《Devil Cat》


 Chapter 1: Bitten

    I was sitting in a hot tub, two girls by my side. I turned to one¡ªa blonde with a big rack¡ªwho giggled as she placed a cherry in my mouth.


    Clang.


    I turned my head the other way. The other girl smiled and leaned in, pressing her lips against mine. We started making out.


    Clang.


    What the hell? The girl I was kissing began to fade away.


    I turned back. The blonde was gone, too. And right in front of me, the resort itself started dissolving into nothingness.


    I woke up.


    Clang.


    "Brian!"


    A voice yelled from outside my window.


    I groaned. "Claire, I''m going to kill you," I muttered through gritted teeth. Begrudgingly, I rolled out of bed and trudged toward the window, opening it.


    A rock immediately flew toward my face, hitting me square between the eyes.


    "Dammit, Claire! Stop throwing rocks at my window!"


    I looked down to see my childhood friend, Claire, stifling a laugh, a handful of pebbles still in her grasp. Her shoulder-length navy hair swayed in the wind, and her emerald-green eyes gleamed under the morning sun.


    She was already in her school uniform, her backpack slung over one shoulder. That''s when it hit me.


    "I''m late for school, aren''t I?"


    "Yes, idiot. And on the first day, too! I''ve been throwing rocks for ten minutes. You''re lucky I was having fun, or I would''ve left already."


    "I''ll be down in a sec."


    I shut the window and rushed to get dressed. My uniform was buried somewhere in the back of my closet, unwashed since before summer break. I threw it on anyway¡ªno time to care. Snatching my bag, I bolted downstairs.


    In the kitchen, I slapped together a quick sandwich. The house was quiet¡ªmy parents had already left for work, and my sister was at school. I grabbed the sandwich and stepped outside, locking the door behind me.


    "Took you long enough," Claire said, arms crossed, leaning against the wall of my house.


    "Yeah, yeah," I muttered, already heading in the direction of our school.


    "Hey, wait up!" Claire jogged to catch up, falling into stride beside me.


    "So, you ready to graduate?" she asked, watching the wind rustle the leaves along the pathway.


    "Yeah, it can''t come soon enough. Crazy we''re already seniors."


    "Yeah, I''m surprised you made it this far with your terrible grades," she teased, grinning.


    "Hey, it''s not like your grades are any better!"


    "Please." She rolled her eyes. "I always have and always will be better than you, idiot." Then, before I could react, she snatched the sandwich right out of my hand.


    "Hey! I was gonna eat that!"


    Too late. It was already halfway gone.


    "What was that?" she asked, feigning innocence through a full mouth.


    I sighed. "Nothing."


    The rest of the walk passed uneventfully.


    We arrived at Greenview High just in time for homeroom.


    "We made it," Claire said smugly, marching up the steps toward the entrance.


    I followed her inside to our designated classroom. The desks were arranged in neat rows, occupied by familiar faces¡ªwe''d all grown up in the same town, attended the same schools. The whiteboard at the front of the room had a teacher''s desk to its right.


    "Welcome," our teacher greeted us with a smile. "You''re just in time. Sit wherever you''d like."


    He was a tall man, athletic build, short hair¡ªlooked more like a coach than a teacher. Claire shrugged and found a seat in front of our good friend Mark. I sat next to her just as the bell rang.


    Mark tapped my shoulder, and I turned. He held out his fist, smirking. I smirked back and bumped it with my own.


    "Ready for another thrilling school year, Brian?"


    "What I''m really ready for is this shit to be over with."


    "You said it," he chuckled. "Though, I gotta say, there are some new transfers who just might make this year bearable."


    He nodded toward the front of the room. Following his gaze, I spotted a blonde girl with striking blue eyes.


    We looked back at each other and grinned.


    "You know, I always admire how you can find the good in any crappy situation," I said.


    Mark laughed. Claire, meanwhile, palmed her face. "I''m surrounded by idiots."


    "Alright, class, settle down," the teacher called out. The chatter died down as he continued. "My name is Mr. Whitaker, and I''ll be your homeroom teacher for your final year. Every morning, we''ll meet here for about an hour. I''ll take attendance, make announcements, and sometimes we''ll do small activities."


    He picked up a stack of papers from his desk. "Mostly, though, this class is just to get you ready for the day."


    After introductions and going over expectations, Mr. Whitaker cleared his throat.


    "So, as you may or may not know, seniors are required to participate in an extracurricular activity to graduate." He lifted the papers. "These are lists of all the available clubs. If you''re already part of an athletic team, don''t worry¡ªthat fulfills the requirement, too."


    Claire grinned and made a fist in celebration. No surprise there¡ªshe was on the soccer team.


    Mr. Whitaker began passing out the lists. When he reached us, he handed one to me and Mark, then turned to Claire.


    "I don''t need one," she said confidently, crossing her arms. "I''m on the soccer team."


    "Oh, okay then." He moved on.


    "You''re awfully proud of a team that didn''t win a single game last year," Mark quipped, laughing.


    Claire''s grin vanished instantly. "Why you¡­!" she seethed, clenching her fists.


    I decided to interrupt before she could strangle him. "I wonder what club I should join. Probably something easy, huh?"


    "Typical Brian, always taking the easy way out," Claire scoffed.


    "I don''t know, sounds smart to me," Mark said. "Though I already have my mind set on a club."


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    "And what club would that be?" Claire asked, eyeing him suspiciously.


    "Theater club." Mark grinned.


    Claire raised an eyebrow. "You? In theater?"


    "Hear me out! It has the hottest girls in school and they''re talented. What more could a guy ask for?"


    "But you don''t even know how to act," I pointed out.


    "How hard could it be? And if it is hard, I''ll just be the prop guy or something. Problem solved."


    "Yeah¡­" I replied, unconvinced.


    Claire smirked. "How about you join the coloring club? Sounds about right for your level of brainpower."


    "Hey, that''s¡ª" I glanced at the list in her hands, realizing she had swiped my paper without me noticing. "...Actually not a bad idea. Sounds easy."


    "Sounds like a sausage fest full of crayon-loving nerds," Mark said. "I''ll stick to theater club."


    "Suit yourself," I shrugged, checking the date of the club''s first meeting.


    After school today¡­


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    The rest of the school day came and went. After it was all done, I bid my friends goodbye and made plans to go to the mall, but I declined, seeing as I had a club to attend. They understood and decided to go without me.


    I left the classroom and headed toward the club. Having been at this school for years, I already knew where it was. I arrived at the unsuspecting door and gave it a knock.


    I waited for a reply, but there was no answer. I knocked again, still no answer.


    "Hello? I''m here for the coloring club," I called out, but there was only silence in response.


    Shrugging, I opened the door myself and walked in, closing it behind me.


    The room was dark, the windows covered with heavy curtains. In the center of the small room was a table, four chairs on each side.


    "Hello?" I asked, stepping forward toward the table.


    On the table sat a glass cage, and inside, a small black kitten scratched at the glass. It looked at me with an almost pleading gaze, as though asking to be let out. I felt a pang of sympathy and, doing what any kind-hearted person would do, I decided to help.


    I opened the top of the cage and gently lifted the kitten out. It didn''t seem to react as I moved it, almost as if it had resigned itself to the situation. Setting it on the table, the kitten looked up at me expectantly.


    I stared at it for a moment, confused, before realizing what it wanted. Without thinking, I scratched behind its ears. It purred in response.


    I smiled, enjoying the moment. For a minute or two, I just kept scratching, grinning as the kitten purred contentedly.


    "You''re so cute, aren''t you¡ªAh!"


    Suddenly, the kitten bit my finger.


    I jerked my hand back, staring at the small wound as a sharp pain throbbed in my finger. "You little... little¡­"


    Before I could finish my sentence, a wave of dizziness hit me. My vision blurred, my eyes rolled to the back of my head, and then everything went black


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    "What should we do with him?" a girl''s voice sounded distantly.


    "I say we kill him," another girl replied coldly.


    Kill? What?


    I was lying on something, but I couldn''t tell what. My eyes felt heavy, and I struggled to open them.


    "We''re not gonna kill him. At least, not yet," a third voice, male this time, said.


    My eyes slowly cracked open. My vision was blurry, and I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the haze. I sat up, my head spinning.


    "Wh-where am I? What happened?" I asked, my voice groggy.


    I looked down and realized I was lying on a table. Four people stood in front of me¡ªthree girls and one guy¡ªall about my age and dressed in our school uniforms. They stared at me with various expressions.


    One of the girls kept her distance, looking at me cautiously. She had medium-length brown hair.


    Another girl shot daggers at me, her long black hair framing a face with sharp red eyes that seemed to burn right through me. I quickly looked away, shifting my gaze to the guy.


    The guy had short blonde hair and a muscular build. His eyes bore into me like a predator sizing up its prey.


    The last girl¡­ I recognized her, though I didn''t know her name. She was the blonde-haired girl Mark and I had noticed in homeroom.


    "Who are you, and what are you doing here?" the red-eyed girl demanded, her sharp gaze locked onto me. Her tone was aggressive, hostile.


    "I''m here¡­ or at least, I was here for the coloring club," I replied, trying to sound casual.


    "Coloring club? Oh, that thing? Yeah, that''s not a real club, kid."


    "Kid?! You look younger than me," I shot back.


    Now that I got a better look at her, it was hard not to notice her size. She was at least a head shorter than the rest, and her baby face didn''t help her case.


    "Shut up!" she growled, clenching her fists and gearing up to swing at me. I flinched, but the blonde-haired guy grabbed her arm, holding her back¡ªthough he seemed to struggle a bit.


    "Easy there, Aya," he said. "Let the guy speak before you pummel him into a pulp."


    Aya huffed but relented after a second. Once she relaxed, the guy let go and turned to me, extending his hand.


    "Sorry about that. She gets a little crazy sometimes. I''m Jamie."


    Aya shot him a glare at the comment. Ignoring her, I took his hand and shook it.


    "Brian."


    "Alright, Brian, mind telling us what''s going on?"


    I did my best to explain, though my memory was still foggy. They mostly listened, but Aya never took her eyes off me¡ªher stare was like a piercing knife.


    "Well, that certainly is a story," Jamie said. "But I guess it explains the dead cat¡­ and your new look."


    "My look?" I asked, confused.


