Phantom: This will be VERY, entertaining.

--- Chapter 134 ---

Red and the gang finally reach Termina. Red escorts the two through alleyways, and eventually to a metal door in a dark and dingy alleyway.

Luna: This seems a little shady…

Red: Really? Hmm, I guess I’m just used to it.

Red turns the cold metal knob and opens the door. Inside is what seems to be a fancy item shop, though it is dark. As soon as they walk in, Red creates his sword, and Hiro summons his. Luna looks confused and concerned.

Luna: What are you guys do-

Red takes a sniff, and Hiro activates his mana eye. Suddenly the two burst into action, leaping all around the room, with sparks flying everywhere. Suddenly, Red and Hiro stop standing across from each other. Their blades face one another, with the tip angled towards the ceiling. Between the two blades, a man slowly appears out of thin air, the blades on either side of his neck.

???: Ok ok, you got me. Sike!

The man vanishes and six of them appear around the two. Three of which surround each of them, with blades touching, forming a triangle around their necks. The man's voice cues in across the room, where the slender, somewhat disheveled blonde man sits on a countertop.

???: You guys are getting better, but you still have a long way to go.

The six clones back off and disappear. Hiro and Red sigh, and take a seat on the floor, taking a breather.

Hiro: Fuji… how… are you so damn fast! And you're not even… tired!

Hiro says in a panted breath.

Fuji: Practice haha. So what brings you to my neck of the woods?

Red: We passed the A-rank exams!

Fuji: Oh nice! I’m proud of you guys.

They converse a bit before Fuji looks over at Luna standing awkwardly in the doorway.

Fuji: Oh, I’m sorry, I didn't see you there.

Red: Yeah, she’s a new Elune member, she also got A-rank.

Fuji: Oh sweet, then congratulations then. What was your name?

Luna: Thank you, it’s Luna.

Fuji: Oh, what a pretty name. The names Fuji-Haru “Mugen” Kenji.

Luna gets a face of recollection as she remembers the books she read.

The suffix “-Haru” refers to a high-ranking member of the criminal underworld. Haru are looked at as criminal overlords of passive nature. Such as large-scale sheltering for criminals, selling illegal weapons and items, etc. While they try to go the pacifist way, Haru are usually strong enough to handle many threats that other criminal overlords make and throw at them.

Luna: You're… a Haru?

Fuji looks over at Red.

Fuji: I guess you didn’t tell her.

Red shrugs.

Fuji: Yes, I am. But at least I’m not an “-Aku”.

An “-Aku”, is someone who is a criminal overlord of the aggressive type. These are the type to create murder groups and Dark guilds. The Tenyi was run by an “-Aku”.

Luna: I guess.

Luna says hesitantly still concerned.

Fuji: Well, even if I was an Aku, Red over here would have no problem taking me out haha. I heard about how Elune ended the Tenyi.

Red: Yeah, I guess I am pretty amazing.

Red gloats jokingly.

Fuji: But don’t get too overconfident. Among the overlords, he was seen as a joke of an Aku. And that Severn was the entire reason he could get that high. Although I will say, the Tenyi were good at their job.

Red: Right, I see. Who’s Severn?

Fuji: Edmund Severn. While he never took the suffix on, he is held in high regard as Edmund-Aku Severn. He was the guild master for the dark guild ‘Resort’.

Luna: Resort?! That’s the most feared dark guild!

Red: What makes them so scary.

Fuji: They have killed saints before, and not just one but multiple at a time.

Red: H-how?! Saint’s are supposed to be the strongest, aren’t they?

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Fuji: I wish I could shed answer that, but I’m not sure myself. But Severn had joined The Tenyi for some reason, which lead to them to skyrocket. No offense, but it’s hard for me to believe Dr. Severn died from some kids.

Hiro: Doctor? I think that’s the guy me, Ame, Sole, and Elias fought. We killed him over and over again, and Sole completely obliterated him.

Fuji: Hmm, well there’s no point in dwelling on it.

