บท 12: Chapter 12: Assistant Elijah
Dodging the incoming Holy Lightning, it hit the rocky ground, making an explosion and leaving a big cloud of dust obstructing my view.
Moments later, an electrified whip came out of the cloud of dust heading towards my direction.
I narrowly managed to dodge it with the electricity of the whip touching my cheek and leaving a small cut.
As the dust cleared, I could see Akeno with her wings unfurled, flying above me while charging up her next attack.
How to deal with her? I wondered to myself and continued dodging all her attacks.
It was the biggest problem with flying opponents, which is very common in the supernatural world, except for someone who decided to make swords out of his wings.
The last words I remember Scáthach telling me before sending me out of the Land of Shadows was that there was a way to get my wings back. The only problem is that I don't know how to do it.
Quite a lot of time has passed since I left that place, but I haven't made progress. The only way I can think of is to return my blades to being wings, but I can't do that.
So now I'm stuck here dodging everything while running in circles like a monkey while Akeno is in the sky and shooting Holy Lightning at me with a sadistic grin.
"Fufufu, yes, run around like that for me," She said with a sadistic laugh and what looked like a small blush on her face.
"Great, she is becoming a sadist, and I'm the target..." I muttered with a wry smile and dodged another lightning strike.
The fight aside, I've been feeling something off for the past couple of days. Mom looked worried and stressed over something, and I could sense that the guards around the house when she wasn't here were stronger than before.
Maybe I should ask her what's going on. Because they assigned stronger guards for my protection, it must mean something is happening, and I might end up targeted again.
Maybe the Old Satan Faction is planning something like that time again?
Or maybe it's something completely different.
Lost in my thoughts, I lost focus on the battle I was in and ended up paying the price for it.
"Urgh!" I let out a scream after being slammed with a powerful bolt of Holy Lightning. While the Light element didn't do anything towards it, it's still lightning, so it hurts, especially when I'm not augmenting my body.
"Fufufu, didn't you say to always stay focused during a battle?" Akeno asked with a chuckle.
With gritted teeth as the pain from the attack still didn't wear off, I replied, "I was just showing you what would happen if you did..."
"Oh, then maybe you should show me again; I would certainly enjoy that, fufufu." She chuckled, making my eye twitch seeing her expression.
Seeing another attack incoming, I dodged and started observing our surroundings.
In order to win, I would need to find a way to get up to her, but first, I would need a distraction.
After a few seconds, a plan developed in my mind, but I would only have one chance at it. If I failed this, she wouldn't fall for it again.
With the plan in mind, I started moving the battle to where I needed Akeno to be.
"Are you just going to dodge the whole time?" She asked before giving me a sadistic grin, "If so, then let me give you more of a challenge,"
Attacks started coming at me faster, but I could still dodge them.
"I'm just waiting for you to exhaust your reserves. How much did you use already, 3/4 or more?" I asked.
"Didn't you say never to tell the enemy such things?"
After about ten minutes, Akeno was in a perfect spot for me to attack her, so just in case, I made a layer of mana around one of my blades to make it dull and threw it straight at Akeno.
She didn't expect me to throw my weapon, momentarily surprising her and stopping her attack to dodge it. The blade flew by her, and at that moment, she wasn't looking at me, so I didn't waste time.
I used Flash Step to get behind her and up the rocks. When I was at the highest point, I jumped.
Seeing me disappearing from my spot, Akeno quickly looked to her right and left before spinning around in the air, but it was too late.
I was close enough to grab both her arms and make us fall to the ground.
Akeno tried to get free from my grasp and stop us from falling, but it only softened the fall lightly.
We landed on the ground with me pinning Akeno with both her hands above her head and making her unable to move.
We stayed like that for a while before Akeno smiled and said, "I win,"
"Huh?" I asked, seeing as I was pinning her down, making her unable to move, "I'm pinning you down. You can't even move." I said.
"I know," She replied with an expression that made me sigh.
How could I have forgotten? Not only has she developed a sadistic side but also a masochistic side as well.
I can't say it's not... No, stop, don't think like that!
Letting her free, I went to pick up my swords and stored them on my back, "You have gotten better since last time. I had a hard time finding a way to win."
Akeno pouted, "But you weren't even augmenting your body,"
"That's true, but you made me use Flash Step this time." I tried to cheer her up. The last time, she didn't fly up in the air and stayed on the ground the whole time, "Anyways, let's go back up," I said and headed towards the stairs up from the underground training hall.
"Ughh, fine," She groaned before standing up, hiding her wings, and following after me.
While Akeno isn't as strong as Vali or even Kuroka, having another opponent to spar against is always good for training.
The fact that it is difficult for me to dodge her attacks without the help of augmenting my body proves that I need to train my body more.