    He chuckled and pulled out his phone, flipping the camera toward me. My mouth dropped open.


    Poking through my normally brown hair¡ªnow completely midnight black¡ªwere two large cat ears. Three whisker-like markings sat on each of my cheeks. Then, through the screen, I noticed something behind me, pointing upward. I turned my head quickly, and my breath hitched when I saw it.


    A black tail with a spear-shaped tip.


    "What the hell?!"


    I stumbled back in shock, falling off the table.


    "Wha¡ªwhat happened to me?!"


    The cautious-looking brown-haired girl straightened her glasses and spoke softly.


    "We believe it has something to do with the cat that bit you."


    "The cat?" I asked, scrambling to my feet.


    "Yeah, the cat¡­" She hesitated. "How do I put this? That cat was a sort of¡­ demon."


    "A demon cat? That makes no sense."


    They exchanged glances, sharing some unspoken conversation, then turned back to me.


    Jamie sighed. "Look, sit down, and I''ll explain."


    I hesitated for a second before sitting down in one of the chairs.


    Everyone else followed, except for Aya, who remained standing next to Jamie with her arms crossed.


    "Alright, this is gonna take a while," Jamie started.


    "You''ve lived in this town for a while. I''ve seen you around. So you know about all the weird occurrences, right? The unexplained deaths, buildings randomly destroyed, people vanishing without a trace?"


    Wait, he knows me?


    Come to think of it, I have seen these people walking around together before. I just never really paid them much attention¡ªthey always seemed caught up in their own world.


    But he''s right. Everyone in this town knows about those incidents.


    Claire knows all too well. Her father disappeared one day and never came back.


    "Yeah? What about them?"


    Jamie sighed. "This is gonna be hard to believe, but those incidents... they''re caused by demons."


    "Yeah, right." I chuckled and scoffed.


    But none of them laughed. They just stared at me, their expressions dead serious.


    I swallowed and quieted down.


    "The four of us were chosen by different gods to fight these demons, they''re basically our mentors" Jamie continued.


    "Okay, let''s say I believe you. Why are these demons only attacking our town?"


    "That''s simple," the brown-haired girl with glasses spoke up. "Our town was built on a powerful leyline that constantly radiates divine energy. Unfortunately, that makes it a hotspot for demons." She adjusted her glasses as she spoke, her tone calm and matter-of-fact.


    "Okay¡­ well, what about the cat?" I asked, still struggling to fully believe their story¡ªthough my new appearance was proof enough.


    "That was actually a demon we captured the other night," the brown-haired girl explained. "It was an odd little thing, really. Normally, small demons like that are pretty weak, but we could sense some kind of untapped potential buried within it. So, I decided to keep it and run some tests."


    "Wait¡­ so you guys were chosen by some magical gods to fight demons, and you run a secret club as a¡ªwhat, a front?"


    "Pretty much," the blonde-haired girl from my homeroom said, her tone soft and kind. "We needed a way to explain to our parents why we were always out so late, and this club was the perfect cover. No one wanted to join a coloring club¡ªat least until this year, when clubs became mandatory for seniors."


    "This is¡­ a lot to take in," I muttered, pressing a hand to my forehead.


    "I understand," Jamie said, his tone calm but serious. "But there''s something else. The cat''s energy¡ªit seems to have been¡­ transferred into you somehow. We could all sense it the moment we found you unconscious." He paused before continuing, his expression darkening. "The thing is, that cat¡ªand all demons, really¡ªare made of dark energy. And now, that energy is inside you, just waiting to be released. I''m sorry, but until we know it''s safe¡ª"


    "We have to kill you," Aya interrupted, her red eyes narrowing.


    "Aya!" the blonde-haired girl exclaimed, shooting her a glare. "Don''t listen to her, Brian. Really. The truth is¡­ we just don''t know what to do with you yet."


    "If you ask me," the brown-haired girl chimed in, grinning excitedly, "we should just keep an eye on him and see what he can do."


    Jamie leaned back in his chair, his hand on his chin, deep in thought.


    "I think I''ve got it," Jamie said after a moment of thought. "I don''t think we should show you to the council or even our mentors just yet¡ªnot until we know what you can do and whether you''re a threat. If we bring you in now, most of them will probably think it''s easier just to kill you. And honestly? I don''t want some random guy to die because of a mistake on our part. So, for now, we''ll keep an eye on you and figure out what you''re capable of."


    "Figure out what I can do?" I asked, confused.


    "Yeah," the brown-haired girl chimed in. "Theoretically, there should be a way for you to tap into whatever latent power that cat had. We just need to find a way for you to do it¡­ and hope your body doesn''t explode in the process."


    I stared at her, my mouth agape.


    "Yep, I was getting to that," Jamie added casually. "There''s a chance the energy could be too much and kill you. So that''s another reason we need to keep a close watch on you." He stood up and stretched out his hand. "So, what do you say? Want to be our guinea pig, or would you rather die right now?"


    "Do I really have a choice?" I muttered, standing up and shaking his hand.


    "Great." Jamie grinned, then suddenly tilted his head to the side. The others did the same.


    A moment later, he turned back to me, his grin widening.


    "Looks like the perfect opportunity to test your new power just popped up. We can sense a low-class demon across town."


    Shit.


    I took a deep breath, steeling myself.


    "Let''s do it."

 Chapter 2: Instinct

    We stood in a circle atop the school''s rooftop, the setting sun painting the sky in shades of orange. A crisp chill crept into the air as night approached.


    "Alright, time for introductions," Jamie said, arms crossed. "Anyone wanna volunteer?"


    "Ooh, ohh, me!" The girl with glasses called out eagerly, pushing them up with one hand while raising the other.


    "Alright, take the floor," Jamie said, gesturing to the center of the circle.


    She eagerly hopped forward, her movement making the circle look more like a triangle with one person missing.


    "I''m Becky," she said, meeting my eyes. "My mentor is Athena, the goddess of wisdom. I specialize in strategic and defensive divine arts." She stretched out her arm, and a glowing white shield materialized on her forearm.


    "Basically, I can create shields¡ªeither for myself or others. I''ve also developed my own set of practical tools for battle. I don''t have them on me right now, but you''ll see them eventually."


    She extended her hand toward me, and as she did, the shield vanished.


    "Nice to meet you."


    I shook her hand. "That shield was really cool," I said, genuinely amazed at how effortlessly she had conjured it. Would I be able to do something similar?


    "If you don''t mind me asking, can people only specialize in one divine art, or do they just choose to focus on one so they don''t spread themselves too thin? Like, is it better to excel in one area instead of being average at many?"


    Becky smiled and let go of my hand.


    "Good question. You can technically practice multiple divine arts, but like you said, most people specialize. Each art has different fundamentals, and they often clash. For example, if your brain is wired for healing arts¡ªalways focusing on restoration and support¡ªthen trying to use destruction arts would feel unnatural. You''d have to shift your entire way of thinking. That''s why most people only learn one or two closely related arts, and it''s almost unheard of for someone to master more than three."


    I nodded, taking that in.


    "Do you get to choose which art you want to learn?"


    "Not exactly. When we were chosen, our mentors picked us based on our natural talents and personality traits. Then they trained us in their own art. So, it''s not like you just pick one at random¡ªit''s more about what fits you best."


    "But I don''t have a mentor," I pointed out.


    "I know," Jamie chimed in. "Which is why we''ll each help you figure out what works for you and what doesn''t."


    "Help me how?" I asked, unsure of what he meant.


    "You''ll see. Anyway, Amanda, you''re up," he said, dodging my question.


    The pretty blonde girl from homeroom stood up and took Becky''s place in the center.


    "Hi, I''m Amanda," she said with a warm smile, her striking blue eyes gleaming as she met my gaze.


    "My mentor is Asclepius, the god of medicine. As you might''ve guessed, I''m not much of a fighter. I have a spear I can conjure, and while I can use it to attack, I mostly use it for healing. Though, I can also channel toxins and poisons through it when necessary."


    "Nice to meet you, Amanda. We actually share homeroom together," I said, feeling slightly flustered by her beauty. My cheeks warmed as I extended my hand.


    She took it, then scratched the back of her head. "Oh, do we? I''m sorry, I''m not great with faces. I didn''t recognize you at all."


    Am I that forgettable? Whatever, I''m sure she didn''t mean it.


    I laughed it off as we shook hands. She quickly scurried back to her spot, rejoining the circle.


    "Alright, Aya?" Jamie asked, his arms still crossed.


    "Yeah, yeah," the red-eyed girl muttered, stepping into the center with her arms crossed.


    I already had a bad impression of her after she tried to pummel me earlier, so when she moved, I instinctively stepped back slightly.


    "I''m Aya, mentee of Ares," she said, snapping her fingers. A bright white short sword appeared in her grip.


    "I make weapons."


    She pointed the sword at me, her sharp red eyes narrowing. Her long black hair flowed in the evening wind, giving her an even more intimidating presence. I took another step back, unsure of what she was planning.


    She smirked at my reaction before making her weapon dissipate and returning to her spot without another word. I let out a quiet sigh of relief.


    Jamie cleared his throat, cutting through the tension with a forced cough.


    "Guess that just leaves me. My mentor''s name is Zeus¡ªI''m sure you''ve heard of him. I can summon and control lightning, to put it simply."


    I''d love to see that.


    "Now that that''s out of the way, it''s time for your first mission." Jamie uncrossed his arms and walked up to me, placing a firm hand on my shoulder as he met my gaze.


    "You''re gonna go kill that demon."


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    What?


    "Alone?! But I can''t even control this¡­ energy, or whatever you call it. How the hell am I supposed to kill a demon with no power?" I asked, genuinely wondering if he had lost his mind.


    "Relax, man. I''m sending you with help." He grinned. "Aya, go with him."


    Aya immediately threw her arms out in protest. "Why me?!"


    "Because I can sense how much you don''t wanna be around him. Think of it as a team bonding exercise. After all, he is the newest member of this team," Jamie said, his grin never fading.


    Aya rolled her eyes. "Ughhh."


    She stomped over to me, muttering something under her breath. Before I could react, she grabbed me by the waist and hoisted me under her arm.


    "Wha¡ªwhat?! Hey!" I yelped in shock as this tiny girl¡ªwho wasn''t even five feet tall¡ªmanhandled me like I weighed nothing.