From the corner of the room, a doorway with a hanging tapestry replacing the door is pushed aside. Two abnormally tall and attractive people strut from it. The male dressed sharply in a black suit, with his arms not in the suit coats sleeves, and hanging at his sides. He has short stylish brown hair, that connects to a well-kept beard, and deep brown eyes. The girl dressed in a silky white dress, with white cross earrings hanging a half-inch from her ears. Her hair is a bright pink, the curls flowing back to just above her waist in length. She wears pink lipstick accompanied by pink eyeshadow. Her eyes are a bright, unnatural blue. They both have an unusually pale complexion. The man looks down at his wrist, adjusting the cuff of the suit. His eyes glide to the right, meeting Red’s gaze. A slight smirk forms upon his face. He walks over to Red, his hand beginning to outstretch, and his eye color shifts to a crimson red.

Man: What do we have here?

The man is about to touch Red’s face, but Fuji grabs his wrist, pulling it up and away. Fuji stares the man down, and the man stares back. Fuji radiates a sense of power and control.

Fuji: Don’t.

The man’s brow becomes furled with a sense of anger. He wrenches his wrist free, adjusting his suit. His eyes return to the deep brown.

Man: Fine. He doesn't even smell human.

The man says as he begins to leave, his eyes go back and look over the three of them.

Man: None of them do.

He walks toward the door. The woman bends over to meet Red at eye level, which attests to their height, as Red is 5’11”.

Girl: Don’t pay him any mind, he doesn’t like humans very much, and he’s just a little hungry.

Man: Come on, let’s go. Stop talking to that pest.

Red: What did you call me pompous prick?!

The man turns around angrily, his eyes turn red, and his nails grow sharp.

Man: You dare call me that?! You insolent little fool.

Girl: Now now, he’s only human! He didn’t know any better!

The woman tries to reason with him. The man is having none of it, taking a few steps toward Red. Red himself isn’t scared, however, his body begins to react, his heart begins to swiftly beat, breaths become shallow as if his body knows the danger he’s in. However, after only a few steps, Fuji walks in front of Red. The man stops, staring at Fuji with rage.

Fuji: I’m going to have to ask you to leave. If you do so, I will forget about this. If you don’t, this will get ugly. And if you miraculously survive such an encounter, I won’t allow you in and grant you a safe haven within my abode.

The man stands and contemplates, before readjusting his posture, nails, and eyes returning to normal.

Man: Fine, let’s go love.

Girl: Ok.

She turns to look at Red.

Girl: You look like adventuring folk. Good luck.

She says with a smile, before walking next to him as they leave. There’s a few moments of silence before Fuji lets out a sigh.

Fuji: Sorry about that. Vampires.

Luna: That’s what they were?! But wait, it's daytime? Doesn’t that mean they will turn to dust or something?

Fuji: That’s just folktale. While they are weaker in the sun, they don’t turn to dust unless they don’t eat. And about the whole smelling thing, Vampires have the ability to smell one's blood and discern its makeup and the race it belongs to.

Luna: I see.

Fuji: I’m just happy they didn’t decide to fight?

Luna: Why?

Fuji: It was just a bluff, they would totally kick my ass.

Luna: WHAT!

Red calms down, and he and Hiro begin to talk to Fuji. Luna looks around and walks over to the tapestry, and takes a peak. In it, she sees many tables and chairs, with a lot of food. A pale figure in a kimono stands by one of the tables, with a thick red rope tied around their waist. They have white hair and are wearing a kitsune mask. A muscular man with a scar running down his left eye, wearing an eyepatch over it sits at one of the tables and feasts. A male and female with seemingly natural features converse at one of the tables. A teenage boy sets his rather large plate of food down, before sitting. The boy unbuttons his button-down shirt, and from his chest, a large mass of slime comes out and envelopes the food. Visible through the translucent gelatin is the food being broken down. In the corner, a seemingly socially awkward teen sits. He’s extremely pale, black hair with red streaks through it, sharp painted black nails, and crimson red eyes. He has both hands around a cup full of a red liquid that he sips and stares at the other patrons. On the bottle is the depiction of a cute little bunny head.

Luna: Weird crowd.

***

The vampires stroll down the street.

Woman: Wanna tell me what that was?

Man: What what was.

Woman: I know you hate humans, but I've never seen you lose your cool like that. You have been called way worse than a ‘Pretentious prick’ before, and haven’t batted an eye.

Man: You can’t tell me you didn’t smell it.

