force. He staggered for a moment, his breath caught. ¡°Not again... No, I¡¯m too close,¡± Joey thought, determination flashing in his eyes. Push forward. With sheer willpower, Joey redirected some of his essence into his lungs, forcing them to function. His legs burned, but he kept going, his eyes locked on the finish line. Juno was just inches ahead, the end within his grasp. But Joey wasn¡¯t giving up. He pushed harder, his strides lengthening as he caught up to Juno. The two of them crossed the finish line simultaneously, their feet hitting the ground in perfect unison. They both stopped, panting heavily, and looked at each other. ¡°It¡¯s... a tie,¡± Aokami said. Devon clapped enthusiastically. ¡°That was awesome! You guys were incredible out there!¡± Juno and Joey exchanged a look. ¡°That¡­ was a good race, Juno,¡± Joey said, still catching his breath. Juno smirked, wiping the sweat off his forehead. ¡°Yeah, thanks. I used my essence ability to win. Sorry if I caused you any pain.¡± Joey waved it off with a grin. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Made me push harder.¡± ¡°Oh, sweet! You guys were so cool out there!¡± Devon exclaimed, his excitement bubbling over. ¡°So, who¡¯s going next?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll race you, Devon,¡± Aokami said. ¡°Me? Really? Alright, you¡¯re on!¡± said Devon. Aokami and Devon headed to their starting positions. Juno nudged Joey with a grin. ¡°Hey, Joey, want to bet?¡± ¡°How much?¡± ¡°Ten bucks. Who do you pick to win?¡± Juno asked. Joey smirked and leaned back. ¡°I¡¯ll wager on Aokami. She¡¯s small¡ªprobably around five feet¡ªand I¡¯d bet she¡¯s super agile.¡± ¡°Alright, then,¡± Juno said with a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ll take Devon.¡± Chapter 6: The Man With Five Eyes. Juno stood off to the side, ready to officiate. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll count to three. When I say ¡®go,¡¯ you run. Got it? Three¡­ two¡­ one¡­ go!¡± Aokami and Devon took off, their feet pounding against the track. Aokami thought to herself, Okay, I¡¯ll put my essence into my legs to make me move faster. But what happens if Devon does the same? I saw Joey and Juno use essence earlier¡­ Does Devon even know how to? Despite her enhanced speed, she noticed Devon keeping up with her, his pace surprisingly steady. ¡°You¡¯re going to lose this one, Devon,¡± she called over her shoulder, smirking. Devon grinned back. ¡°How? I¡¯m already on my final lap!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Aokami screeched to a halt, her jaw dropping. She turned to the others watching on the sidelines. ¡°Did Devon pass me two times already?¡± Joey nodded, struggling to keep a straight face. ¡°Yeah, he did, actually.¡± ¡°H-How?¡± Aokami stammered, her face filled with disbelief. ¡°We just started not too long ago!¡± Juno leaned against the fence, chuckling. ¡°Well, you see, when you two started, Devon was ahead of you right away. He finished his first lap before you even realized it.¡± ¡°And then he just powered through his second lap,¡± Joey added with a smirk. Aokami said ¡°Am I really that slow?¡± Juno chuckled and said. ¡°Nah, I don¡¯t think so. He probably used his essence to move faster.¡± Devon blinked, confused. ¡°Essence? What¡¯s that?¡± The other three turned to Devon, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. ¡°You don¡¯t know about essence?¡± Juno asked. Devon shrugged. ¡°No. What is it?¡± Joey looked at him incredulously. ¡°You mean to tell me you were moving like a cheetah around the track and didn¡¯t use any essence to do that?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Devon replied. Joey crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Alright then, Devon. Run around the track until I say stop.¡± Devon hesitated, glancing at the group. ¡°Uh¡­ okay,¡± he said, feeling a little unsure but willing to comply. Devon started running around the track again, his movements fluid and seemingly effortless. The group watched in awe, their heads turning to follow his rapid progress. Joey narrowed his eyes, focusing as he activated his essence to enhance his vision. ¡°What do you see, Joey?