    She walked toward the edge of the roof, gazing out over the sprawling town below.


    "We''ll be back," she said, not bothering to look at the others.


    "Good luck!" Amanda and Becky called out.


    "Don''t let him die, Aya. And try to teach him a thing or two," Jamie added.


    Aya glanced down at me, still tucked under her arm, and grinned. With her sharp red eyes and that expression, she looked like a demon herself.


    Don''t tell me she''s gonna¡ª


    Aya jumped.


    I screamed.


    We landed safely¡ªwell, safe for us, anyway. The pavement beneath us cracked, a small crater forming from the impact.


    Aya unceremoniously dropped me to the ground. "Try to keep up," she said before bolting off.


    "Hey, wait¡­ up!" I called out, but she was already gone¡ªnothing more than a shrinking dot in the distance.


    "Damn, she''s fast," I muttered, pushing myself to my feet. I did a quick stretch to loosen my muscles, then took off after her.


    I had always been decently athletic¡ªI even ran track for a while before getting booted off the team for skipping meetings. But she was faster than anyone I had ever seen. Inhumanly fast. Maybe it was part of her powers.


    Powers.


    I had powers too. If she was using this¡­ divine energy to enhance her speed, then maybe I could do the same.


    In the distance, I could just barely make out the faintest outline of her. I was getting closer¡ªbut not close enough.


    "At this rate, I''ll gas out and lose her," I gritted through my teeth.


    Focus, Brian. If she can do it, you can too.


    I closed my eyes. Ever since I had woken up from that bite, I''d felt something¡ªa tiny presence in my sternum. Like an itch at the edge of my awareness, something I could sense but never paid attention to.


    I focused on it. The deeper I concentrated, the more I could feel it¡ªsome kind of wild energy stirring inside me, waiting to be released.


    But how do I release it?


    Was it like flexing a muscle? A conscious effort?


    Damn it, why didn''t anyone explain how to control this energy before throwing me into a life-or-death fight with unholy creatures?


    I opened my eyes, breath coming fast. My heart sank.


    Aya was gone.


    I had been completely left behind. Stranded.


    "Damn it, Aya! You''re supposed to be training me!" I growled, slamming my fist into the building beside me.


    The wall cracked.


    I froze. My fist was partially embedded in the concrete.


    A thick, black smoke-like aura curled around my hand.


    Did I¡­ do that?


    I stared at my fist, stunned. The energy had appeared when I was pissed about Aya leaving me. Maybe that had something to do with it.


    Wait a minute¡­


    I closed my eyes and focused on my sternum. The racing mass of energy I''d felt before¡ªit was gone. I searched for it, scanning the rest of my body, and the answer became obvious.


    It had moved.


    I could sense it coiled around my right arm, stretching from my shoulder down to my fist, as if it had elongated itself and flowed there naturally.


    I had done it. I had channeled my divine energy.


    Slowly, I pulled my fist from the wall and relaxed my hand. The moment I did, the energy recoiled, flowing back to my sternum like a rubber band snapping into place.


    Good. It went back.


    Now I just had to figure out how to direct it to my legs¡ªand fast.


    It had already been a couple of minutes since I lost Aya, and at her speed, that was way too long.


    I focused again, reaching for the energy within me. I imagined a hand gripping it, holding it firm. I could feel it there, raging in my grasp.


    I pulled.


    Nothing.


    I gritted my teeth, concentrating harder, pouring every ounce of my willpower into dragging it downward. But it wouldn''t budge.


    Why?


    When I wasn''t trying, it activated on its own, but now that I needed it, it wouldn''t move.


    Maybe¡­ it wasn''t about my will alone.


    When it first appeared, I had been punching. Maybe¡­


    Without another thought, I took off running in the direction Aya had gone.


    This isn''t working. It worked earlier, so why not now?


    I hadn''t even thought about it before¡ªit had just happened.


    I kept running at my usual pace¡ªslow, with no hope of catching up to Aya.


    "Damn it!" I growled through gritted teeth, my breath coming in heavy gasps as I struggled to keep going.


    Think, Brian. Don''t get discouraged.


    Think of the power, the force behind the punch¡ªthe explosive impact that had come purely from instinct.


    Mimic that feeling. The force. The power. The explosiveness. Mimic it and¡ª


    Boom.


    With one kick off the ground, I shot forward. The energy spread evenly between my legs, surging through me like a coiled spring finally releasing. That was it. That was the trick. It wasn''t about forcing it¡ªit was about replicating the instinct.


    I kept running, each step launching me forward with a burst of divine energy. In the distance, a speck appeared. I grinned, knowing exactly who it was.


    I pushed harder, each kick growing stronger, faster, more explosive. The gap between us shrank rapidly until, finally¡ªI was running at her side.


    Aya glanced at me and smirked. "So you actually figured it out."


    "No thanks to you. Were you really just gonna leave me back there?"


    She shrugged. "I knew you''d get it eventually. Why do you think I kept running in a straight line?"


    Huh. Come to think of it, she never changed direction. Maybe she was looking out for me¡­ in her own way.


    Now that I had caught up, our path seemed more deliberate. We weren''t just sprinting aimlessly¡ªshe was leading us somewhere, making sharp turns every so often.


    I kept pace with her, but I could feel the divine energy draining from my body with every step. And I only had so much to give.


    "So, do you actually know where this demon is? ''Cause to me, it just feels like we''re on some wild goose chase."


    "Of course I do." She scoffed, like I''d just asked the dumbest question in the world. "Some of us can actually sense energy."


    Okay, rude. It''s my first day¡ªcut me some slack, lady.


    We kept running through town, passing by stunned onlookers who stared in awe. I couldn''t blame them¡ªtwo teenagers blitzing down the street at inhuman speed wasn''t exactly an everyday sight.


    After about twenty more minutes, we reached the outskirts. By now, the sun had fully set, leaving only the glow of streetlights to guide us. The area was eerily quiet. Most of the houses were abandoned, their windows shattered, their walls covered in grime. The ones that weren''t abandoned looked barely livable. A growing unease settled in my chest as we ventured deeper into the desolate streets.


    Aya finally came to a stop in front of an old, abandoned train tunnel. She turned to me, her expression unreadable.


    "The demon''s in here. Now that we''re close, I can tell it''s not very strong. This should be quick." She tossed me something small.


    I caught it, frowning as I examined the object¡ªa dagger hilt with no blade.


    "What''s this?"


    "A training tool my mentor gave me when I was learning to channel energy." She crossed her arms. "Just run some energy through the hilt, and you''ll get yourself a nice little weapon. Perfect for someone at your skill level."


    "And here I thought you were being nice."


    Aya ignored my sarcasm, instead turning toward the tunnel entrance with a grin. "Ready?" she asked, her red eyes gleamed in the darkness as a divine short sword materialized in her hand.


    I really need to learn how to do that.


    I took a deep breath and focused. What little energy I had left from the run pooled into the hilt, and in an instant, a smoky black blade formed.


    "Ready" I replied, gripping the dagger tight.

 Chapter 3: The Tunnel

    We stepped into the tunnel, and I immediately realized it was far more spacious than it had seemed from the outside¡ªabout 20 feet wide and nearly 40 feet high. The air was thick with humidity, clinging to my skin as beads of sweat formed, a mix of warmth and nervous tension. Darkness stretched ahead, broken only by the occasional glimmer of light reflecting off small puddles scattered across the uneven, rocky ground.


    I followed closely behind Aya as we stuck to the right side of the tracks. Her demeanor was calm, almost indifferent, as if this was just another demon to slay. Meanwhile, my pulse pounded in my ears. This was new to me¡ªI had never done anything like this before, and I still had no idea what I was truly capable of.


    We pressed forward, every sudden noise¡ªlike the soft drip of water from the ceiling¡ªmaking the hairs on my neck stand on end. I couldn''t shake the unsettling feeling of being watched, a hungry presence drilling into me as we moved through the tunnel. Yet, every time I glanced around, I saw nothing but darkness and the decaying brick walls of the abandoned passage.


    The eerie sensation only intensified with each step. Just as I was about to tell Aya, she suddenly stopped.


    "What''s wrong?" I asked, stepping up beside her.


    She sniffed the air, as if searching for something, then tilted her head upward.


    "There," she said, a devilish, hungry grin spreading across her face.


    I followed her gaze, squinting into the darkness, but I saw nothing¡ªjust brick and shadow.


    Aya glanced at me, clearly noticing my confusion.


    "Focus your energy into your eyes."


    I tried, but immediately felt resistance¡ªmy reserves were nearly depleted, all of my energy being siphoned into the dagger. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes, releasing the energy from my hand and pulling it into my vision instead.


    When I opened them, the tunnel transformed. The darkness lifted just enough for me to make out the individual bricks lining the walls, the scattered rocks on the uneven ground. It was like night vision, sharpening every detail.


    Then, I looked up.


    My breath caught in my throat.


    Clinging to the ceiling was a demon¡ªa monstrous centipede the size of a truck, its massive, segmented body covered in a black and red chitinous shell. It gripped the ceiling with countless legs, its grotesque head pointed downward, mandibles spread wide, dripping with a thick, black substance.


    And that''s when it hit me.


    I tore my gaze from the creature and looked down, my enhanced vision revealing the truth.


    The puddles scattered across the floor¡ªthe ones I had assumed were water¡ªwere made of the same viscous black fluid that dripped from the demon''s fangs.


    "Ahh, gross!" I yelped, lifting my foot out of the puddle and shaking it off.


    "Hey, don''t get that on me, idiot!" Aya snapped, backing away in disgust.


    Before I could respond, the creature released its grip from the ceiling and dropped to the ground with a thunderous crash. Dust and debris scattered from the impact, and I instinctively stepped back as the massive centipede uncoiled itself, its mandibles dripping with thick black fluid.


    Aya wasted no time. She turned to face the creature, sword already drawn, her stance firm and ready.


    In an instant, she was upon it.


    Her blade flashed¡ªso fast I could barely track it, even with my enhanced vision. A sharp, wet slice rang out, and just like that, the centipede''s mandibles clattered to the ground, severed cleanly at the base. Green liquid gushed from the wounds as the creature screeched in agony.


    Furious, it spun, whipping its massive tail toward her, but it was too slow.


