Mykel opened his eyes as he slowly got up from the bed with nothing but a blanket that covered his body. Lyneth was asleep next to him, and he remembered that they were staying the night in the palace. He then looked at the notification in front of him.
"To think you cleared the Beelzebub Tower on the same day..." Mykel scoffed as he closed the notification and slowly got off the bed.
He checked Jeanne and Agnez through the channel and saw both of them were still in Aersland. He was worried that Mara would take them when he was gone and away from them, but it turned out they were fine.
"Why do I keep waking up so early," Mykel looked out the glass door to the balcony and saw the moonlight still up high.
"(How's the progress?)" Mykel asked Zherlthsh as he put his trouser and shirt on.
"(Everything is fine, the arena you wanted is being built and the estimated time is four months or less until it's fully built)" Zherlthsh answered. "(When are you going to go back to Earth?)" Zherlthsh asked.
"(Later this morning, why?)" Mykel asked as he walked outside his chamber.
"(Deviatris has turned all the subjects into Chimeras, and she doesn't know what to do with them. She's waiting for your instructions, and she said she discovered something amazing that she wanted to show you)" Zherlthsh answered.
"(What about the Fraternity? Any information?)" Mykel asked.
"(Other than they cleared the Mahazael and Beelzebub Towers, there's nothing much. But, there's a rumor that Gustav is terminally ill and Asmond has been taking care of everything)" Zherlthsh answered.
"(Cancer, he has cancer)" Mykel said as he checked Gustav's [Character] Story. "(That means there's a chance he would contact Deviatris soon)" Mykel continued. "(I'll be back soon and meet Deviatris later)" Mykel said.
Zherlthsh hummed and said nothing else.
(Outside the Beelzebub Tower)
"Good work, everybody. We will clear the Behemoth Tower in three days, and I hope everyone has a good rest because it will be the last tower that we have to clear," Asmond said as he looked at everyone. "Everyone is dismissed," Asmond continued as he removed the heavy pauldrons and gauntlets.
Rufus and the others were chilling near the tower since they wanted to see everyone leave first. Rufus then approached Asmond as he stared at the Awakeners that joined them in the tower clearance.
"Asmond, don't you think it's a bit off?" Rufus asked.
"What is?" Asmond asked as he removed his breastplate and dropped it on the ground.
"You're not even aware that those guys are unbelievably strong? Like those guys aren't even having a scratch on them. They're not even in the main team, but how did they become so strong like that?" Rufus asked as he kept staring at them. "I'm not saying this because I don't like them or am jealous, and everyone is thinking the same as I do," Rufus explained.
Asmond looked at those Awakeners, and he knew some of their names. Although he didn't want to believe that something was odd about them, he couldn't ignore his friends' words.
"I'll go and check on them later," Asmond said as he massaged his left forearm.
"Let me do it, Asmond. I can try and dig something if they indeed have something to hide. If you suddenly approached them, it would only make them wary of your intention," Glen said.
Asmond looked at Glen and realized he could ask them to do anything for him as long as they had the same interest. He had been watching Mykel for a very long time and wanted to try Mykel's way of leadership.
"Alright, just tell me if you found anything odd," Asmond nodded his head with understanding.
"Don't worry, I'll go and start talking with them now," Glen said and then left to catch up on those Awakeners.
Asmond grabbed his armor and then walked to his car with the others. He planned on checking District 3 and trying to find out if the rumor was true about the Demonic Cult using the city as their hideout. He was also curious about the newly built training ground that the government had made for Awakeners because it had just opened that morning.
Asmond called Janice and asked about Gustav's condition since he was worried about him. She said that Gustav's condition was declining, that he was terminally ill, and that he only had a few months left.
"Director's condition is worsening?" Roxanne asked since she overheard Asmond's conversations with Janice.
"Yes. She said that he has a few months left," Asmond looked at his phone and he looked so worried. "Doesn't we have that doctor who invented the cure for cancer?" Asmond asked.