¡± Aokami asked, noticing his intense expression. Joey¡¯s eyes glowed faintly as he observed Devon more closely. His jaw dropped. ¡°He has essence¡­ and not just a little. He¡¯s got a huge amount¡ªbut it¡¯s all concentrated in his heart.¡± ¡°In his heart?¡± Juno echoed. Joey nodded, still tracking Devon¡¯s movements. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s like his heart is supercharged, pumping energy through his body without him even knowing it. That¡¯s why he¡¯s this fast.¡± As they watched, Devon completed another lap¡ªthen another. His legs moved like a blur, his breathing steady, and his pace relentless. Joey quickly calculated the track¡¯s size: 17 inches per lap. ¡°He¡¯s already done nine laps,¡± Joey muttered, his tone a mix of amazement and disbelief. ¡°Nine laps?!¡± Aokami exclaimed. ¡°And it hasn¡¯t even been that long!¡± ¡°One minute,¡± Joey said, almost in a whisper. ¡°He¡¯s done nine laps in just one minute.¡± ¡°Is he even human?¡± Juno muttered under his breath. Joey shook his head with a smile. ¡°Devon, you can stop now.¡± Devon, breathing evenly, glanced over without breaking a sweat. ¡°Oh, okay. That was a workout.¡± Juno, grinning, raised an eyebrow. ¡°Hey, can you do 400 push-ups?¡± ¡°400? Okay then,¡± Devon replied. Aokami said ¡°What are you doing, Juno?¡± ¡°Just testing him to see if he can actually do it,¡± Juno said, pulling out his phone. ¡°And I''m going to be timing him.¡± Juno tapped a few buttons on his phone. ¡°You have 5 minutes, Devon. Start.¡± Devon dropped to the ground without hesitation, getting into a push-up position. "Five minutes, huh? Alright, let¡¯s do this!" he said with a confident grin. Juno started the timer on his phone. "Ready, set... go!" Devon began cranking out push-ups with remarkable speed and precision. His form was perfect, each movement fluid and controlled. ¡°Is he seriously doing this?¡± Aokami muttered. Joey crossed his arms, studying Devon carefully. ¡°His endurance and strength are insane. He¡¯s barely breaking a sweat.¡± As Devon powered through the push-ups, Juno kept an eye on the timer. ¡°He¡¯s already at 100, and it¡¯s been ... what... a minute?¡± ¡°Unreal,¡± Aokami whispered. By the halfway mark, Devon had hit 250 push-ups, still maintaining his steady rhythm. ¡°You¡¯ve got less than three minutes left!¡± Juno called out, a mix of excitement and skepticism in his voice. ¡°No problem!¡± Devon replied, not even sounding winded. With 1:45 minutes left on the timer, Devon finished his 400th push-up. He stood up, not even breaking a sweat, looking completely unfazed. Juno stared, wide-eyed. ¡°So, Devon, how is your body like that?¡± Devon shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°I guess I¡¯ve got some weird genetics from my parents, but honestly, I don¡¯t know. I was a pretty tough kid back then.¡± Juno stared at Devon in awe, his eyes widening. "400 push-ups in under two minutes... and you''re not even out of breath? That''s insane." Aokami asked, looking at Devon curiously. "You said weird genetics? You don''t know where that comes from?" Devon shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. "Honestly, I have no idea. My parents were pretty tough, so I guess it runs in the family. But as for anything else... no clue." Joey leaned in with a grin. "You¡¯re just naturally gifted, huh? Not a bad thing to have on your side." Aokami looked at Devon, curious. ¡°Who are your parents?¡± Devon said ¡°Don¡¯t know, but don¡¯t care.¡± Aokami replied ¡°Why don¡¯t you care? Parents are great people.¡± Devon¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°I just don¡¯t care to know. The past doesn¡¯t matter to me.¡± Aokami frowned, sensing the change in Devon¡¯s mood. ¡°But¡­ don¡¯t you ever wonder? Parents shape who we are.¡± Devon sighed, his expression softening slightly. ¡°Yeah, but I really don¡¯t care about my real parents. Besides, I¡¯ve got a family I care about. Well¡­ two, actually.