    Aya leapt over the attack with ease, flipping gracefully midair. As she descended, she slashed downward, her sword tearing through the creature''s shell. Another deep gash opened along its back, oozing more of that sickly green blood.


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    She landed without missing a beat, already moving before her feet had even fully touched the ground. What happened next was a blur¡ªAya dashed around the centipede, striking over and over in a deadly dance. Each slash left a fresh wound, blood spurting from different points every second. I couldn''t even keep up with her movements¡ªonly the aftermath, the gaping cuts and the desperate, screeching thrashes of the creature as it struggled to hit her.


    It never stood a chance.


    For nearly a minute, Aya carved through it like an artist sculpting her masterpiece, a twisted grin on her face the entire time. The centipede''s movements became sluggish, its hisses weaker. Then, with one final gurgling cry, it collapsed onto its side, writhing in agony.


    Aya stepped toward its head, standing over it with an almost pitying expression. She raised her sword high.


    Then, with one slow, deliberate motion, she drove the blade straight down into its skull.


    The creature convulsed violently, its entire body spasming as a spray of green and black fluid erupted from the wound, splattering across Aya''s face and clothes. She didn''t even flinch. Twisting the sword deeper, she held firm as the centipede let out one last, shuddering hiss.


    Then¡ªsilence.


    The massive body went limp. The fight was over


    Aya''s sword dissipated as she straightened up, turning to face me. My expression was a mix of shock, amazement, and lingering fear.


    She wiped the black fluid from her face as she approached, grinning.


    "How was that?" she asked, already knowing the answer.


    "You''re a monster¡ªmean that in the most respectful way," I said, shaking my head. "That thing never stood a chance."


    "Hmph, of course it didn''t. That thing''s energy signature was weaker than even yours," she replied, crossing her arms and looking away.


    I ignored the jab. "So what now? Do we just leave it here? That can''t be good for the environment."


    "We usually leave them. Regular people can''t interact with them anyway. Even if someone comes into this tunnel, they won''t see or feel a thing."


    "Huh. Neat." It made sense. I had never seen a demon until today. Honestly, I hadn''t even believed they were real.


    "Let''s head back. I need a shower," she said, already making her way toward the tunnel entrance.


    I followed.


    The walk was mostly silent. Exhaustion weighed on me. After everything I had learned and experienced today, I wanted nothing more than to collapse into bed.


    Up ahead, I spotted the tunnel''s entrance¡ªnot close, still about a mile away, but thanks to my enhanced vision, I could just make it out.


    Then, without warning, a thick black mist surged past my feet, flowing rapidly back in the direction we had come from.


    "What the hell?" Aya muttered, spinning around to look.


    A piercing screech erupted through the tunnel, the sound bouncing off the walls in an unbearable echo. My ears felt like they were going to burst. I clamped my hands over them in pain.


    I glanced at Aya, who was still staring ahead, unfazed. She pointed from her eyes to her ears in a quick motion.


    I understood immediately. Siphoning energy from my vision, I redirected it to my ears, dulling the sound. When I uncovered them, the screeching was still unpleasant but now manageable.


    I''m getting the hang of this.


    "How?" Aya''s voice cut through my thoughts. It wasn''t just confusion¡ªit was frustration.


    I looked where she was staring, but I saw nothing. That''s when I realized my vision had weakened. I was putting less energy into my eyes.


    "What do you see, Aya?" I asked.


    Her hands clenched into fists. "The damn thing is back up again. And it''s¡­ bigger."


    "When I kill you, you stay down." A sinister grin spread across her face. "What are you back for? Seconds?"


    She manifested her sword again and bolted forward.


    "Aya!" I called out, but she was already gone.


    I started after her, ready to channel energy into my legs¡ªbut then I hesitated. The only reason I could see in this damned place was because I was channeling most of my energy into my eyes.


    The screeching had stopped. That meant I could take some energy from my ears and redirect it.


    I siphoned power from my ears into my legs. It wasn''t much, but it would let me move faster than a normal human¡ªthough nowhere near Aya''s speed.


    I took off.


    In the distance, I could hear the hissing of the now-revived creature and Aya''s battle cries. But they were still so far away.


    I pushed myself harder, running as fast as I could while carefully managing my energy. Minutes passed, but it felt like hours. Finally, I reached the site of our previous battle¡ª


    And stopped dead in my tracks.


    The centipede loomed before me. It was huge¡ªfar larger than before. Its swollen body stretched across nearly the entire width and height of the tunnel. Black goop dripped from its fangs, pooling into thick puddles that clung to the ground.


    But where was Aya?


    I scanned the area, but I didn''t see her. And yet, I knew she had come this way. I saw it with my own eyes.


    Something wet dripped onto my face.


    I wiped it off, confused¡ªthen looked up.


    My breath caught in my throat.


    Aya was stuck to the ceiling, her body wrapped in thick, black sludge. Only her head was exposed, hanging limply downward, her hair obscuring her face. She wasn''t moving.


    "Aya!" I shouted. No response.


    The centipede''s beady black eyes locked onto me, hungry and unblinking.


    Shit


    I pulled out the bladeless hilt.


    Siphoning energy from my legs, I poured it into the weapon. A tiny dagger flickered to life.


    I held it at the ready, pushing down the fear clawing at my mind. I couldn''t afford to panic. If I wanted to survive this, I had to be calm.


    I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.


    The centipede inched closer.


    Now or never.


    I exhaled slowly and opened my eyes.


    My mind was clear. Focused. There was only one task before me.


    Kill the demon.

 Chapter 4: Please Be Dead

    The centipede charged toward me, its black, beady eyes glaring as if I were the one that had killed it earlier. Its mandibles opened wide, ready to dig into me.


    I rolled out of the way, but without any divine energy left to channel into my legs¡ªsince all my reserves were going into keeping the dagger powered¡ªI barely escaped its bite. A sharp pain shot through my arm as I felt its fangs graze me. Using the momentum from my roll, I scrambled to my feet, already knowing I had been injured.


    Glancing down at my arm, I saw a deep gash. Worse than I expected. Blood gushed from the wound, staining my sleeve. The adrenaline had numbed the pain at first, but now that I was looking at it, the pain hit like a shockwave.


    I clutched my arm, gritting my teeth¡ªbut I had no time to dwell on it. As I looked up, the centipede''s massive tail was already whipping toward me.


    I had no time to react.


    I barely managed to shut my eyes before the tail crashed into my side with the force of a freight train, launching me into the tunnel wall.


    Pain exploded through my entire body. My ribs cracked on impact, a sharp stabbing sensation making every breath agony. My vision blurred, darkness creeping at the edges. Even with what little energy I was trying to channel into my eyes, I could barely make out anything.


    Through my haze, I managed to glance up, expecting to see the centipede looming over me, ready to finish the job. But¡­it wasn''t.


    Instead, it was moving away, scuttling further down the tunnel. It must have assumed I was already dead.


    I exhaled shakily, each breath sending another wave of pain through my chest. Slowly, I looked at my arm¡ªthe one that took the brunt of the centipede''s attack.


    It was shattered. Completely limp. I couldn''t feel anything, but I knew¡ªthe bones inside were nothing more than fragments beneath my skin.


    Then, I noticed something else.


    My other hand, the one gripping my dagger.


    Or rather¡­the place where my dagger had been.


    The weapon dissipated.


    "No¡­" I muttered weakly.


    That was my only weapon.


    Panic set in. Was I out of energy? I shut my eyes, searching inward, trying to feel for the energy that had once flowed through me.


    I wasn''t out of energy.


    It was moving.


    Not outward, into the dagger, but inward¡ªthrough my body.


    The energy first gathered in my arm, spreading like a soothing warmth. At first, I felt nothing but numbness, then slowly, control returned. My fingers twitched, and then¡ªI could move my arm again.


    Snapping my eyes open, I watched in shock as my shattered limb¡­healed.


    Bones realigned. Flesh knitted itself back together.


    I exhaled in relief¡ªthen inhaled sharply. Pain stabbed through my chest. My ribs. They weren''t healed.


    As if responding to my thoughts, the energy shifted again, this time flowing to my ribs. The stabbing sensation faded. The pain dulled, then disappeared entirely.


    One by one, the energy worked through my body, mending every bruise, every cut, every ache¡ªuntil I was completely healed.


    I slowly pushed myself to my feet, unable to believe it.


    Not only had I survived¡ªI was good as new.


    I clenched and unclenched my fists, testing my body, half expecting something to still be broken. But I was fine. More than fine.


    Then¡ªsomething hit me.


    A hunger.


    Not a normal hunger, not the kind that comes after skipping a meal.


    This was different. Deeper. Gnawing. A need rather than a want.


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    Why? I had eaten earlier.


    Then, something caught my attention.


    A puddle of black liquid, just a few feet away.


    The same ones the centipede had been leaving behind.


    The scent hit me, and I was drawn to it¡ªjust like an animal drawn to the smell of food after starving for days.


    I didn''t understand it, but my body did.


    Without thinking, I dropped to my hands and scooped the liquid into my mouth.


    I drank.


    It was bitter, yet oddly smooth¡ªlike black coffee with a faint, unexpected sweetness.


    As I swallowed, I felt it¡ªwarmth. Strength. Energy surging through me, spreading to every inch of my body.


    The hunger faded.


    But I didn''t stop.


    I drank more. And more.


    I kept going until the puddle was empty, even licking up the stray droplets at the bottom.


    When I finally stood up, I felt it.


    Power.


    I could feel energy thrumming through my veins, pulsing in my body, stronger than before.


    I looked inward, checking how much I had absorbed.


    My entire body was overflowing with black energy.


    A grin spread across my face.


    I picked up the fallen dagger hilt and channeled energy into it.


    It formed instantly, sharper, denser¡ªstronger.


    And I still had energy to spare.


    I channeled more into my arms, my legs, my eyes.


    My vision sharpened, clearer than ever before. My limbs felt powerful, weightless.


    This time¡ªI could do it.


    This time¡ªI would kill that damn centipede.


    I glanced at the ceiling to make sure Aya was still safe. My enhanced vision let me see her clearly¡ªstill stuck to the ceiling by the creature''s black goop, but unharmed. Her chest rose and fell steadily. She was still breathing.


    Good.