"Doctor Devia? Yes, but she only tested it on animals though, and she herself said that she's uncertain about its efficacy. She's still doing more research about it," Roxanne answered.
"As long as there's a cure, I believe he would take it," Asmond replied as he looked out the car window.
The morning came, Mykel, Lyneth, Edith, and Enma decided to leave since they had been away for a week from vacation. The others stayed behind since the feast was still ongoing for the next two days. They could go back on their own by clearing the tower and using the portal there.
"Two months left," Lyneth said as she sat down on her chair in her office.
"Yes, and everything is going to get busy from now on," Mykel said as he leaned his back against the desk and stood next to Lyneth.
"Get busy?" Lyneth asked, but then she remembered when all the Gods gathered around her yesterday. "You mean about your plan with the Gods?" she asked.
Mykel nodded his head and looked at how big Lyneth's belly was. He knew he wouldn't be able to stay by her side, so he was planning to send her to Demiourgia and let Gaia take care of her.
"I have to meet with Deviatris in her new place. If you need anything, just give me a call," Mykel said as he caressed her left cheek.
Lyneth smiled and nodded, then Mykel warped to District 3.
On his way to the central part of the city, Asmond and his friends were there. They were wondering what kind of building that was being built since it hadn't been announced yet.
"What are you doing here, Asmond?" Mykel asked.
Mykel's voice brought back the nightmare and the lingering fear that Asmond tried to get rid of. He immediately got a chill down his spine as he froze still and didn't dare to turn around to look at Mykel.
Mykel raised his eyebrows and knew why Asmond didn't answer him, but not Rufus. He thought that Asmond didn't want to speak with Mykel anymore, and took the initiative to speak for Asmond.
"Fuck off, Asmond didn't want to talk to you," Rufus said.
Everyone was shocked, even Asmond's eyes were wide open. When he tried to stop Rufus, Mykel suddenly hummed and started to chuckle mischievously which made him squirm.
"I like your guts and bravery," Mykel said as he walked toward them with a smirk. "Unfortunately, you pick the wrong person, and your bravery turns into stupidity," Mykel continued.
Rufus gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. He then threw a punch at Mykel's face, but his hand stopped before he could hit Mykel. His hand trembled and no matter how hard he tried to push his fist, an unknown force was stopping him.
"As I thought, you're all talk no action," Mykel looked down on Rufus as he smugged. "I also heard you have been bad-mouthing me. Someone told me," Mykel continued as he grabbed Rufus' fist and then squeezed it like a lemon.
Rufus was screaming his lungs out as he heard the bones in his hand make cracking sounds. His hand no longer looked like a hand, it looked like a deformed hand and his fingers were out of place.
"Mister Mykel! Please stop it," Arum shouted.
Mykel glanced at Arum, and it terrified her, but Mykel gently smiled at her and removed his hand from Rufus. Mykel then walked past him and approached Asmond who didn't dare to show his face to Mykel.
"Are you scared?" Mykel asked as he stood behind Asmond. "Why are you scared? Perhaps, did you do something that would make me angry again, Asmond?" Mykel asked again since he knew Asmond was trying to investigate him.
"N-no!" Asmond turned around but still couldn't look Mykel in the eye.
Glen, Silas, and Arum looked at Asmond with confused looks at why he would be so scared of Mykel. They then averted their gazes at Roxanne, and she was worse than Asmond. Her face was so pale, and she was holding tears which made all of them curious. Although they were curious why they were so scared of Mykel, they also felt a tremendous intimidating aura around Mykel that even though they had [Mind-Stability] skill maxed out, they were still intimidated by him.
"Is that so?" Mykel asked.
Asmond nodded his head repeatedly like an obedient dog who was scared of his master.
"Why are you here, Mykel?" Asmond asked and tried to change the topic.
"I'm here to check this building since it's mine," Mykel answered.
"It's yours? What's that building?" Asmond asked as he slowly regained his sanity.
"A colosseum, an arena for Awakeners to prove themselves if they're strong and brave enough for a challenge. The winner will be rewarded plentifully," Mykel answered as he looked at the giant pillars being built.