Woman: …

Man: None of those kids were entirely human. But that boy, his scent.

Woman: It was close to ours.

Man: Exactly, but it wasn’t the exact scent of a vampire. Vampires were born from the blood of demons.

Woman: You’re saying you think that boy is a demon? Demons have been sealed away, love.

Man: Yet you don’t think I’m entirely crazy, do you.

Woman: I don’t. In fact, I agree with you. However, the fact still remains that demons were sealed. Which can only mean one thing.

Man: He’s her kid.

Woman: Indeed.

Man: Figures the traitor would still be alive. But if he’s her kid, then we need to be careful.

Woman: Yes, I agree. However, there was a second scent on the boy.

Man: I hoped you wouldn’t bring that up. But I know what you're about to say.

Woman: The second scent wreaked of Lord Zariel. Even more than us.

Man: Do you think it's one of the sins?

Woman: It has to be. That's the only thing that should have that strong of a scent, and not be sealed away.

Man: I feel like that boy is the start of something.

Woman: You seem to be fascinated by the child.

Man: Hey now, he’s not a human. But I guess what's coming could alleviate my boredom. Especially if he’s friends with the other two.

Woman: Agreed, the girl smelled like a foul half-angel. Rather rare, and unheard of in this era. And the white-haired child, he smells like a human, but the after smell is odd.

Man: Yeah, it's unlike anything I have smelled. I must say, I am conflicted.

Woman: About?

Man: It’s like putting a freshly roasted turkey, with an enchantment that causes it to dance. I want to watch it dance, but it’s a tease. I haven’t had angel’s blood since the race war, and I wonder what the other one tastes like. However, the demon boy isn’t appetizing and rather interesting and infuriating. And I feel with that crowd, they might make the boy a spectacle to be seen.

Woman: I see, what's your decision love?

Man: We will let them go, for now, I've been bored for so long, maybe this will finally bring light into my eternal existence.

***

Luna walks aimlessly through the shop, looking at the different items, and their outrageous prices. Red walks up to her.

Red: Are you alright?

Luna: Yah why?

Red: Ever since the tournament you’ve kinda just looked depressed. Like I wanted to say a couple times ‘why the long face?’ but it was in the middle of the guildhall so it just didn’t seem appropriate. And I’m sure if there was an actual reason you wouldn't want to be put on the spot like that in front of everyone. Y’know as I’m saying this out loud I realize I could have just pulled you aside.

Luna: Heh, thanks Red. It’s just at the tournament, I was just outclassed, but I've mostly just been thinking about… y’know, the wings.

Red: Right, the whole angel thing.

Luna: Yeah, after the tournament, I was told that my mother wasn’t human like I thought she was. But instead an angel. I had awakened a one wing form, which according to the master, is the weakest form an angel can get. He said my mother had nine wings. Which I should be happy about, how I share such a trait with my mother. But it just feels like half of me is a lie.

Red: I see, well, I don’t know much about that. But, if it makes it any better, I don't see you as any different. In fact, I think it's pretty cool! Not many people can say they met a real angel. And even if it's true, that you who was believed to be human was a lie, then that just means you're living your truth. And your true life can start now, y’know?

Red says looking at the item the two had been staring at. He lifts his head to the left to look at her, and tears streak from her eyes. Red gets shocked and flustered.

Red: Ah! I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?

Luna: No. No, you didn’t. Thank you, Red.

Red blushes, and scratches the back of his head with a little laugh.

Red: Oh, yeah it was no big deal.

Suddenly Fuji appears between the two, deactivating what seems to be an invisibility arcana.

Fuji: What are you two love birds talking about?

Red: Love birds?! It’s not what you think, where no-!

Luna: What?! No that's not what was going on!

The two squawk frantically. Fuji bursts out into a laugh, before disappearing again. Luna catches an idea floating through her brain. She begins to think about it, how Fuji can disappear, and his relationship with Red. She thinks back to when she had followed Red, or Wrath to be more specific. He was talking to a cloaked figure that disappeared at the end of their conversation. Could Fuji be that guy? Suddenly her thoughts were cut short by distant screaming. Everyone rushes outside, seeing a fire ablaze several blocks away with massive black plumes of smoke.