    Now that I was fully healed and knew Aya was safe, I launched myself down the tunnel, exploding forward with renewed speed. The centipede was within reach in seconds.


    It must have sensed me coming because, just before I could strike, the creature spun around to face me.


    Its tail lashed out.


    I jumped, flipping over the attack, then, taking a page out of Aya''s book, I swung my dagger at the creature''s shell as I descended. My slash wasn''t as fast or elegant as hers, but with my enhanced strength, it should have been enough.


    The dagger struck the shell with a loud clank.


    It bounced off. The shell remained unscathed.


    "Damn it," I cursed under my breath.


    I landed beside the centipede just as it turned toward me, clearly pissed that I had even tried to cut it. With a screech, it bolted forward, mandibles open wide, ready to tear me in half.


    I jumped again, dodging it easily and landing on its back.


    Without wasting a second, I raised my dagger high and drove it down, aiming for the same spot.


    Nothing.


    The blade skidded off harmlessly, and now the centipede was even angrier. It screeched and thrashed wildly, trying to throw me off.


    It succeeded.


    I was sent flying upward, slamming into the tunnel''s ceiling. My back hit hard, debris shaking loose from the impact, and before I could react, gravity pulled me back down.


    Bricks and stones fell all around me. I managed to roll out of the way before they could crush me, but the centipede wasn''t as lucky. Some of the debris struck its shell with solid thuds, and it hissed in pain.


    "That hurt," I muttered, catching my breath.


    I forced myself to my feet. My bones, once shattered from the impact, were already healing thanks to the devine energy flowing through me¡ªbut I could feel it.


    I was running low.


    My arms and legs felt weaker, my vision dulled, and even my dagger was losing its sharpness and density.


    I needed to end this. Fast.


    The centipede was still recovering, its back turned to me.


    This was my chance.


    I charged forward, leaping onto its back once more. It started thrashing again, but I gripped its shell tightly, refusing to be thrown off this time. I raised my dagger, ready to strike, when I noticed it.


    A crack.


    Right in the shell.


    How? I hadn''t done that. Could it have been from Aya during their earlier fight? I doubt it¡ªthen it hit me.


    The debris. The falling bricks.


    I frowned. How did a few bricks do more damage than a divine-energy-powered knife?


    Then, realization clicked.


    "It must have been the blunt force," I murmured.


    That was it.


    Weapons weren''t working because the centipede''s shell was too tough to cut. But a strong enough impact¡ªsomething heavy, something forceful¡ªthat could break through.


    Still gripping the shell as it thrashed beneath me, I tossed my dagger aside.


    Then, I channeled everything I had in my legs, into my fist.


    The energy surged, flooding into my arm, crackling beneath my skin. Black smoke flowed out from my fist. My muscles tensed, my knuckles burned with raw power.


    And then I punched the shell.


    It shattered.


    My fist broke through, slamming straight into the centipede''s flesh beneath.


    Green blood poured out, spraying over my arm, but I didn''t care.


    I had found a weakness.


    And I knew exactly what to do next.


    The centipede screeched in agony, its entire body convulsing beneath me. I wasted no time.


    I stood up, still balancing on its back.


    I took the energy I had been using to keep my grip and siphoned it away, spreading it between my legs and my fist.


    The centipede thrashed violently, its body twisting in desperation.


    I used it to my advantage.


    As it jerked upward, the momentum launched me toward the ceiling. But I was ready.


    I flipped my body midair, angling my feet downward¡ª


    And then¡ª


    The second I hit the ceiling, I kicked off, using every last ounce of energy in my legs.


    The force was explosive.


    I rocketed straight toward the centipede.


    Straight toward its skull.


    I drained the last remnants of my power from my eyes and legs, pouring everything into my fist.


    My vision went dark. I could no longer see.


    But I didn''t need to.


    I knew where I was headed.


    With all my remaining strength, I drove my fist forward.


    And crashed through its skull.


    I felt it¡ªfelt myself tear through the thick plating, felt the wet, slimy insides give way.


    Felt the disgusting, gooey mess of its brain as I tore straight through it.


    And then¡ª


    I slammed into the tunnel floor.


    The impact left a crater beneath me, dust and debris scattering around my motionless body.


    And suddenly¡ª


    The exhaustion hit.


    The pain.


    The sheer, overwhelming drain of using every last drop of energy.


    I lay there, completely spent.


    I had put everything into that last attack.


    Weakly, I parted my lips, barely able to whisper:


    "Please¡­ be¡­ dead¡­"


    And then¡ª


    Darkness took me.

 Chapter 5: Rest

    Darkness. That was all I could see behind my closed eyelids. I was conscious¡ªbarely¡ªbut my body felt like it was floating in a haze of pain and numbness. I was moving. Slowly, but definitely moving. I couldn¡¯t tell how or why, but I was.


    Every inch of me ached. Some parts of my body felt distant, unresponsive. I guessed they were so broken that I couldn''t even feel them anymore. The crash must''ve done a number on me.


    I lay in that darkness for what felt like minutes, counting the seconds in my head. Eventually, I mustered enough strength¡ªand will¡ªto crack my eyes open.


    The tunnel walls stretched around me, dimly lit by faint glows from the cracks in the bricks. I was still underground. I tilted my head back slightly, vision blurry but enough to make out a figure carrying me.


    "Aya?" I muttered weakly.


    "Oh, you¡¯re awake," she said, voice laced with exhaustion. "Took you long enough."


    "What... happened?"


    Aya kept walking, her pace steady but slow. "Well, after I lost to the demon, it stuck me to the ceiling and left me for dead," she said bitterly. "When I woke up, I was alone. Weak. My arm was broken, but I had just enough energy left to make a small blade and cut myself down. After that, I went looking for the fight¡­ but instead, I found you. Right in the middle of a gaping hole in its head."


    "Oh..." I exhaled. "So I did win..." A wave of relief washed over me. At least it hadn¡¯t been for nothing.


    Aya glanced back at me, eyes narrowed. "How the hell did you even do that? I couldn''t beat it, and you''re telling me you did?"


    I tried to sit up a little, but my body protested. "It was mostly just conservation of energy and¡ª" My words cut off as a deep, gnawing hunger clawed at my insides.


    I felt it everywhere, a desperate craving. Then my eyes locked onto something ahead¡ªdark, viscous puddles of that same black liquid.


    "Aya, there! There!"


    "What?" she snapped, already annoyed.


    "The puddle," I rasped, unable to lift my arm to point¡ªeither from weakness or because it was straight-up broken.


    She sighed. "What about it?"


    "Just¡­ take me to it."


    "Ughhh," she groaned but shifted course, rolling her eyes as she trudged toward it. Without any ceremony, she dropped me face-first into the puddle.


    "Happy now?" she asked dryly.


    I didn''t answer. I was too busy drinking.


    The second the thick liquid touched my tongue, warmth spread through me. I slurped it up greedily, not even pausing for air. With every gulp, I felt it working¡ªbones resetting, muscles stitching back together, the pain ebbing away.


    By the time I lifted my head, I was completely healed. I sprang to my feet, energy coursing through me.


    Aya just stared at me, a look of absolute disgust plastered across her face.


    "Ugh, get away from me," she recoiled, taking a step back.


    "What? Don¡¯t knock it till you try it. And you definitely should, considering your arm is still busted." I stretched my newly mended limbs for emphasis. "It heals injuries."


    She gave me a skeptical look, suspicion and lingering disgust warring on her face. But after a glance at my fully restored body, she sighed and crouched near the puddle.


    Reluctantly, she dipped her fingers into the black liquid, brought a small amount to her lips, and swallowed. The second it hit her tongue, her face twisted in pure revulsion.


    "Oh my god," she gagged. "That¡¯s disgusting."


    She forced herself to drink the rest, then immediately flopped onto her back, groaning in misery.


    We waited in silence.


    Then she sat up.


    Slowly, she pushed herself to her feet and walked toward me, head down.


    I tilted my head, confused. "Uh¡­ you good?"


    Without warning, she grabbed the front of my shirt with her one good arm and yanked me down to her eye level.


    "What the hell?! I just drank centipede shit because you said it would heal me! Do I look healed to you?!"


    "I¡ªI don¡¯t know!" I stammered. "It worked for me!"


    "Whatever." She shoved me back, releasing her grip. "Let¡¯s just go."


    Aya turned sharply, stomping toward the tunnel entrance.


    I exhaled, got to my feet, and quickly caught up. Without giving her a chance to argue, I scooped her into my arms.


    "W-what are you doing, idiot?! Put me down!"


    "Relax," I said, holding her securely. "I¡¯m getting us out of here."


    I channeled my freshly restored energy straight into my legs, feeling the power surge through them. Then, with one explosive kick off the ground, we launched forward, rocketing down the tunnel.


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    In seconds, we burst out of the cave entrance.


    I landed smoothly, setting Aya on her feet.


    "That never gets old," I muttered to myself.


    Aya, however, scrambled out of my arms like I had the plague.


    I let out a short laugh at the sight. "So... what now?"


    Aya stood beside me, both of us taking in the quiet surroundings. The streets were mostly empty, lined with abandoned houses and trees swaying under the night breeze. The eerie silence made it clear¡ªit was really late.


    She broke the quiet. "Well..." she started, rubbing the back of her head. "We took longer than expected. I¡¯m sure everyone went home by now. We should probably just head back and regroup at school tomorrow."


    Made sense. It wasn¡¯t like the others could just camp out at school all night. That was fine by me¡ªhonestly, the sooner I got to bed, the better. I should¡¯ve felt exhausted after everything, but my body still buzzed with energy. Probably an effect of the puddle.


    Aya, on the other hand, was clearly drained. Her movements were sluggish, her breathing still heavy. Without energy to augment her legs, it¡¯d probably take her forever to get home.


    "Want me to take you home?" I asked.


    Her head snapped toward me so fast I thought she might¡¯ve hurt herself. "Wha¡ªwhat?!" she stammered, her face turning red.


    "Yeah, you look terrible," I said bluntly. "And without energy, it¡¯s gonna take you forever to get there."


    She hesitated, still not looking at me. "Oh... well, alright," she mumbled.


    I raised an eyebrow. What¡¯s up with her? I wondered. Shrugging it off, I bent down and scooped her into my arms.


    She let out a small yelp¡ªgripping my shirt, her dark hair laid across my chest.