¡± Juno grinned. ¡°Well, whoever your parents are, they must¡¯ve had some killer genes. Even without your essence, you¡¯ve got some serious endurance.¡± Devon said ¡°Still, I don¡¯t know what this ¡®essence¡¯ is that you guys keep talking about.¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. As the conversation went on, the sun began to set, casting a warm glow across the sky. ¡°Oh, the sun¡¯s setting,¡± Aokami said, noticing the change. ¡°We need to head somewhere.¡± ¡°We can head back to the Purger HQ and go to our rooms,¡± Devon suggested. ¡°Good idea,¡± Juno agreed. The group made their way back to the HQ and took the elevator to the third floor. Their room number was 320. When they walked in, they were greeted by a spacious living area that had everything a person could need: a TV, bunk beds, a refrigerator, bathrooms, and large windows. ¡°Woah, this place is massive,¡± Aokami exclaimed. ¡°Just like your head, ¨­kashira,¡± Juno teased, grinning. Aokami immediately stepped closer, glaring at Juno with a fierce intensity. ¡°I will murder you in your sleep.¡± Juno¡¯s smile faded ¡°sorry.¡± he said, suddenly sounding a lot more scared. Devon walked over to the refrigerator and opened it, finding it fully stocked with food. ¡°Sweet,¡± he said with a grin. Meanwhile, Joey sat on the couch and turned on the TV. The screen flickered to the news, where the anchor was reporting on a recent attack. ¡°A deadly demon attack occurred earlier today at a Chinese restaurant on Lime Street, leaving eight people dead. Purgers are currently scanning the area for traces of the demon responsible,¡± the anchor announced solemnly. ¡°That¡¯s terrible,¡± Joey said, shaking his head. Juno lay on his bunk, scrolling through his phone and watching videos, seemingly lost in his own world. Meanwhile, Aokami sat next to Joey, both of them focused on the news. ¡°That demon must be dangerous,¡± Aokami said. Joey nodded. ¡°The Purgers will handle it,¡± he replied. At the Chinese restaurant, the scene was chaotic. Around 50 Purgers were combing through the area, gathering evidence and questioning witnesses. One of the Purgers spoke up. ¡°So, what time did the attack start?¡± ¡°8:55 p.m.,¡± the witness replied. ¡°Okay,¡± the Purger said, jotting down notes in a small notepad. Just then, a man in a blue robe over an office suit walked into the scene, his presence commanding immediate attention. ¡°Mr. Lam,¡± one of the Purgers said, straightening up as he approached. ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± Lam asked, his voice calm yet authoritative. ¡°A demon attacked this restaurant at 8:55 p.m., killing eight people. We¡¯ve sent a team to scan the area for traces.¡± Lam crossed his arms, his frown deepening. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s pretty dumb.¡± The Purger looked confused. ¡°Huh? How?¡± ¡°Why do you need 50 Purgers for this?¡± Lam asked. ¡°Well, we don¡¯t know how strong this demon is. It could be a chaos-level threat.¡± Lam shook his head. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s say it is a chaos-level threat. What can 50 Purgers do? If it¡¯s that powerful, it could kill all of you in minutes.¡± The Purger faltered, realizing the flaw in their approach. ¡°I¡­ didn¡¯t think of that.¡± ¡°And do you really think a demon would still be hanging around this area after an attack like this?