“HM?”

Cassian finds it odd that demons were gathering below him even before the boy fell to the ground. It was as if he was looking at an ocean where sharks gathered. That they have been waiting for him to drop the fish they were waiting to eat all along. Cassian finds it disturbing and… unacceptable.

He would never feed these demons let alone do any favor for them. 

Cassian teleported himself near the boy and stopped his fall. They landed at the helipad area of the hospital. Johann’s eyes are still closed and Cassian notices it.

“Wake up, sleepy head.”

The boy was shocked and dizzy, of course. Johann was surprised with Cassian’s actions. Meanwhile, Cassian is looking at something and not paying attention to how Johann was staring at him.

“We have company,” Cassian said as he let the boy stand on his own. “A lot, actually. And all of them are ugly.”

Johann saw random forms and sizes of demons crawling the hospital’s rooftop as if hungry for food and they could sense the two with a high level of spiritual power. All demons are in shadow form. It takes a higher spiritual level to see them clearly but Cassian knew the boy could see them well given the energy he released earlier. And maybe that was what attracted these demons.

“Weren’t these your minions?” the boy asked.

“How insulting. I’d rather vanish than be affiliated with these demons. They’re here for you.”

Johann looked at Cassian. “What do you mean?”

“Well, without your amulets they can now sense your presence. And since demons usually eat those with high spiritual energy they are here to feast.”

A realization hit Johann. “So what attacked us earlier sensed the energy of my mother?”

“Yes. But she is weaker now that she is older. She knew she could no longer protect you, so she searched for other means to do that.”

Johann looked down. He is angry at himself. “So it’s still my fault.”

Cassian prepares to leave Johann behind. He pats Johann on the shoulder. 

“Bingo! So, good luck!”

“You’re just going away? Seriously?” the boy asked. Cassian could not blame him for being astonished and naive since the boy hadn't realized yet why he was leaving.

Cassian jumps high so demons won’t reach him. If the demons wanted to kill the boy they can do it themselves now without him feeling like he fed him to them. It’s not a matter of conscience. It’s a matter of pride as a higher being.

“Duh. You’re not that special. I’d rather look for another human to kill than waste my energy on these imbeciles.”

“Hey, wait—”

“Even if I manage to kill you now it won’t be easy to take into human form since there’s a lot of demons waiting to take over your body and eat your soul,” Cassian said to himself as if unaware that the boy can still hear him. 

Johann needed to think fast. 

“If I asked you to handle all these demons, would you do it?!!!” he yelled out of desperation.

Cassian continues to float as he gets something from his breast pocket. He held a stylish pen matched with his journal. 

“And why would I do that?” Cassian asks as he flips through his journal where a list of targets can be found. Ugh. Why did I even expect that woman to pay up her debt? Let’s see… who was my next choice again? 

Johann was already being attacked by demons. They cling to his shoulders, one hugging his leg.

“So you can take my body, you asshole!”

That last statement from Johann caught the full attention of Cassian. And he smiled.

“Well, well, well. Aren’t you a good boy? You just made my goal easier to achieve. I will give you a quick and painless death as a parting gift.”

Johann screamed as demons all dived into him.

Cassian prepared to gather the power he needed to wipe them out.

A lightning struck at the top of the building. It was bright, thick, and clear but it instantly disappeared. All demons shattered like big ash since they look like black shadows floating in the air before it slowly fades.

Johann could not believe how strong the Death Dealer was as Cassian stood in front of him.

A loud growl was heard.

Both Cassian and Johann reacted. