Mitchell continued to sweat as flames consumed his body. Despite the flames engulfing him without causing pain, he couldn't move. He stared at the ground, sweat pouring from him, his lips quivering as he tried to speak.

"Someone, do something!" Eckart shouted, desperation in his voice, as he turned to Lyon and Micah.

Lyon looked at Micah, who was troubled and struggling to think of a way to save Mitchell. "This is all my fault..." she murmured, her voice trembling with guilt.

Eckart desperately searched for anything to extinguish the flames but was halted by Lyon. "I know you want to save him. However, if the holy waters of the Water Abler Exorcists can't douse the flames, nothing can."

"I'm sorry... everyone!" Micah said, her voice filled with despair.

"You did your best, Micah! We'll try our best to survive..." Lyon said, attempting to comfort Micah and everyone else, despite the dire situation.

"Yes... take care of them, Lyon!" Micah replied, turning to look at Mitchell. "I'll stay with Mitchell. You know what to do, Lyon."

"I understand!" Lyon replied, then looked at 2nd Lieutenant Armstrong.

The 2nd Lieutenant did not look pleased with what the exorcists were doing. Knowing there might have been a chance to escape the city earlier, he slapped Lyon hard and said, "If only we had escaped earlier, this wouldn't have happened! My boy Mitchell is suffering because of your incompetence!"

"I'm sorry, please blame me! If you want to escape, do it now," Micah said to 2nd Lieutenant Armstrong.

2nd Lieutenant Armstrong's fury was palpable, yet his helplessness was evident in his clenched fists. He glared at Micah and said, "We will, but Mitchell's suffering is your doing. Even if you perish alongside him, I will never forgive you!"

Meanwhile, after 2nd Lieutenant Armstrong's words, a voice spoke again in Mitchell's mind. "You really dared to do this!"

Mitchell replied to the voice in his mind, "Who are you? We have no choice. If only my friends can live in my stead, I'd do it!"

"FOOL!" The deep voice of an old man resonated through his mind. "You are destined for greatness far beyond these mortals! Your path is preordained, and I will not let it be squandered. I will only do this once!"

"What would you do? Please, save my friends. No, everyone, save them all!" Mitchell begged the voice.

"For what reasons shall I save them?" the voice asked.

"They are important! At least, save them!"

As 2nd Lieutenant Armstrong and the others prepared to leave the house, Mitchell's eyes rolled back as he lost consciousness, his body stiffening as the voice in his mind seized control. His body, once immobile, started to levitate, and then spoke to the group in a thunderous voice.

"ALL OF YOU, LISTEN TO WHAT I WILL SAY!"

Micah, observing the situation, felt chills down her spine. Lyon couldn't believe what he saw, and the rest were equally surprised.

"Mitchell, my boy!" 2nd Lieutenant Armstrong exclaimed.

"Worry not, Mitchell is alive and well. I took over him due to the negligence of your friends," the voice possessing Mitchell's body said.

Lucia felt relief thinking that Mitchell would be safe, but seeing him not in control of his body troubled her.

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"I will help you this time. If you do this stunt again, however, I cannot promise your safety. The man you know as your friend, Mitchell, is a chosen one. I, Damien, will ensure his safety over yours. I will make an exception this time!" the voice said, and then the flames surrounding Mitchell's body were snuffed out.

The ground suddenly shook as Mitchell's feet landed. Damien, controlling Mitchell's body, began chanting in an unknown language. Eckart was shocked and turned to Micah.

"What's happening to him?" Eckart asked.

"I-I don't know!" Micah replied.

The glow of the runes on the ground faded, and the floor of the house cracked. Light suddenly glowed under Mitchell's feet, illuminating the house. "You don't deserve him!" Damien's voice thundered inside the house.

Meanwhile, Mikhail and the others agreed to get inside the wheeled APC under Vashni's persuasion. After completing the rune he had drawn on the ground, he wiped the sweat off his forehead. "This is hard work!"