¡± Lam asked. ¡°No, Mr. Lam,¡± the Purger admitted. Another Purger approached Mr. Lam, wearing a white headband. "Come on, Lam, relax. I called for the search." "Yoshijiro, you called the search?" Mr. Lam asked. "Yep, I was ordered by Yumi to do it," Yoshijiro replied casually. "Where''s the rest of your group?" Mr. Lam asked, glancing around. "They¡¯re all busy hunting down that cult," Yoshijiro answered. "Of course," Mr. Lam muttered under his breath. "So, you¡¯re gonna help me find this demon, right?" Yoshijiro gave a quick nod. "Yeah, I¡¯m on it." "Good," Mr. Lam said, opening the door of his car. "Hop in." The two of them climbed into the car, Mr. Lam taking the driver''s seat. "Don¡¯t mess up the car, Yoshijiro," Mr. Lam warned. "It¡¯s my wife¡¯s." "Got it, sir," Yoshijiro replied. The two Purgers climbed into the car, Yoshijiro settling into the passenger seat. Mr. Lam adjusted the rearview mirror before starting the engine. The car, a sleek black sedan with polished chrome accents, hummed to life. "Nice ride," Yoshijiro said, running his hand over the dashboard. "Your wife¡¯s got good taste." Mr. Lam shot him a sharp look. "Just don¡¯t spill anything or scratch it. She¡¯ll have my head." Yoshijiro chuckled, leaning back in his seat. "Relax, Lam. I¡¯m not a rookie. Let¡¯s focus on finding that demon before it causes more chaos." Two Purgers walked down the dimly lit street. ¡°Hey, heard about that demon attack at the Chinese restaurant?¡± one of them said, glancing over at his partner. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s terrible. Those poor people didn¡¯t stand a chance,¡± the second Purger replied. The first Purger hesitated, his eyes darting around the darkened alleyways. ¡°Hey, do you think it¡¯s safe walking around this late?¡± His partner was surprised by the question. ¡°Why, you worried?¡± ¡°Bro, there are demons all over the city at night. One could be lurking, waiting to strike,¡± the first Purger said, his voice tinged with nervousness. ¡°Quit being paranoid,¡± the second Purger chuckled, rolling his eyes. ¡°Demons aren¡¯t stupid. They know when to attack. If one was following us, we¡¯d know by now. They have essence, remember? It¡¯s like a tell.¡± ¡°Right,¡± the first Purger muttered. The two Purgers continued walking, the atmosphere growing heavier with each step. Suddenly, they stopped in their tracks. Ahead, a man stood motionless in the street. He wore a well-tailored suit, but his stillness was unnerving. Not a single muscle seemed to move. The second Purger, the braver of the two, took a step forward, eyeing the figure warily. ¡°Hello, sir,¡± he called out. ¡°You know it¡¯s dangerous out here at night. Please head back to your home.¡± The man didn¡¯t respond, his gaze fixed straight ahead, as if he hadn¡¯t heard a word. ¡°Sir, are you deaf?¡± the Purger asked, taking another step closer. The man¡¯s head suddenly twisted unnaturally, his neck creaking like an old door hinge. He turned to face them, revealing an unsettling sight: five eyes, three on his left side and two on his right, all wide open and staring at them in eerie unison. ¡°Do you like your eyes?¡± the man asked, his voice low and distorted, as if the words were coming from multiple places at once. ¡°Huh?¡± The second Purger took a step back, confusion creeping into his voice. ¡°What the hell does that mean? The man¡¯s body twisted unnaturally, his joints cracking as he turned to face the second Purger. Without warning, he reached out with long, spindly fingers, grabbing the Purger¡¯s face. The Purger tried to struggle, but the man¡¯s grip was too strong. Slowly, with sickening precision, the man used his fingers to pry open the Purger''s eyelid and remove his right eye. The second Purger screamed in pain, his hand reaching for his face in a desperate attempt to stop the man, but it was useless. The first Purger, horrified by what he was seeing, drew his sword and charged at the man, adrenaline fueling his movements. But as the man turned his gaze upon him, the Purger froze. His body locked in place, as if an invisible force was holding him still. ¡°This¡­ is a demon¡­¡± he muttered, his voice trembling in disbelief. Suddenly, blood began to pour from the first Purger¡¯s nose, eyes, and ears. His body convulsed for a moment before he collapsed to the ground, lifeless. The second Purger screamed for his partner, his voice trembling in fear and desperation. But before he could react further, everything went dark. The man, now alone with his grisly trophies, opened a creaky door to an abandoned house. He casually dropped the two Purger bodies onto