Chapter 12: Pre-mission: The Hunt For Members Begin!
A loud sound of a large bell echoed throughout the Waiting Room. Accompanying it, were the unorganized voices of conversations.
Levi was highly disturbed by the sudden noises, and his eyelids lifted. He raised his head and looked around, but it all seemed blurry. He then rubbed both eyes with his palms and slowly stood up.
"Hmm? What's going on?" His eyes were still halfway closed as he saw people engaging unusually in conversations.
"Did they all become friends while I was asleep? How long was I out?" he thought, lifting his body and staggering to meet someone who stood on his own.
"If everyone's making friends, why won't I?"
It was during his slow locomotion, that his eyes finally caught an intriguing information written on the electronic board that hung in the center.
[Pre-mission: Make a group of 5 before setting out on the next mission]
"That explains why everyone is talking and trying to make friends."
Upon seeing that, he rushed with more speed to meet the man. He was in a box, gloomy and dilapidated. As soon he stepped within the proximity of the boy, he felt a sudden shift and tension.
Chills that resembled those cast by the demon ran down his spine. This prompted Levi to converse with the person.
"Someone with this much power? That's crazy. He must be in my group."
He ran through the box and dragged him away from it. Although he sounded forceful, he begged him to join his group.
The probability of his becoming the second member was very low, as he hadn't seen Levi in his life, and neither had Levi seen him. Levi was so desperate that he would force anyone to join him.
Levi looked around, observing his emotions. He stared into his eyes, but they were dark and emotionless. He was afraid that he wouldn't join him, but he asked him once more,
"Would you join me on my journey, please?"
The teenage boy in question stood still and unresponsive until a slight grin spread from each end of his mouth. Suddenly, he let out a boisterous laugh that immediately puzzled Levi.
"Does this mean that he'll join or not?" he thought, gazing at him in a confused manner.
His laugh suddenly ceased, and he freed himself from Levi's hold. He stepped back and rearranged his clothes.
"I'm Azazel Williams, but call me Azazel. You see, I'm chosen by the demons so you wouldn't want me on your team," Azazel spoke.
His words puzzled Levi even more, and Levi began questioning himself. He was filled with ambivalence; whether to persuade or leave him.
After a long stare at Azazel, he made a decision and persuaded Azazel to join his group. After all, someone with such immeasurable people could not be left alone. He couldn't pass such an amazing offer.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked with an ambivalent look.
Azazel slowly returned to his corners, and sat on a small piece of wood. He stared deeply into Levi's eyes, and once again, conjuring the chills that he had done before.
Merely a single look at his countenance could plunge you deeply into fear. His dark eyes with a shade of red added to his ferocious look.
His clothes were red, with images of fire and skulls embroidered on them whereas his trousers and shoes were plain black.
"Why is this guy so different? How is he chosen by the demons? Didn't the demon apocalypse just start yesterday?" Levi asked himself, as he slowly approached Azazel.
Quickly, Azazel picked up a white piece of paper, the only thing with a contrasting color, and showed it to Levi. On the paper, was a weird transcription written in black ink.
It didn't look like Japanese, Chinese, or any other language of that sort. He wondered what Azazel's plan could be, but he fearlessly extended his arms to grab the paper.
Immediately he held it, it caught on fire. His palms suffered minor bruises, but the manner the paper was engulfed in flames was most baffling.
As Levi was exiting his state of shock, and slowly recovering, he heard the light voice of Azazel speaking like an angel.
"I was given this paper by my parents a long time ago to prove myself. The paper is of a special substance that can only be found in a faraway land..."
".... Alas, I have forgotten its name. But that aside, the paper reacts with any non-demonic entity. I was told that demons of higher tiers could potentially make use of this."
Levi watched Azazel and his words flowed out of his mouth. He was about to engage him in a trivia, but he deemed it unnecessary. Azazel's existence still proved surprising and mysterious.
"I am called 'chosen by the demons' because I possess and can actively manipulate their powers," he concluded.
Levi lowered his head, gently placed his palms on his forehead, and smiled. Slowly, a grin appeared on his face, and boisterously, he chuckled. He then raised his head and stared directly at Azazel.
"Now for my first question, would you like to join me?!"
Azazel was surprised at Levi's resolve. He had always liked being alone and was slightly older than him. The thought of him journeying with someone of such low class and power was indeed shameful.
But, his interest was immediately sparked by Levi's words. After all that he had spoken, he thought it would scare him away because that had always worked on others.
"Someone with such bravery and courage.... shall I observe him?" he thought, slowly standing up from the wood that served as his bench.
Levi immediately extended his arms towards Azazel, and with a malicious smile, he returned his pleasantry and held Levi's hand. They both shook hands and sought their next member as he thought,
"One new member, three to go," he turned towards Azazel and said, I hope our new members will be as strong as you." Azazel smiled genuinely, and they ran towards an assembly of people in the distance.
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