The Damned Demon
chapter-621

"Who are you really? Do you have the Corrupted Prince's bloodline?" Alice demanded, her voice carrying a blend of suspicion and scrutiny.

Amelia's heart raced as Alice's piercing question cut through the air, the tension palpable among the assembled group. She watched anxiously, her mind racing with the implications of Alice's inquiry. Could the Evangelion matriarch suspect something? Or did she already know something they didn't?

Edward stood by, his face a mask of solemnity, observing the exchange with a calculated silence that only added weight to the moment. Arthur, meanwhile, looked on with blinking eyes and a complicated expression. He had harbored similar questions about his combat advisor's origins but had never voiced them, restrained by a mixture of respect and his own personal uncertainties.

Emiko and Yui exchanged quick glances, their expressions a mixture of concern and confusion. They knew their Master could never be related to the Golden Prince, but was the Evangelion matriarch still feeling resentful towards the Golden Prince for asking such a question?

Rebecca watched the humans with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. Why are they so obsessed with comparing him to the Golden Prince? Just because of his golden eyes? she thought derisively, finding the situation absurd yet intriguing. But thinking about it again, she only found it even more annoying to see this common trait the two shared.

Asher's reaction was measured; a brief, cold curve of his lips gave way to a neutral expression. He turned to face Alice, his voice calm and detached, "All I know is I am an orphan," he stated simply, his demeanor unflinching under Alice's scrutinizing gaze.

Arthur's reaction was immediate—his eyes widened in surprise. The revelation that his combat advisor was an orphan sparked a flurry of thoughts.

Why did his parents leave him in an orphanage? Did they have some reason like his mother did?

Alice, not satisfied with Asher's response, pressed on, her brows knitting together, "We know that. But there are ways to trace your ancestry. And yet you never did so?"

Asher's response was a shrug, his tone nonchalant, "Is there any point? I am living fine without them. So why should I care about finding out who they are when it doesn't change the past?"

This response resonated with Arthur, stirring a mix of agreement and personal reflection. While Ash seemed content with his situation, Arthur felt an increasing void about his own missing maternal connection.

Alice's expression hardened further, her instincts telling her there was more to this man than met the eye. His calmness, even in the face of her probing, was unnerving. It was clear he had been a powerful S Ranker, but his obscure origins only deepened her curiosity.

"Alice, let's leave and give them some rest. They worked hard to save the city, and they deserve it," Edward intervened, his voice smooth but firm, breaking the tense atmosphere.

Asher allowed himself a subtle smile as he turned to leave, but Alice remained momentarily stationary, her gaze lingering on this young man's retreating figure. Amelia quickly caught up to Asher and said in a hushed voice, "Haa…that was close. Do you think she suspects you or anything?"

Asher casually shook his head and said with confidence, "She is simply poking around to know who I really am. We already saw people mistaking me for my past self for a moment. But nobody can ever guess that I was once that man. As far as the world is concerned, Cedric is dead and long gone."

Amelia nodded and said, "That I am confident of. Who can ever guess that you would be reborn or…i don't know…make a return in a demon's body? But…" Amelia's eyes narrowed in contemplation as she looked up at him and asked, "Did you see how Arthur healed? He shouldn't have recovered from that, but he did. And it happened right when the rays of the sun touched him. When you were Cedric, you also healed and got empowered whenever the sun graced you with its light."

"It must be a coincidence. There is no way an Evangelion can heal like that. Maybe there was some lingering trace of mana left in his body," Asher said in a dismissive tone.

"You might not have been able to sense it properly in your avatar, but I clearly sensed that his mana circuit was this close to dying and he had no mana left. It was only when the sun's light touched him did his mana suddenly surge. Don't you feel that this is strange and shocking?" Amelia asked with a bewildered look.

Asher furrowed his brows before shaking his head, "It is strange but it might very well be a reason we could have overlooked since its impossible otherwise. Let's head back now."

—

In a dark area of Mars, hidden from plain sight and shrouded in secrecy, the Infinity Tower stood like a monolith against the stark, red landscape. A young woman, clad in a casual black jacket and jeans, her identity obscured by a black cap and mask, made her way into a lesser-known part of the tower.

Flanking her were five guards, their presence imposing in heavy armored suits that hummed softly, the glow from their rifles casting eerie shadows on the metallic walls.

The elevator dinged softly, its doors sliding open to reveal a floor that contrasted sharply with the sleek, technologically advanced aesthetic of the rest of the tower. The atmosphere here was grim and somber, the air thick with despair. Before her, a long corridor stretched out, lined with small, transparent cells. Each cell was barely large enough for a single occupant to lie down, and behind their thick, clear doors, young demons of various races were caged like animals.

No matter how many years she had lived here, she couldn't stop feeling the chill in her blood whenever she stepped in here.

As she stepped forward, the guards fanned out slightly, their rifles at the ready, their eyes scanning the surroundings with mechanical precision. They maintained a careful distance, their primary mission to monitor this woman, ready to intervene at any sign of trouble.

The young demons inside the cells were in poor and sickly condition, their figures gaunt, eyes dim—except for the moment they saw this woman.

At her appearance, a wave of muted excitement passed through the cramped quarters. Faces that were moments ago etched with resignation lit up, eyes gleaming with a mix of hope and relief.

"Anna!" a weak voice called out as a young demon looking barely 16 years old, his skin a dull shade of blue, pressed his face against the transparent door, "You came back."

Anna removed her mask and paused by his cell, her heart tightening at the sight. She offered a gentle, reassuring smile. "I promised I would, didn't I, little Jiro?" Her voice was soft, a stark contrast to the harshness of their surroundings.