the cold, dusty floor. The faint glow of a lamp flickered to life as he approached. With deliberate care, he began to pluck their eyes from their sockets, one by one, as if performing a twisted ritual. "You two are perfect," he murmured, a dark satisfaction in his voice. He moved to a nearby closet, which was filled with rows of glass jars. Inside each jar, a grotesque collection of eyeballs floated, preserved in a cloudy liquid. He ran his fingers over them, inspecting each one like a collector admiring rare gems. "Your eyes are beautiful," he continued, his tone almost affectionate as he held up the blue eyes from the second Purger. "And your partner''s... such a fine shade of orange." The man sighed, an unsettling sound that filled the room. "Too bad none of the humans from the restaurant had the eyes I was looking for. I had to kill them all... But I may need to relocate. Too many Purgers in the area. And I wasted one of my eyes on you two." With a soft hiss, he removed one of his own eyes from its socket. It was dull, lifeless, the color drained from it. He tossed it out the window, the glass clicking against the pavement below. Then, carefully, he placed the orange eye into his own empty socket. It fit perfectly, a perverse sense of completion filling him. "You have no essence power," he said, speaking to the bodies as though they could hear him, "but you give me more essence than you know. For that, I thank you." He paused, looking down at the jars. "Now, all I need is an eye that resembles a cherry red. That''s the one I crave." A car came to a sudden stop outside the abandoned house. The engine idled for a moment before the driver, Mr. Lam, stepped out of the vehicle. Yoshijiro, sitting in the passenger seat, leaned forward, peering at the object Mr. Lam had picked up from the ground. "Why''d you stop, Mr. Lam?" he asked, puzzled. Lam held up the lifeless eye, turning it over in his hand as if inspecting a piece of discarded trash. "This," he said cryptically. Yoshijiro stared at the eye, his brow furrowing in confusion. "A human eye? It''s so... dull. What happened to it?" "Don''t know," he muttered. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing his essence into his gaze. His expression shifted, as if he was trying to sense something terrible he looks at the abandoned house. Then, his eyes snapped open, sharper and more focused than before. "There," he said, his voice now cold with certainty. "In the house." "What do you mean?" Yoshijiro asked "That abandoned house?" "Yes," Mr. Lam replied "There¡¯s something dangerous inside. A presence... very strong." Without another word, Mr. Lam motioned for Yoshijiro to follow. They made their way toward the house, moving cautiously. The air felt heavy as they approached. Once inside, they carefully checked the first floor. The house was eerily silent, dust settled on everything, and the floor creaked under their steps. After thoroughly inspecting the first floor, they made their way upstairs. At the top of the stairs, they stopped in front of a door that appeared damaged, its wood splintered, barely hanging on its hinges. "This is it," Mr. Lam whispered "The presence is in here." He slowly reached for the handle, but before he could touch it, Yoshijiro suddenly pulled him back. A sharp, dark figure lunged from the shadows, and they were met by the man with five eyes. All three of them stood frozen in the hallway, the air thick with danger. "You know home invasion is a crime... right?" the man with five eyes said, his voice dripping with amusement. Yoshijiro''s eyes widened in recognition. "A demon!" "Stay behind, Yoshijiro," Mr. Lam ordered, his voice low and commanding. "You must be the strong presence I was sensing." The man with five eyes chuckled, his expression twisted in an unsettling grin. "Oh, you have nice eyes. Tell me, what color are they?" he teased. Mr. Lam''s mind raced as he studied the demon. This demon is... different. From the strong presence I was feeling, it must be a Chaos-level threat.