Chapter 353

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Azazel didn’t particularly like her Supernatural Ability.

Divine Descent.

A Supernatural Ability that summons ancient spirits.

It was an ability that fluctuated wildly. She didn’t know which figure would be summoned. She couldn’t choose the spirit she wanted.

In short, it was a gamble. The effect depended on the spirit that answered the call. If things went well, she could be considered the strongest among the captains, but if she drew a blank, she’d plummet to the weakest. The highs and lows were extreme. It wasn’t stable. She had to rely on luck every time. That was why Azazel didn’t trust her own ability.

Moreover, she was even put in danger depending on the spirit that was summoned.

Her Supernatural Ability didn’t only summon humans.

Even monsters were subject to her ability, so sometimes she was possessed by demonic spirits.

Even humans were a problem. As the Family case showed, not all Supernaturals could be considered good people.

There were even extreme cases where she summoned them to borrow power, but they instead tried to steal her body. In fact, when she was still inexperienced, she had suffered more than once because of the ancient spirits.

Also, even if they weren’t evil, they weren’t always cooperative. Some spirits demanded a price in exchange for lending their power, which was a headache. There were too many things to consider depending on the spirit’s disposition.

Of course, as she had reached the captain level, most of these problems were resolved. There was no chance of her body being taken over by a summoned spirit, and if they refused to cooperate, she could forcibly steal their power. But Azazel, who had suffered so much, was always cautious.

When she activates her Supernatural Ability, she first uses a doll as the medium. It didn’t have to be a doll. Any object would do as long as it could communicate to some extent. Then she identifies the spirit. If it was a helpful spirit, only then would she let it possess her own body. If she didn’t think so, she would just send it back. If it was an evil spirit, she would re-spiritualize it.

The downside was that it took time to prepare, but the advantage was that it was stable. Azazel had always favored this method. That was why she always carried a doll with her.

“H-How did it talk?”

That was why the current situation was quite bewildering. It was a first. She had put countless spirits in dolls, but this had never happened. 

The doll speaking. How did it talk? The doll didn’t have lungs or vocal cords. With a startled face, she lifted the doll up. Her wide eyes explained how surprised she was.

[What’s so surprising? Isn’t it strange from the start that a doll can stand on two feet and write with its hands?]

“That’s, that’s true, but…”

Come to think of it, that was true.

From the beginning, it was strange that a doll without muscles or anything could act autonomously.

Now that she thought about it, it wasn’t a big deal.

She had just overreacted because it had never happened before.

But on the other hand,

The fact that it had done something no one else had meant that.

The spirit in front of her was different from the spirits that had passed through her hands so far.

“If you could talk, you should have said so from the beginning?”

[I didn’t know I could. I was frustrated, so I tried talking, and it worked.]

“What’s that?”

Azazel stared blankly at the rabbit doll.

It looked a bit grotesque because its head was crushed.

“…What do you mean by the soul being shattered?”

[It’s exactly as it sounds. My soul was shattered into pieces. The me you summoned is just a haphazard collection of those fragments.]

“How did that happen? I know a thing or two about handling spirits, and spirits aren’t as easily broken as glass, you know?”

[It’s the price I paid for coveting excessive power. It’s also a scar of glory. Don’t worry about it.]

“No, I’m very worried.”

Soul damage.

That was why he, who could have lived as long as Yoo-seong, had died young.

To oppose the King of the Devil Gods, Michael craved power beyond his limits.

The moment Michael, who had never considered himself weak in his entire life, was reduced to an absolute weakling.

He was prepared for his own death, and he reached out to a taboo that he should never have touched.

As a result, his soul, which could be said to be the source of life, was severely worn down, and the damage was so great that even the Blessed Saintess shook her head. The only reason he was able to live a few more years was thanks to Lucille’s desperate healing. If it hadn’t been for her, he would have died within a few months at most.

[What’s important right now isn’t the damage to my soul. Girl, summoning me must mean you need my power.]

Michael quickly grasped the current situation.

In fact, the very situation of him being summoned was an anomaly.

Azazel couldn’t summon Michael. Even a captain-level Supernatural couldn’t dare to summon the Godlike One. Even if Azazel’s Supernatural Ability reached Michael by sheer luck, he couldn’t be summoned unless Michael agreed.

However, Michael had never agreed to be summoned.

Far from agreeing, he only realized that there had been an attempt to summon him after he possessed the doll.

This meant.

Someone had interfered with Azazel’s Supernatural Ability.

And it was already decided who that could be.

