Belial stepped out of the small, makeshift grave site, the atmosphere still heavy with the lingering sense of finality. The air in the cave felt cooler now, the weight of the moment seeping into the surrounding stone. His wings were still tucked behind him, hidden beneath his cloak as he turned to Gagamaru, who was standing silently, his gaze locked on the ground as though the graves held all his answers.

“How much of the Demon King's Power do you still have in you?” Belial asked, his voice calm but carrying an undertone of curiosity.

Gagamaru lifted his head, his massive frame shifting slightly. “Enough to last me a year or so,” he replied, his voice low, burdened by both exhaustion and resolve.

Belial nodded thoughtfully, weighing Gagamaru’s words. The remnants of the Demon King’s power were said to be a rare gift bestowed upon only a few of the king’s most trusted generals to pass it among their soldiers. It gave them incredible strength and stamina, but at a cost. It was not a power meant to last forever, and Gagamaru, it seemed, was nearing the end of his reserves.

“When I finish my mission,” Belial said, his voice firm, “I will come back for you before I head back to the demon realm. For now, stay hidden. Try your best to find any other soldiers. We may need every one of us before this is over.”

Gagamaru’s eyes softened with gratitude, and without hesitation, he bowed deeply to Belial, a gesture of respect and loyalty. Belial watched him for a moment longer before turning away, his wings unfurling slowly, the leather like wings expanded catching the faint light in the cave. He flexed them once, feeling the familiar pull of muscles, and then with a powerful beat, he launched himself into the air, soaring upward toward a high  part of the cave.

As he ascended, the air grew thinner, and the sounds of the lower caverns faded into the distance. Belial reached a narrow ledge where he landed lightly, his wings folding back as he steadied himself. This area of the cave felt familiar, though he couldn’t place why. His memories of this place were foggy at best, filled with half-recalled images from a time long past.

He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the caves stale air, and then called out, his voice echoing through the cavernous space. “Xin!”

Belial knew how Xin’s abilities worked, how his keen senses, especially his echolocation, could pick up the faintest sounds from far away. Somewhise, not too far off, he knew Xin would hear him.

Indeed, only moments later, about half a kilometer away, Xin’s pointed elven ears perked up, catching the faint call. He had been scanning the area, using his hax—his unique ability to perceive and map his surroundings through sound.

“What's wrong?” Sora, one of their companions, asked, noticing the shift in Xin’s expression.

“It’s Bel,” Xin said, his voice laced with familiarity. 

Xin and Sora quickly made their way toward Belial, moving with practiced ease through the narrow cave passages. Moments later, they arrived at the ledge whose Belial had landed, reuniting with him under the dim light of the glowing stones that dotted the cave walls.

Belial turned to them, his expression unreadable at first, but there was a quiet intensity in his eyes. “I defeated the monster,” he said simply, his tone matter-of-fact. “There's nothing else down there.”

Xin raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced. He knew Belial well enough to sense when something more was at play, but he didn’t press the issue just yet. Belial wasn’t one to hide things without reason.

“And the area?” Xin asked, shifting his attention back to the task at hand. “Is it worth mapping?”

Belial shook his head. “No. There's nothing down there worth mapping,” he repeated. His voice was calm, but Xin caught a flicker of something—perhaps sorrow, perhaps regret. Belial wasn’t usually this brief, especially after a battle.

Sora, however, seemed to accept the answer at face value, turning his attention back to the surrounding area. “Well, that’s one less thing to worry about,” he said lightly, though his demeanor never fully relaxed. He had been on enough missions to know that there was always something lurking beneath the surface.

As they continued to map out the remainder of the area, Sora, moving slightly behind the group, discreetly dropped a small object behind his. It was an eyeball-shaped device, designed for surveillance, and it rolled silently into a dark crevice, unnoticed by anyone. He didn’t say anything and kept walking as though nothing had happened, his steps light and unassuming.

The three of them finished their work in silence, the atmosphere still heavy from whatever had transpired in the depths of the cave. Once they were sure they had covered everything, they made their way back toward the guild, their pace steady but measured.

When they finally reached the surface, the sun had long since set, casting the landscape in deep shadows. The air was cool and crisp, a stark contrast to the stifling atmosphere of the cave. Belial and Xin exchanged a brief glance, both of them wordlessly agreeing that the mission, for now, was complete.

It wasn’t long before they returned to the guild. The large stone structure loomed ahead, its familiar silhouette outlined against the starry night sky. As they approached, the sounds of distant conversations and the hum of activity filled the air, reminding them of the life that pulsed through the guild’s halls, even after dark.

Once inside, the group parted ways. Sora made his exit quickly, disappearing into the shadows without a word. Belial and Xin, however, lingered for a moment, exchanging a few words with other guild members before making their way back to their quarters.

The journey home was quiet. The events of the day weighed heavily on Belial’s mind, and though Xin had his suspicions, he knew better than to pry too deeply. Whatever had happened in that cave—whatever Belial had encountered—it wasn’t something he was ready to discuss.

As they reached the small house they shared near the outskirts of the guild grounds, Xin finally broke the silence.