After leaving the training ground, I went to take a quick shower.
During the shower, I remembered I wanted to ask Uncle Azazel if he would teach me how to make different artifacts and other devices so I could make my armor.
I already have some ideas of how I want the armor and how to store and equip it.
I want Uncle Azazel to teach me about different ways I could make it with the methods used in this world. After that, I could use a mix of techniques used in this and my old world to make it. So, who is better than a crazy inventor like him? I wouldn't be surprised if he made something that would turn random objects or even people into carrots.
Turning off the water, I quickly dried myself and put on fresh clothes before going down to the kitchen.
Seeing me coming down, Akeno went and took a shower herself while I poured myself a glass of ice-cold water.
Activating my storage rune, I took out my phone and dialed Uncle Azazel.
[Hello?]
"Yo, Uncle Azazel, I need some help," I said.
I heard him sigh before saying, [Don't tell me you got into trouble again.]
My eye twitched, "Of course not! Who do you take me for? Never mind that I need a teacher, and you are the first one I thought of." I said, and I got a bad feeling.
[Ho? So you finally grew up and want advice on how to get a few girls?]
"No! That's not why I'm calling you for!" I snapped at him before quickly calming down. Just the tone he asked made me so annoyed I considered punching him.
I could feel him disappointed with the answer even if I couldn't see it.
[So then, what can I help you with?]
Taking a deep breath, I answered, "There are a few things I want to make, similar to the storage ring and swords I asked you to make, but I need someone to teach me."
[Oh?] He sounded interested. [What exactly are you thinking about making?]
I smirked, "You will see after I make them. But in order to make them, you need to become my teacher."
[Oh, come on, if you want me to teach you, at least tell me what you want to make.]
"Nope..." I knew he would still accept me, seeing as he tried to look at my different notes many times, "Plus, I heard you always sneak out, leaving your paperwork to do whatever you want, so now you will have an excuse."
[Fine, come over tomorrow, and I will teach you the basics.]
"Also, I will need to use your lab to make it."
After that, I hung up the call and continued my day as usual.
---
The next day, I arrived at one of the houses Uncle Azazel owns in the human world, where he was waiting for me.
"So, what are you thinking of making?" He asked.
"I'll show you if I manage to make it," I responded with a smile and sat down at the table that had three stacks of different books, "So what are the books about?" I asked.
Azazel sighed, "These are the books I want you to read after I give you a basic rundown of how to make magical inventions."
I nodded, and then he began his lesson. He even brought out a blackboard.
I didn't expect him to actually put so much effort into this. But considering this is basically his favorite hobby besides being a pervert, I can understand.
"You need to have a deep understanding of both magical and scientific principles." He started writing on the blackboard, "Let's take the storage ring I made for you as an example..."
After he had finished explaining everything and told me to read the books, I could see some similarities in how the artifacts were created in my previous world, but they were also completely different.
...
..
.
With that, I continued being tutored by Uncle Azazel. Days flew by quickly, and four months passed in the blink of an eye.
Uncle Azazel decided I had a good grasp on the theory behind everything and should start more with the practical side. I would basically work as his assistant for free.
My previous thought of him having a gun capable of making everything into a carrot was actually true. Apparently, he made it while being drunk one time. I wonder if this works on living beings...
There were other weird inventions around his lab I won't go into detail with due to the sheer amount of them.
I don't know why I expected everything to be more medieval than what I see now. The process of making everything here is something I would like to call Magical Engineering and Magical Programming.
If I didn't know about the magical metals, liquids, and other items here, I would never even consider anything here to be related to the supernatural world.
This may even be easier than I imagined.
"I only need to find a durable, self-healing, and destruction flame-resistant material... Not hard at all, not hard at all..." I muttered under my breath.
"Did you say something?" Azazel asked, looking at me, and a moment later, something exploded near him.
"..." I just looked at him for a while. This wasn't the first time this happened since I started working as his lab assistant, and it wouldn't be the last. For how good he is at this, explosions are common here.
"I was just thinking about the thing I plan to make," I said as he took a towel to clean his face.
"Can you at least tell me what it is? All those months of me teaching you, and you can't give even a clue. Why am I even teaching you?"
"Because I have awesome ideas you want to see?" I asked with a deadpan tone and a tilt of my head, "Besides, you can think of this as an early birthday present for me if you want..."
That would be for the better considering the present he gave me last time. He even made it look like a normal present so no one would see anything wrong with it.
He sighed before going over to a stack of papers, "Anyways, here is the list of materials you asked for."
I took the stack of papers from his hand and looked through them. Most of the materials had one or two of the criteria I had, but after going through the first hundred, there wasn't a single one that had everything I needed.
I continued going through page after page of materials, but none of them met my criteria until I reached one of the last pages.