[The Four Seasons guided me to you.]

The Four Seasons sent the ‘Godlike One’ to Azazel.

He didn’t ask why. Michael understood his mission without asking. Even though his senses had become quite dull because of the doll’s body, he could feel it as if it were touching his skin. The intense traces of destruction. The scorching heat and the deathly cold. Michael looked at Azazel and said.

[My mission now is to purify the evil that harms humans. Girl, let’s go. There’s no time to delay.]

“…Well, it’s good that you’re cooperative.”

It wasn’t a bad story for Azazel. Anyway, she had summoned Michael to save her sister and subjugate the monsters. Judging by the cleanliness of his spirit, he wasn’t evil, and although his ability was unknown, he didn’t seem weak. Azazel stared intently at the doll, then slowly hugged it. She accepted the spirit in the doll into her body.

Immediately, Azazel’s body twitched.

The rabbit doll slipped from her arms and fell to the floor with a thud.

Azazel didn’t pick up the doll. She couldn’t even think of picking it up. Controlling the energy that was spreading throughout her body was the priority.

‘What is this…?!’

It was absurd.

It was so absurd that she couldn’t even laugh.

An overwhelming energy that was so full it felt like it would burst.

She had been possessed by countless spirits so far, but this was the first time.

‘The vessel is… not enough… this is crazy…!’

If she let her guard down even for a moment, her body would physically explode. 

Azazel let out a hollow laugh. A spirit that even she, a captain, couldn’t handle? She hunched over and concentrated on controlling the power. 

The corners of her lips thinned. Her half-closed eyes tilted like a crescent moon. She wouldn’t admit it, but at that moment, she looked a bit like the smug captain of the 4th Division.

Jackpot. She had hit the jackpot. Two demonic beasts had appeared, and the future looked bleak, but with this power, it felt like she could solve everything.

Her senses expanded. Her widely spread senses more clearly oversaw the situation on the battlefield. At the same time, she instinctively understood Michael’s Supernatural Ability.

“…Did the Four Seasons really guide you?”

She didn’t believe in gods, but she decided to believe in them for now.

It was the ability she needed most.

It was the ability Azazel wanted most.

“Light. Brilliant light. Dazzling light.”

An ability similar to that of Knight Leader Johan… perhaps a perfect superior version.

“You, you really were Michael?”

[Didn’t I tell you? I’m Michael.]

“It’s not like there aren’t a bunch of guys who lie, saying there’s no way to prove it anyway.”

The preparation was complete. Azazel turned her gaze to the realm of death with a good feeling. She was lucky. She had all the cards, so now all that was left was to save them. 

Wait, your sister is coming!

[Wait.]

However, before Azazel could take a step, Michael’s voice was heard. Azazel listened to Michael’s voice with a puzzled expression. 

What all of a sudden? I’m busy right now.

[That’s not the way.]

“What?”

[The priority is wrong.]

“What’s that supposed to mean…”

[Can’t you see beyond that death? Hmm, maybe that’s true. You haven’t fully accepted my power yet.]

Azazel frowned. In her vision, the realm of death looked like a fog. It was an influence that was isolated from the outside world as Ere had opened the gate to the underworld. 

Because it physically blocked external interference, she had to forcibly break through. 

The reason Azazel was happy to realize Michael’s ability was that Michael’s light could easily break through that realm.

[I don’t know why the monster is opposing the Devil God, but now is the chance. There’s also a swordsman who has reached the realm of the Sword Saint, so they won’t be easily defeated. Right now, the priority is to subjugate that fire giant.]

“What are you talking about?! Someone is blocking that side well, whoever they are?!”

[They’re blocking it, but it seems like maintaining the status quo is the limit. The situation isn’t changing at all.]

“So let’s quickly solve El’s problem first…”

[I am light. Light drives out darkness. Unless death is the enemy, it will only be a hindrance if it’s an ally.]

Just by being there, death would be purified.

That’s why it was second in priority.

[And…]

Michael trailed off.

This time, it wasn’t a logical reason.

He felt a strange familiarity in that place.

Familiar, yet warm…

A familiarity like an old friend he had lost a long time ago.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
I’m scared of long-term aftereffects from crouching over to my computer and straining my wrists.

So I thought—why not try a method without aftereffects?

I attempted to stretch my neck with a towel.

It hurt and felt awful.

I won’t do it again.

Probably.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Asphyxiation 2, the sequel.

Try it, and do tell me how it feels. (Don’t)

No? Oh well, you’re the one losing out!

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