Jiro managed a weak smile, his hand reaching out to touch the door as if trying to feel the warmth of her presence, "Are you alright..?"

"Of course. I've brought some books you wanted to read," Anna replied, reaching into her bag to pull out several small devices, "You can tell me if you need anything else.."

The news seemed to spread like a ripple through the corridor, as other young demons of various races shifted closer to their doors, their expressions mixed with happiness and relief upon seeing her.

Anna moved from cell to cell, her interactions marked with kindness and a heartbreaking normality in such an abnormal setting. The guards watched, their expressions unreadable behind their visors, but no interference came. Their rifles occasionally shifted, tracking Anna's movements, knowing perfectly what she was capable of.

Anna's footsteps echoed softly as she approached the last cell at the end of the grim corridor. The dull hum of the facility was momentarily forgotten as she paused before the transparent door, her heart swelling with a mixture of joy and sorrow at the sight of the two young demon girls snuggled up together inside.

The first had delicate features, long dark green hair with a ghostly green skin, though she looked frail and clothed in a long white dress like the rest. She had a thick white collar around her neck with a red light and her appearance seemed to be slightly younger than Anna.

The other young demoness had short fiery red hair, two small black horns on the sides of her head, midnight black skin but had prosthetic, rusty metal arms that seemed to have replaced her original ones. However, she looked a bit older than Anna.

As if they heard faint footsteps of someone outside, both of them startled awake with nervous and terrified expressions.

It was a reaction born from many such interruptions, usually heralding nothing good. But as the figure outside their cell came into view and the familiar face of Anna appeared, their tense expressions melted away into relief and then into an excited smile.

"Mira…Cila…," Anna mumbled softly and wanted to say more but felt a lump in her throat that stopped her from saying more.

"An-nna! I wa-as just dreaming about seeing you! I can't believe it ca-ame true!" Mira's voice chimed through her collar which flashed a red light as she spoke, the mechanical sharpness doing little to hide her joy while her mouth remained closed, her lips arched into an excited smile.

Cila stood up more slowly, her dark red eyes scrutinizing Anna for any signs of distress before allowing her own smile to surface, "Today must be a really good day," she said, her voice soft and warm, "We were beginning to think the worst after not seeing you for a year. But you look so healthy and well, that makes us feel so relieved and happy."

"Hn, hn. We were s-so worr-rried," Mira nodded as her collar device crackled with a high-pitched voice, albeit in a glitchy way.

Anna smiled softly, shaking her head as she placed her hand against the transparent door, "You two shouldn't waste time worrying about me. I will be fine over there. And look…" Anna ruffled through her bag as she added, "I brought something for both of you." From her bag, she pulled out a compact toolkit and a digital tablet before placing them on a tray that extended from the door.

She pushed the tray inward and it popped out on the other side where the two demonesses could access.

Cila's eyes lit up at the sight of the toolkit, "Oh, Anna, perfect timing. I've been itching to fix the power regulator on Mira's collar. It's been glitchy," she said, her mechanical fingers already reaching out as if she could work on it through the barrier.

"And, Mira, I've downloaded the latest fantasy series you've been dying to read," Anna said, gesturing at the tablet as Mira took it with a delighted squeal.

Mira clutched the tablet to her chest, then held it up proudly, "T-This will kee—-ep us entertained for at least a w-week! T-Thank you, A-Anna!" she beamed, her electronic tone buzzing with joy.

Cila was already busy with her mini screwdriver, the tool glowing faintly as she adjusted Mira's collar, "Mira, stop speaking with such excitement. You might break your collar before I can fix it," she chided gently, her voice tinged with affection. After a moment, she clicked the tool off and smiled, "Now you can talk as excitedly as you want," she said with a soft giggle, easing the atmosphere.

Mira's smile widened, her eyes twinkling as she turned to Anna, "Anna, please stay with us for at least a day. We haven't had fun together in years."

Anna's smile softened, her eyes glazing over with memories of the time they spent together in less grim circumstances, "I wish I could stay longer, you know," she replied, her voice thick with emotion, "But I'm working on getting you all free. So just be patient for a little longer, okay? Then we all can have as much fun as we want."

Cila's expression grew serious, her protective instincts kicking in as she leaned closer, "Is the blue-eyed monster making you do anything bad because of us? We know he didn't let you out only because you were a 'success' in his 'tests'. He also lets you bring so many good things for us when he wouldn't even reward us with a good meal unless we perform well in his 'tests'. You will tell us if something like that is happening, right?"

Mira's smile faltered, turning into a look of concern, "Anna...is everything alright? You seem a bit …sad."

The weight of their concern pressed heavily on Anna's shoulders, making it difficult to maintain her composed facade. She was about to say something when one of the guards stepped forward, his voice cutting through the tender moment like a cold blade, "Time's up. He wants to see you now," he announced sternly.

Anna startled slightly at the interruption, her face straining into a forced smile as she looked back at her friends, "I will be back soon. Wait for me," she promised, her voice a whisper of determination and sorrow.

"Anna, wait!" Cila called out, concern etching her features, but her plea was cut short. The guard pressed a red button, and shutters clanged down over the transparent doors, sealing Mira and Cila away from Anna's view.

The sound of the shutters echoed ominously as Anna's expression contorted with a mix of pain and resolve, her last glimpse of her friends obscured by cold metal.

Escorted by the guards, Anna walked away, each step heavy with the burden of unfinished promises and unspoken fears, leaving behind the young demons in their isolated world, holding onto hope in the shadow of uncertainty.