"That's it!" I said out loud and looked around the lab. I was alone, so Uncle Azazel must have gone to pick up something or was dragged out to do his paperwork.
That didn't concern me, so I quickly scanned through the last materials just in case there was another one that could work. Unfortunately, there wasn't, but at least now I had something that would work.
The last thing I need to do before starting to make the armor is to design it. I don't want anything bulky like Vali's balance breaker armor.
The armor needs to be compact and can't impact my movements. The last thing I would want is to miss a strike due to my armor.
A little less than one hour later, Uncle Azazel returned with an expression that was a mixture of concern and excitement. I don't know how that is possible, but what worried me was the five different vials with crimson-red liquid and what looked like black particles floating inside.
"What are those?" I asked as he passed me quickly, walking towards one of his machines, "Is that blood?"
That's not my blood, right? I don't think he took a sample of my blood, but with him, I can never be sure. While I trust him, I don't trust the mad scientist side he sometimes shows.
"Yes, it's angel blood, and no, it's not yours." I was about to ask how he got his hands on angel blood and what was wrong with it, but I didn't need to, "Michael asked me to run some tests on the samples; the researchers up in heaven had problems with it due to its danger for pure angels."
If you tell me something is dangerous, then of course I would test if it's true. It's like leaving someone with a big red button. So, like a normal kid my age, I walked closer to look at it.
"So what's the black stuff floating around in the blood?" I asked, and on closer inspection, it looked like the black stuff inside the blood was growing while slowly eating the blood.
"I haven't done my test yet, but from what I can see and what I've been told, it's demonic energy in a liquid form. Just this week, three pure angels were injected with it and found dead. Practically instant death for them."
My eyes widened at what he said. Demonic energy in a liquid form? If possible, would light energy in a liquid form exist or any other energy in fact?
He also said that three pure angels were killed with it just this week. Could it be the Old Satan Faction at work again?
But wait...
"Should you even be telling me about this?" I asked. This didn't sound like something he should just share with anyone.
"Nope... But considering this relates to angels, I don't see why I should keep it secret. Besides, if Michael or your mother doesn't find out, it won't be a problem.
"..." I deadpanned.
"So, do you want to help me with it or not?" He asked, seeing my expression.
There was only one answer to that question, "Why not." I replied with a shrug.
...
..
.
A couple of days passed, and during this time, Azazel continued studying what I dubbed Demon Liquid, much to my dismay, as Azazel thought I gave it that name for another reason.
While he was doing that and I wasn't helping him with anything, I continued designing my armor and finished it.
It took a while for Uncle Azazel to get me the material, but I finally had it.
I'm truly thankful that my family is rich because I don't know how much something like this would cost me.
Now that I had everything, I didn't waste time. I dove straight into the process of creating my invention. The creation process was simple with the machines that were a mixture of magical and scientific. I just needed to program most of the stuff, and the machine would do the rest. Of course, I would use some of my old-world techniques to make it, but that could be done later.
I started typing on the holographic keyboard, and time seemed to go faster than usual. Cans of energy drinks started stacking up, and bags started forming under my eyes due to not sleeping for so long.
While I went through multiple days without any sleep in my previous life without any issues, this isn't something I'm used to in this life. Barely three days in, and I feel like I would fall asleep when I close my eyes for more than a second.
It's like studying for the final hunter exam all over again but with less stress.
I think Uncle Azazel has been coming and going in and out of the laboratory, not minding me stuck here while saying something along the lines that I'm starting to look like a real researcher now.
I even got a few calls from my mother and Aunt Shuri, seeing as I hadn't been home, but with a not-so-quick explanation, I could stay here until I was done.
Even so, Mom seemed to be worried even more than usual, and I'm guessing it's due to the Demon Liquid killings. Since the first time Uncle Azazel came here with the blood samples, another angel has been found dead.
While I'm not a leader, I would personally order all the weaker pure angels to return to Heaven until everything I dealt with while the stronger ones try to catch the person or group responsible.
Actually, who am I kidding? I would recall everyone using me as bait to lure the person responsible out, and if it was a group, make them tell me where their base is and deal with the rest.
It would make everything easier. That is also a reason why I consider myself a bad leader.
Anyways, back to making my armor.
Days turned into weeks as I continued working on the armor. Fortunately, I got some well-deserved rest every other day.
But all that time of work finally paid off. A mixture of this world's and my world's creating methods made the armor in front of me.
A jet-black and gold armor with scales. Vali's balance breaker suit was maybe a big inspiration for the design. But something about the jet-black color with the golden details makes it much cooler, in my opinion.
I'm really excited to give the armor a test run, but before that, I need to test a few things.