    Without wasting another second, I kicked off the ground and bolted forward with explosive speed. The world blurred past us as I shot down the empty streets¡ªonly to realize something kind of important.


    "Uh... where do you live?"


    A beat of silence.


    Then she groaned and facepalmed. "Idiot."


    ---


    After running across town for a while, with Aya directing me along the way, we finally reached a neighborhood that screamed wealth. Every house sat on its own massive plot of land, spaced out enough that privacy was never an issue. The yards were perfectly manicured, the driveways wide enough to fit several cars, and the overall atmosphere felt... expensive.


    I whistled. "Didn¡¯t know you were rich," I teased.


    Aya huffed, crossing her good arm over her chest while the other hung at her side. "We¡¯re not rich. Just... comfortable," she muttered, pouting slightly before pointing with her uninjured arm. "There."


    She was directing me to a house just as grand as the ones we had passed, if not more so. It was built from a deep reddish-brown brick, giving it a warm but sophisticated feel. The architecture was beautiful¡ªtall, elegant windows, a pristine front entrance, and an overall design that looked straight out of some high-end home magazine.


    I hesitated for a moment, half-jokingly wondering if I even belonged here. Like some kind of invisible force field would push me back the moment I stepped too close. The thought made me chuckle.


    "What¡¯s so funny?" Aya asked, glancing at me with mild suspicion.


    "Nothing," I said quickly, caught a little off guard.


    I landed lightly on the roof, right above her window.


    "Just go in through that window," she said, nodding toward it. "It leads to my room. I always keep it open."


    I didn¡¯t question it. Adjusting my grip on her, I hopped over to the window, grabbing the frame with one hand while keeping her secure with the other. Using my foot, I nudged it open before carefully maneuvering Aya inside. She slipped through first, and once she was in, I followed right after.


    Once inside, I took in my surroundings. The room was massive¡ªeasily twice the size of mine. A walk-in closet stood to the side, its door slightly ajar, revealing rows of neatly hung clothes. Next to it was an en-suite bathroom, and just from a quick glance inside, I could tell it was huge.


    In the center of the room was her bed¡ªof course, it was big. The pink bedding, the sheer amount of stuffed animals scattered across it... actually, now that I was paying attention, the entire room was pink. The walls, the furniture accents, even the curtains¡ªit all screamed Aya.


    She walked over to a lounge chair near a small table, kicked off her shoes, then looked up at me. I stood there awkwardly, trying to decide whether I should say goodbye or just jump out the window without a word.


    "Y-you can take a shower if you¡¯d like..." she said suddenly. There was a slight nervousness in her voice¡ªor maybe just awkwardness?


    I considered it for a moment. On one hand, I was ready to just go home. On the other... I was filthy, smelled awful, and still had dried blood caked on me. A shower did sound nice.


    "Thanks," I replied with a small smile. "I will."


    "It¡¯s over there," she said, pointing toward the bathroom, still avoiding my gaze.


    I nodded and headed inside, locking the door behind me.


    The bathroom was even bigger than it looked from outside¡ªabout the size of my entire bedroom. A sleek marble tub sat in the center, a walk-in shower with a glass door was on the left, and to the right, a towel rack stood beside a marble double-sink vanity. The floor was polished stone, and behind the tub, a massive window overlooked a well-kept garden outside.


    I let out a slow breath, stripping out of my tattered clothes. My mind drifted as I stared out the window, thinking back on the insane day I¡¯d just had. So much had happened... yet somehow, here I was, in Aya¡¯s house, about to take a shower.


    I stepped into the shower and turned on the water, letting the warmth wash over me. It felt perfect, exactly what I needed after everything. My muscles relaxed, the exhaustion I hadn¡¯t even noticed creeping in. And then¡ª


    Holy crap.


    I was alone. In a girl¡¯s room. Late at night. Using her shower.


    My face immediately heated up¡ªand not from the water. I shook my head and forced myself to focus, scrubbing down quickly to get rid of the thought. Once I was clean, I shut off the water, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around my waist before stepping out.


    Aya was still in her chair, flipping through a book while absentmindedly eating a banana. When she noticed me, she paused, her eyes scanning me for a second before her face turned bright red.


    An awkward silence hung in the air.


    Then she pointed, snickering. "Your tail¡¯s wagging."


    "Huh?" I glanced behind me¡ªand sure enough, my tail was swaying back and forth on its own. My cheeks burned hotter. "Shit."


    Aya giggled at my reaction. "Do you need some clothes or do you plan on walking home like that?"


    "Yeah, that¡¯d be great," I muttered, trying to will my tail to stop moving.


    Still laughing to herself, she got up and disappeared into her closet. A moment later, she tossed something at me. I caught it and unfolded it¡ªa bathrobe.


    It was small.


    I sighed and went back into the bathroom to change. When I came out, the robe barely fit, but it covered the important parts.


    The second Aya saw me, she burst into laughter. "You look ridiculous," she choked out between giggles.


    I looked away in embarrassment.


    After a few moments, she finally calmed herself. "I¡¯m gonna shower. You can let yourself out through the window."


    "Alright," I said, heading over. I pushed the window open and was about to jump out when I paused. Turning back, I glanced at her. "Thanks for everything today, Aya."


    Her cheeks tinged pink, and she quickly looked away. "N-no problem..."


    I smirked. "See you tomorrow."


    With that, I leapt out the window, heading home for some much-needed rest.

 Chapter 6: Kitten

    I landed on the roof of my house, which, conveniently, wasn¡¯t too far from Aya¡¯s place. Luckily, I had left my window open this morning in my rush to get to school, saving me the trouble of sneaking through the front door. I didn¡¯t have a strict curfew, but I was pretty sure my parents wouldn¡¯t be too happy about me coming home at one in the morning.


    Climbing inside, I took a quick look around. Nothing had changed¡ªmy bed was still unmade, clothes were scattered on the floor, and my PlayStation sat on my desk next to my monitor and laptop. For a brief moment, I considered playing, but exhaustion weighed me down.


    Sighing, I changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt before collapsing onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling.


    My mind wouldn¡¯t stop racing. The events of today felt surreal. I had powers now¡ªones I was actually getting the hang of. I had made new friends. And I had been introduced to a world that had existed right under my nose my whole life¡ªa world most people wouldn¡¯t believe even if I told them.


    As my thoughts continued to swirl, exhaustion finally won out, and I drifted off to sleep.


    Night came and went in an instant, and before I knew it, I was waking up. My eyes were still closed, but I felt something pressing down on my chest. Confused, I cracked one eye open¡ªwhat I saw nearly made my heart stop.


    Curled up on my chest was a small black kitten, fast asleep. Two tiny horns poked out from its head.


    Startled, I jolted upright, tumbling out of bed and taking the kitten with me. I landed on the floor with a thud, groaning as I sat up to recover from the fall. Meanwhile, the kitten simply stood, stretched, and walked over to me, completely unfazed.


    I stared at it in disbelief. ¡°Are you the cat that bit me yesterday? What are you doing here?¡±


    The moment the words left my mouth, I realized how dumb I sounded. Cats couldn¡¯t talk.


    The kitten just looked up at me, meowed, and started licking its fur as if nothing had happened.


    I frowned, trying to piece things together. The last I heard, this thing had disappeared after biting me, so how the hell did it end up in my room? Had it somehow tracked me down? That seemed... impossible.


    Before I could dwell on it further, a sharp clang sounded from my window. There was only one person that could be.


    Claire.


    I turned to the kitten. ¡°You stay here,¡± I said, pointing at it sternly.


    The kitten meowed in response¡ªbefore hopping onto my bed and curling up like it owned the place.


    I sighed, rubbing my temple, but as I headed toward the window, a sudden realization hit me.


    My ears. My tail.


    I froze mid-step. I couldn¡¯t let Claire see me like this¡ªI didn¡¯t even know if the rest of the group wanted this kind of information getting out. Panicked, I reached up instinctively to feel for the cat ears¡­ but felt nothing.


    What?


    I grabbed my phone and flipped on the front camera. My reflection stared back at me¡ªhair its usual brown, ears nowhere in sight. I twisted around and checked my back. My tail was gone too.


    ¡°¡­That¡¯s weird,¡± I muttered to myself.


    Clang!


    ¡°Dammit, Claire,¡± I grumbled before finally heading to the window. I slid it open and looked down to see her waiting impatiently, her navy-blue hair swaying in the morning breeze.


    ¡°Hurry up, we¡¯re gonna be late,¡± she called up.


    ¡°Alright, alright, give me a sec,¡± I said, shutting the window again.


    I grabbed the uniform I had tossed on the floor last night, but it was still dirty. Sighing, I rummaged through my closet, eventually finding a spare. As I changed, I kept glancing at the kitten, which was lounging on my bed, watching me with unblinking eyes.


    I wasn¡¯t sure what to do. I couldn¡¯t just leave it in my room¡ªwhat if it got hungry, needed to use the bathroom, or made noise and got caught? But I obviously couldn¡¯t bring it to school either. The only thing I knew for sure was that I needed to tell the group about this¡ªboth about the cat and the fact that my ears and tail had vanished.


    As I stood there lost in thought, the kitten tilted its head, watching me curiously. Then, without warning, it leaped from the bed¡ªstraight into my chest.


    No¡ªthrough my chest.


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    A shiver ran through my entire body, and I gasped, staggering back. But after everything I had gone through yesterday, this barely even made the top ten weirdest things.


    I took a deep breath, considering the possibility that had been nagging at me. When I was panicking about what to do, the kitten had looked at me, almost like it was¡­ reading me. Maybe it was.


    Closing my eyes, I focused. Just like yesterday, I could sense the energy flowing in the center of my body¡ªbut this time, there was something else. Another distinct presence, nestled within me.


    The cat.


    You stay hidden in there, alright? I thought, testing the connection. If you do, I can take you with me.


    In response, I heard a faint meow inside my mind.


    So it could understand me. Great. That solved one problem.


    With that settled, I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs. As expected, my parents and sister were already gone, probably since I had overslept. I made myself four sandwiches to make up for missing dinner last night, then stepped outside, locking the door behind me.


    Claire was standing in front of the door when I stepped outside.


    ¡°Finally. Let¡¯s go,¡± she said, turning on her heel and setting off toward school.