Looking in the direction of the town, Vashni noticed a pillar of flames rising up to the heavens. While the light of the portal was visible in the direction of the town hall, the pillar of flames worried him. At first, he couldn't understand what the pillar of flame was, but suddenly, something whispered to his mind.

"What in the heavens...?" Vashni gasped as realization dawned. "Those reckless fools!"

Thinking it might be a counter ward, a powerful spell misused at the wrong time, he realized it might complicate the situation or, worse, cause more catastrophe to the town.

"Is everything alright?" Sergeant Adams asked, exiting the wheeled APC.

"Go back, Sergeant!" Vashni said and continued, "The portal event is imminent. Go ahead; I'll join you shortly once my preparations are complete!"

"Roger!" the sergeant replied and returned inside the vehicle.

"I'm hoping you guys are alright," Vashni thought, worried about his friends, especially Mitchell.

Meanwhile, inside the house where Micah and the others were hiding, the floor continued to crack as Damien, controlling Mitchell's body, continued his chant. Lucia and the others looked horrified as they felt unknown forces around them.

"Mitchell..." Lucia, in tears, tried to reach for him but was stopped by 2nd Lieutenant Armstrong.

"I know how you feel, lass... We can't do anything since none of those incompetent exorcists could even do something about the situation."

After the long chant, Mitchell's eyes suddenly glowed a bright light. The entire living room illuminated, and everyone could not see anything.

"It is done..." Damien, in Mitchell's body, said.

The light glowed as the pillar of flame was snuffed. It was visible several miles away, penetrating through the clouds. After the light vanished, the lightning stopped flashing, and then the clouds cleared. The stars shone over the night sky, replacing the turbulent atmosphere earlier.

Inside the house where Micah and the others were hiding, Lucia opened her eyes and saw the light of the moon illuminating the living room. Everyone in the room checked if they were okay, including 2nd Lieutenant Armstrong, while Micah and Lyon were surprised by what happened.

"Where's Mitchell?" Eckart asked, looking around for him.

Meanwhile, at the Legion's headquarters, Major Galahad was in his office drinking tea. As he poured the tea from his kettle, his cup cracked. He looked outside the window of his office and saw the cloud formation in the distance dispersed by a bright white light.

"What just happened?" Major Galahad was surprised.

After the sky cleared, Major Galahad congratulated Mitchell, saying, "You perform well, as always, my pawn!" He smiled.

Major Galahad returned to his desk and disposed of the cracked teacup in the bin. He took another one from his set and poured tea into it. Just like how he viewed Mitchell, he did not care what happened to him.

After he finished the cup of tea, someone knocked at his office door. Not knowing who it was, Major Galahad prepared his pistol, just in case it was a break-in. He cautiously approached the door and opened it. To his surprise, it was Lyla Evans.

"Oh, it's you, my dear!" Major Galahad said.

Lyla Evans looked around and entered, seeing that the coast was clear. After entering Major Galahad's office, she hugged him tight. "I missed you!" Lyla said.

"Me too, dear!" Major Galahad replied.

Lyla let go afterward and then headed to the window. She felt worried after what she overheard about Major Galahad from the top officers. Lyla wanted to report to Major Galahad what she had heard.

"What troubles you, my dear?" Major Galahad inquired gently.

"My dear, there's something you need to know!" Lyla said.

Trying to calm Lyla down, he hugged her from behind as she leaned back towards him. "My dear, not now..."

Major Galahad kissed her nape and then said, "I want you... now."

Lyla was comforted and smiled but got off from Major Galahad. "You need to know what I discovered."

"That can wait... Lyla, my dear!" Major Galahad replied.

"Erwin..." Lyla said as Major Galahd kissed her passionately.

Lyla moaned loudly as she felt the sensation of Major Galahad's hands touching her body. Meanwhile, outside his office, Gary, who was passing by, heard the commotion inside. Recognizing Lyla's voice, he knew something was happening between Major Galahad and Lyla. He had something to report to Major Galahad as well but decided not to interfere and leave instead.