“You’re sure there's nothing else down there?” he asked quietly, his tone careful but probing.

Belial paused for a moment, his hand resting on the door handle. He didn’t turn to face Xin, but his voice, when he spoke, was softer than usual. “Nah just some rocks,” he repeated.

Xin frowned slightly but nodded, letting it go. Whatever it was, Belial would tell him when he was ready.

Belial and Xin entered the house on Roselia Street, greeted by the familiar warmth that filled the small but comfortable space. It felt like a sanctuary, a place where the world outside faded away for a moment. The air smelled faintly of wood and the lingering scent of whatever Xin had cooked the previous night. Belial made his way to the couch and collapsed onto it, the tension of the day slowly leaving his body.

As he lay there, his mind wandered back to the other generals he remembered seeing on tv. Faces and names flickered in his memory, some clearer than others. 

There was the general of the 3rd brigade, known as ‘The Dancing Demon’, a master of graceful combat, whose movements were as deadly as they were elegant. 

Then came the general of the 4th brigade, ‘The Crazed Gambler’, a man with a penchant for chaos and luck. He was unpredictable, always leaving things to chance yet somehow managing to win every time.

The general of the 6th brigade was ‘The Flower Demoness’, a woman with an eerie beauty, whose power bloomed like flowers in the dead of night, bringing both life and death with equal ease.

Belial sighed, trying to recall the others. But their names and faces eluded him, lost somewhere in the haze of battle and time. He closed his eyes, letting the memories slip away as sleep claimed him.

---

The next morning, Belial awoke to the sound of soft music. He lay there for a moment, blinking at the ceiling before rising and stretching his stiff limbs. His mind felt clearer after the rest, though a dull ache still lingered from yesterday's events. He shuffled into the bathroom, took a quick shower, and dug into his bag for fresh clothes. He pulled on a long-sleeved shirt and rolled the sleeves up to his elbows, opting for dark brown pants and his sturdy black combat boots. He fastened his brown sword belt over his beige belt, securing his weapon in place.

When he stepped into the living room, he saw Xin sitting by the window, playing a soft, unfamiliar tune on his lute. The sunlight streamed in, illuminating the room and casting a soft glow over Xin’s figure. His silky hair shone in the light, and his small brown horns, a distinct trait of his heritage, reflected the sun in a muted gleam.

“New song?” Belial asked as he made his way to the kitchen, starting on breakfast.

Xin didn’t stop playing, but he glanced over with a faint smile. “Something like that.”

Belial cracked a couple of eggs into a pan, the sizzle filling the space. “You want to go to the guild today?”

“Yeah,” Xin replied, his voice calm, the music still flowing from his fingertips.

Belial nodded, finishing up his breakfast. There was a sense of routine in the way they went about their morning, but a quiet tension hung between them. There was always the knowledge that their missions were far from over. But for now, they ate in peace, the soft strumming of Xin’s lute filling the room.

---

A short time later, they found themselves on Voss Street, standing in the crowded halls of the Phoenix Guild. The quest board was alive with activity, various hunters and adventurers discussing their next jobs. The clatter of armor and the hum of conversation filled the air.

Belial scanned the board, looking for something worth their time, when a voice called out from behind them.

“Hey, you two, want to join our raid?” A man’s voice, smooth and casual, echoed through the guild hall.

Belial turned to see a man with greenish dreadlocks and brown skin, wearing a striped black button-down shirt paired with black-and-white dress shoes. His outfit was flashy, a stark contrast to the more rugged appearance of the other hunters.

Xin recognized him immediately. “Cassidy?”

Cassidy grinned, nodding. “Yeah, that’s me. I remember you from the exam.” His eyes gleamed with a hint of mischief. “We could use some extra hands for this raid. What do you say?”

Before Belial could respond, a large, bald man with tanned skin and a muscular frame stepped forward. He towered over the others, easily twice the size of most men in the guild.

“No, Cassidy, we can’t have these low-level hunters join us. They’ll just slow us down,” the man said, his voice a deep rumble that carried across the room.

Belial’s eyes narrowed as he stepped up to the man, staring up at him without an ounce of hesitation. The man had to be at least 210 centimeters tall, towering over Belial’s lean frame.

“Who’s low-level again?” Belial’s tone was sharp, challenging.

The large man, Troxil, looked down at him with a sneer. “I was talking about you, pipsqueak.”

Belial’s eyes glinted dangerously, but before things could escalate further, Cassidy stepped between them, raising his hands in a placating gesture.

“Alright, alright, let’s cool it,” Cassidy said, flashing a grin. “Troxil, you’ve got to set an example for the new guys. No need to start a fight in the guild hall.”

Troxil scowled but took a step back, his gaze still locked on Belial. “Fine. But I don’t like it.”

Cassidy clapped his hands together. “Good! Now that we’re all friends, we’ve got about two hours before the gate opens. Get your gear ready, and let’s make this raid a success. I will explain everything at the gate!” 

Belial and Xin exchanged a glance, a silent agreement passing between them. This raid would be interesting, to say the least.