    As we walked our usual path, my mind was elsewhere. My new abilities¡­ What exactly could I do with them? Would I be able to get stronger? Maybe even find a mentor¡ªsomeone who could help me unlock my full potential? Would any of the gods even consider taking me under their wing?


    ¡°-ian!¡±


    Claire¡¯s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. Blinking, I turned to see her staring at me, arms crossed, an annoyed look on her face.


    Crap. I¡¯d been completely ignoring her.


    ¡°Sorry, Claire. I was just lost in thought. What were you saying?¡± I asked, rubbing the back of my neck.


    She rolled her eyes. ¡°I said I have a game tonight at eight. I tried calling you, but, of course, you didn¡¯t answer. Mark already promised he¡¯d be there, so you better show up too.¡± She lightly punched my arm for emphasis.


    I winced, rubbing the spot. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯ll be there. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± She flashed a small, satisfied smile.


    The rest of the walk to school was uneventful, just like always. When we arrived, we headed to homeroom and caught up with Mark. Across the room, I spotted Amanda talking with her group of friends. Our eyes met for a brief second, and we exchanged a subtle nod¡ªan unspoken agreement to keep our demon-slaying lives separate from everything else.


    The school day dragged on, my mind constantly drifting back to the kitten. It hadn¡¯t caused any trouble, but I still couldn¡¯t shake my anticipation. I needed to meet up with the group. I needed answers.


    By the time the final bell rang, I was already halfway out the door, heading straight for the clubroom.


    I entered the clubroom to find everyone already inside, gathered around the table.


    Aya was leaning back in her chair, one arm crossed over her chest while the other¡ªwrapped in a cast¡ªrested on her lap. Next to her sat Amanda, her hands neatly folded, watching intently as Becky held up a clear orb, a proud grin stretched across her face.


    They all turned toward me as I stepped in.


    ¡°Hey,¡± I greeted, walking over to the table.


    Amanda and Aya both returned the greeting, though for some reason, Aya¡¯s cheeks were slightly flushed.


    ¡°Brian! You¡¯re just in time for my demonstration,¡± Becky announced excitedly.


    ¡°Demonstration of what?¡± I asked, curious.


    ¡°Go stand over there.¡± She pointed toward the space in front of the window.


    I hesitated for a second before obliging, standing where she directed.


    Becky raised the clear orb in her hand. ¡°When I imbue energy into this orb¡­¡± she began, and as she spoke, the sphere slowly filled with a bright white glow. ¡°It stores that divine energy and¡ª¡±


    She suddenly flashed me a mischievous grin. Before I could react, she hurled the orb at me at lightning speed.


    I barely had time to register what was happening. Without enough time to channel energy into my legs to dodge, I braced myself for impact.


    The kitten, however, had no such intentions of taking the hit with me. It leaped out of my body, landing neatly on the nearby table.


    ¡°Traitor,¡± I muttered.


    A second later, the orb struck me, detonating in a small explosion. The force sent me crashing through the window, shards of glass cutting into my skin as I tumbled outside.


    Luckily, that window faced an empty parking lot, so at least no one had seen me get blown out of the building.


    Groaning, I pushed myself to my feet and climbed back through the shattered window. As I stepped inside, energy naturally flowed through my body, quickly healing the cuts and scrapes.


    Amanda rushed up to me, eyes wide. ¡°Oh my god, are you okay?¡± she asked, then paused as she saw my wounds closing before her eyes. ¡°¡­Oh. Never mind.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s weird,¡± Aya remarked, watching with mild amusement.


    I turned my attention to Becky, who had her hands clasped behind her back and was very obviously avoiding my gaze.


    ¡°¡­Sorry, Brian. I guess I got a little carried away,¡± she admitted, guilt evident in her tone.


    I sighed and waved it off. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not hurt. Besides, it¡¯s a pretty cool invention.¡±


    Her eyes lit up instantly. ¡°I know, right?!¡± she beamed, crossing her arms proudly.


    The kitten hopped off the table and trotted back over to me. It glanced around at the others before effortlessly phasing back into my chest.


    ¡°Oh, now you want to come back inside?¡± I thought at it, mildly annoyed that it had left me to take the explosion on my own.


    It meowed in response. I could swear I sensed amusement in its tone.


    Before I could dwell on it any further, the clubroom door swung open.


    We all turned as Jamie walked in. His eyes flicked between us, the broken window, then back to us again. His jaw dropped slightly, shock written all over his face.


    ¡°¡­What the hell happened?¡±

 Chapter 7: Spar

    After covering up the broken window with some cardboard we borrowed from the arts and crafts club, and explaining to Jamie how it had broken¡ªwhich included sitting through a lecture from him, mostly directed at Becky, about not using our powers in school¡ªwe all gathered around the table to start our club meeting.


    I was preparing to bring up everything I¡¯d been meaning to talk about¡ªthe loss of my tail and cat ears, and the strange cat that seemed to be peacefully dwelling inside my body¡ªbut before I could say a word, Jamie spoke up first.


    ¡°I know this is sudden, but I¡¯m going to be gone for a few days. I¡¯ll be going to Olympus to help with an urgent matter,¡± Jamie said.


    Everyone looked at him curiously. I must¡¯ve had a confused look on my face because he immediately turned to me and continued, ¡°Right, sorry, you don¡¯t know. Olympus is the realm of the gods, basically where they all live.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense,¡± I replied simply, doing my best to push down all the questions swirling in my mind after hearing that explanation.


    Amanda glanced at Brian, worry on her face. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound very good. It¡¯s not often we¡¯re called there. Is everything okay?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing you should be concerned about, and I couldn¡¯t tell you even if I wanted to,¡± Jamie responded with a shrug.


    ¡°That¡¯s not fair,¡± Aya pouted. ¡°You get to go on a secret mission in Olympus while we¡¯re stuck here.¡±


    Jamie smiled awkwardly at her comment. ¡°Trust me, it¡¯s not like I don¡¯t want you guys to come. It¡¯s just¡­never mind.¡±


    Aya crossed her arms, clearly frustrated. ¡°Whatever.¡±


    ¡°Can you at least bring me back something cool?¡± Becky asked eagerly.


    Brian chuckled, thinking she was joking.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious, Jamie,¡± Becky insisted, her tone pleading. ¡°I couldn¡¯t bring anything back last time we were there. Pleaseeee?¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll try,¡± Jamie relented, shaking his head with a smile. Turning to the rest of us, he asked, ¡°Is there anything else? I need to get going.¡±


    ¡°What about my powers? I still have a lot of questions¡­¡± I began, but before I could finish, the cat jumped out of my body and onto the table, meowing before curling up and laying down.


    ¡°This cat was in my room when I woke up,¡± I continued, gesturing to it. ¡°I don¡¯t know what it is, but I think it¡¯s the one that bit me.¡±


    The group stared at the cat. Amanda reached out and petted it, and the cat clearly enjoyed the attention, moving closer to her.


    ¡°Relax,¡± Jamie said, his tone reassuring. ¡°The girls will help you figure it out while I¡¯m gone. Also, I want you guys to take care of any demons that pop up, alright?¡±


    That¡¯s it?


    I tried to suppress my mild annoyance at his response. Aya, Becky, and Amanda all agreed to his request, promising to protect the city while he was gone. I followed suit, making sure to let him know I understood too.


    ¡°Great,¡± Jamie said, standing up from the table. ¡°I¡¯ll see you all in a few days.¡±


    ¡°Good luck,¡± Aya said, offering a small wave.


    ¡°And stay safe,¡± Amanda added, her concern evident.


    ¡°And don¡¯t forget my souvenir! Oh, and what they said,¡± Becky chimed in.


    Jamie smiled softly at all of them, then turned to me.


    I was still a bit upset at how he had brushed me off, but it wouldn¡¯t be right to let him go without saying anything. For the most part, he¡¯d been really kind to me.


    ¡°Get back soon,¡± I said.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    He nodded and left the club room, leaving the four of us alone.


    ¡°So, what now?¡± Aya asked, leaning back in her chair with her one good arm behind her head, clearly bored.


    ¡°We could go train,¡± Becky suggested.


    The cat perked its head up in response, stretched and yawned, then hopped back into my body.


    The rest of us shrugged, considering we had nothing better to do. With that, we headed out.


    ---


    Atop a large building downtown, I sat and gazed at the evening sky, the orange hue of the setting sun coloring the clouds. A calm breeze blew through the air, making the warm weather more bearable.


    Next to me was Becky, munching on a leftover sandwich I had from earlier that morning. In her lap, the cat was curled up, lazily napping as usual.


    Clank. Clank.


    Amanda''s staff fell to the ground, bouncing a couple of times before coming to a stop at our feet. It dissipated a moment later.


    In front of us, Amanda was on her knees, breathing heavily as she tried to catch her breath. Aya dissipated her sword and held out her one good arm, which Amanda took gratefully, allowing Aya to help her back to her feet.


    ¡°You did good,¡± Aya said. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten stronger. Obviously no match for me, but still.¡±


    ¡°Thanks... You seem even¡­ faster than before,¡± Amanda replied, still panting a bit.


    ¡°My turn!¡± Becky exclaimed, hopping to her feet, causing the cat to tumble off her lap. Aya stepped aside and clapped hands with Amanda, signaling that they were tagging out. The cat, clearly annoyed, waddled over to my lap and resumed its nap.


    Amanda came to sit beside me.


    ¡°You did good,¡± I told her with a soft smile.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± she replied, returning the smile.


    She then opened her palm face-up. There was a flash of light before a small bottle appeared. She removed the cap and drank it.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± I asked curiously.


    She finished drinking and responded, ¡°Just an elixir I made. Medicine, to give me back my energy.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s awesome,¡± I replied, impressed.


    ¡°It¡¯s really my strong suit. I¡¯m not the best at fighting, so I like to focus on where my talents lie¡ªhealing,¡± she explained, setting the empty bottle aside.


    ¡°That¡¯s smart. Instead of trying to force something that wasn¡¯t meant to be,¡± I said.


    She nodded and smiled softly. ¡°Oh, they¡¯re starting.¡±


    In front of us, Aya and Becky stood a few feet apart. Aya had her good arm held forward, her sword pointed at Becky. Becky had drawn a bow. It didn¡¯t look like an energy construct, more like a physical bow. Both girls nodded at each other, signaling the start of the spar.


    Aya rushed forward at Becky so fast that I couldn¡¯t see her move. Then I realized¡ªI forgot to channel energy into my eyes. Once I did, I could process their movements. Aya was faster than she¡¯d been with Amanda. Maybe she knew Becky was stronger?


    Becky jumped backward, narrowly avoiding the swing that Aya had made as she closed the distance. Midair, Becky drew her bowstring, and a thin, white arrow appeared along the line. She released it, sending the arrow flying toward Aya. But Aya was ready. She swung her sword, cutting the arrow in half. It shattered and dissipated into the air.


    Becky landed on the ground, planting an open palm. Then, in the same smooth motion, she burst forward at Aya, who stood ready, waiting for the next move. As Becky closed in, she swung her bow. Aya met her bow with her sword. The two weapons clashed, sending sparks of energy flying with each strike as they each took turns swinging and blocking.


    After one of Aya¡¯s relentless swings, I expected Becky to block again, but instead, she jumped backward into the air, away from the strike. Aya dashed forward and threw her sword at Becky. Becky barely had time to react, but she managed to deflect the sword, though it sent her off balance. When she landed, she hit the ground with a thud, her body skidding slightly, her bow landing a few feet away.


    Aya didn¡¯t hesitate. She continued charging forward, a new sword manifesting in her hand. She ran toward Becky, her sword raised to strike down at her as Becky scrambled to recover. But just as Aya reached her, she froze.


    Becky, who had appeared to be struggling a moment ago, quickly got to her feet as if she¡¯d never fallen. A grin spread across her face.


    Amanda and I exchanged confused glances before we turned our attention back to the fight. Suddenly, white divine energy rope constructs shot out from her feet, wrapping around her and binding her up completely. Her sword dissipated, and she was stuck.


    I looked down at where the ropes had come from and saw it¡ªa small piece of paper that Aya was now stepping on. But when did that get there? Then it clicked. When Becky landed the first time, she lingered just a little longer than what would be normal, palm flat on the ground. It must have been a trap she had set.


    Aya gritted her teeth in frustration, and Becky turned to pick up her fallen bow, walking over to it with a smirk. Aya, meanwhile, had already reconstructed her sword. This time however, It floated in front of her, carefully cutting through the ropes one by one, autonomously.


    Becky, who had just picked up her bow, turned around to face Aya. But by the time she did, Aya was free. Becky looked stunned, clearly surprised at how fast Aya had gotten out of the trap.


    In a split second, Aya was in front of Becky. I didn¡¯t even see her move, even with my enhanced perception. Aya held her sword to Becky¡¯s throat, a wicked grin playing on her lips.


    ¡°I win,¡± she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction.

 Chapter 8: A Cry for Help

    ¡°Damn it!¡± Becky hollered in frustration as her bow vanished in a quick flash of light.


    Aya dissipated her sword and slung an arm around Becky¡¯s shoulders. ¡°You almost had me. That trap came out of nowhere.¡±


    Becky huffed but smirked. ¡°It¡¯s a new one I just created the other day¡ªa camouflage trap. Once I set it, it turns invisible. You won¡¯t see it¡­ until you see it.¡±


    As they walked back to where Amanda and I were sitting, Amanda beamed. ¡°That was so cool, Becky! Even if the trap didn¡¯t hold her for long.¡± She stood up and handed them each an energy-restoring elixir.


    I picked up the cat, holding it in one arm. It glanced up at me, looking mildly annoyed. ¡°I guess that means it¡¯s my turn,¡± I said, glancing at Aya.


    Aya finished drinking and looked at me with a smirk. ¡°Yeah, sure. But you should probably turn into that form you were in yesterday. I can sense your energy, and there¡¯s no way you¡¯ll be able to keep up with me as you are now.¡±


    I scratched the back of my head, embarrassed. ¡°Yeah, about that¡­ I actually don¡¯t know how to get back into that form. I don¡¯t even know why I¡¯m out of it. I think it has something to do with the cat.¡±


    ¡°That theory makes sense,¡± Becky said, holding her chin, deep in thought.


    Aya narrowed her eyes at the cat, then turned to the others. ¡°Guys, focus on the cat¡¯s center.¡±


    The others immediately honed in on the feline. I just stood there, watching them. I figured they were sensing its energy, but since I couldn¡¯t, I just waited.


    ¡°Ohhh,¡± Amanda murmured, eyes widening.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe we didn¡¯t feel that sooner,¡± Becky said, her expression shifting to surprise. ¡°Though¡­ it is suppressed.¡±


    Amanda and Aya both nodded in agreement.


    ¡°What? What¡¯s suppressed? What do you guys see¡ªor feel?¡± I asked, impatient.


    Becky looked up at me. ¡°Remember yesterday when we said you had the cat¡¯s energy in you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. What about it?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ how do I put this?¡± She struggled for a moment before saying, ¡°It¡¯s back inside the cat.¡±


    I blinked. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You still have some energy left, but it¡¯s nowhere near as much as before.¡±


    I looked down at the cat in my arms. ¡°You took all my power while I slept?¡± I asked, glaring.


    The cat meowed innocently, but through our apparent mental bond, I could tell it thought this was hilarious¡ªand that it didn¡¯t care at all. Greedy little shit.


    ¡°So, what do I do?¡± I asked, looking back at the group.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you just¡­ absorb more energy?¡± Aya suggested. ¡°I mean, the cat clearly has most of it, but just get some more. Maybe then your ears and tail will come back.¡±


    That made sense.


    ¡°But how do I do that?¡±


    Amanda opened her palm, and a small bottle appeared in a flash of light. ¡°Just drink this.¡±


    Stolen novel; please report.


    Oh yeah, I forgot she had those.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± I took the bottle and eagerly downed its contents, waiting for something¡ªanything¡ªto happen.


    Nothing.


    ¡°That¡¯s weird,¡± I muttered. ¡°It¡¯s not working.¡±


    Becky let out an exaggerated sigh. ¡°Probably because you need demonic energy.¡±


    We all turned to her, confused.


    She crossed her arms. ¡°What? He got his connection to divine energy from a demonic cat. None of you thought he might use a different type of energy than us?¡±


    Amanda frowned. ¡°But¡­ demonic energy is, well, demonic.¡± There was a hint of concern in her voice. ¡°I don¡¯t think the gods will be too happy if they find out he¡¯s using the energy of our enemies.¡±


    Aya shrugged. ¡°Didn¡¯t they say demonic energy is an offshoot of divine energy? If it comes down to it, we could use that as a loophole.¡±


    Becky tapped her chin, then grinned. ¡°Besides, it¡¯d be pretty cool to see what this ¡®taboo¡¯ energy can do.¡±


    I sighed. ¡°Okay, but how do I get it?¡±


    Aya smirked. ¡°Well, yesterday, you drank that demon fluid, right?¡±


    Amanda and Becky recoiled in unison. ¡°Demon fluid?¡± they repeated, disgusted.


    ¡°Long story.¡± Aya grinned at their reactions. ¡°Anyway, what if you just find more of that stuff? It restored your strength and healed you, right?¡±


    ¡°Actually, I think my demonic energy alone heals me,¡± I admitted, grinning.


    ¡°So that¡¯s how you healed earlier,¡± Becky murmured, intrigued.


    Aya nodded. ¡°Then I guess we¡¯re going demon hunting¡ªto find you some demon goo to drink.¡±


    ¡°To unlock the secrets of demonic energy,¡± she added, pumping a fist into the air.


    Amanda still looked hesitant, but she sighed. ¡°I guess¡­ it could be fun.¡±


    I smiled. ¡°Thanks, you g¡ª¡±


    A woman¡¯s scream cut me off.


    All of us snapped to attention, rushing to the edge of the building. Down on the street below, we spotted a woman screaming for help¡±


    We looked at each other, silently agreeing to check it out. Then, without hesitation, we jumped.


    We landed on the sidewalk, just a few feet away from where the woman was screaming. The sun had mostly set, casting the city in a dim, neon glow. It was a busy Friday night downtown, with crowds of people walking, chatting, and going about their lives. Despite the woman¡¯s cries for help, no one had stepped in¡ªsome simply stared, others ignored her, and a few had even pulled out their phones to record.


    A handful of people gasped as we landed, but we ignored them and rushed straight for the woman.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I asked, noting the tears streaming down her face. Her hands were clutching her head, her entire body trembling. She was in full panic.


    ¡°My¡­ my baby¡ªshe¡¯s gone!¡± Her voice cracked with desperation.


    We all froze, exchanging shocked glances.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Aya asked, her tone turning serious.


    ¡°I¡­ we were walking home from getting ice cream. I was holding her hand¡­ and then¡ª¡± The woman choked on a sob, struggling to get the words out. ¡°A figure¡ªI don¡¯t know who or what it was¡ªit happened so fast¡ªbut it took my baby! It flew off with her!¡±


    Aya tightened her grip on the woman¡¯s shoulders, trying to ground her. ¡°Did you see which way it went?¡±


    The woman blinked rapidly, trying to piece her thoughts together, then shakily pointed down the street. ¡°There¡­ it flew that way.¡±


    My stomach twisted. Something that could fly had taken her child. That meant one thing¡ªit had to be a demon. But¡­ weren¡¯t regular people unable to see demons?


    Aya¡¯s jaw tightened, but she nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll find your baby, ma¡¯am.¡± The words were strong, but I could hear the uncertainty beneath them.


    And she wasn¡¯t the only one. None of us knew if we actually could.


    Whoever¡ªor whatever¡ªhad taken the child already had a head start, and with no clear description, all we had was a vague direction to go on. It wasn¡¯t much. Still, we had to try.


    ¡°Please,¡± the woman sobbed, gripping Aya¡¯s arms. ¡°Please find my baby.¡±


    Aya hesitated for a second before placing a hand over the woman¡¯s. ¡°We¡¯ll bring them to the police when we do. Just go home for now and wait.¡± She offered what was meant to be a reassuring smile, but I could tell she wasn¡¯t sure it would help.


    The woman slowly let go, swallowing her sobs. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Aya nodded, then turned to us.


    We all met her gaze, ready.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said, her eyes burning with determination.


    Without another word, we took off into the night.