I walked forward to the armor before taking out one of my blades. The first test is the durability and self-healing part.
While the armor is made out of a durable material and should withstand powerful blows, the defense can be significantly brought up by using reinforcement on the suit of armor.
The first test was a normal slash and stab.
Without wasting more time, I swung at the armor. The blades slashed across the armor, and I couldn't help but have a big grin on my face seeing the result. Not even a scratch.
After that, I tried a stab and got the same effect.
That's good, but for the second test, I would use reinforcement on my blade.
Reinforming my blade, I repeated the test, but unlike the last time, the slash tore through the armor with slight resistance while the stab pierced through it.
"Not bad," I muttered.
Now, then, let's see if I can heal the damage I just did to it. While the material used for the armor would easily repair this type of damage with time, pushing mana into the armor should hasten the process by a large margin.
So that's what I did. The moment my new armor got mana, the damage started healing itself at a visible pace.
That's two out of the three tests done, leaving the hardest part for me to create.
Sending a burst of mana into the armor, I saw the armor give off a light glow before it started changing its form and shrinking. In a few seconds, the armor changed into a jet-black necklace with a golden wing.
I felt giddy seeing everything working, and I couldn't hold my excitement at trying the armor on myself.
I quickly took the necklace and put it on me. Then, with a deep breath, I closed my eyes before sending another burst of mana into the necklace.
I felt the armor wrap around my body, starting from my neck down to my feet. It was as if I had a second skin.
Opening my eyes, I looked at my armored-clawed hand and then looked down to see the rest of the armor.
I tried to move around for a bit, and everything seemed fine, and the armor didn't restrict my movement.
Just to be sure, I reinforced the armor. My mana flooded and filled the whole armor, making it more durable, and I'm sure my reinforced blades wouldn't even leave a scratch now.
I was really excited to test out the armor in a fight and was about to take out my phone to reply to Vali's last hundred messages during the time I locked myself in the lab.
I didn't have enough time to pull out my phone from the storage rune as the doors to the laboratory were suddenly kicked open by Azazel, who entered with a face that resembled a kid who had just got an early birthday present.
"I figured-" He stopped and looked at me for a second before quickly walking past me, saying, "Nice armor," and then went to do something with the blood samples.
"Nice armor? Is that really all you are going to say after I spent so much time making it?" I asked with a slight eye twitch.
Without even looking at me, he started doing something with one of the blood samples and answered, "While I would like to see what the armor is capable of, I think I figured out how they made the Demon Liquid, as you called it."
I visibly cringed at the name that he stuck with for the liquid demonic energy. While there wasn't anything wrong with the name, the way he said it made it sound wrong, and the smirk he had every time he said it made it even worse.
Why couldn't I just shut my mouth and let him come up with a name?
But back to the important stuff, I decided to ask, "So how is it made?"
He gained a mad glint in his eyes before answering, "You see! The mutated beasts you killed. I took a sample back then but didn't think much of it until now. The remaining demonic signature from them is almost identical to the Demon Liquid."
"So the people that experimented on and made the beast also made the... Demon Liquid." I said but had a hard time saying the last part without my eyes twitching.
"That is also something I thought at first, but after more tests, I found out that the potency of their blood has changed to a more pure or, should I say, demonic form. Almost like the Demon Liquid."
I thought for a moment about what he just said, but it made me even more confused, "So you are saying that the Demon Liquid is actually the blood of those beasts?"
But how would that be possible? I was covered with their blood, but nothing happened to me.
"I guess that they were successful with their experiments and this," He pointed at the vials of blood that had even more black substance in them, "That is the result of it."
My eyes widened slightly at what he said. Still, I quickly recomposed myself and asked, "But if that's the case and the Old Satan Faction made a weapon specifically against pure angels, wouldn't that mean they also are making something against the fallen or even the devils against them?"
He pondered it momentarily before shrugging, "That's highly possible. Bring my energy reader. It should be in that pile over there," He said, pointing at a box full of different things in the corner of the lab.
I nodded and went over to it while also changing my armor back into its pendant form.
Searching through the box, I groaned in annoyance as I couldn't find it on the top and knew I would need to dive deeper into the box.
After going through some devices, I had no idea what they did. I picked up something resembling a two by two Rubik's cube, but every side had the same dark gunmetal color.
The moment I picked it up, I felt a heat on my back, similar to how the destruction rune felt when activating, but I knew it wasn't it but something else.
At the same time, the cube gave off a purple glow, and purple electricity crackled around it before it exploded right in front of me.
The last thing I remember was falling backward as my eyes closed, and the last thing I saw before losing consciousness was the panicked expression of Uncle Azazel.
---
Author's Note:
Thank you for reading this chapter.
If you enjoy this story, remember to vote and leave a review if you haven't.
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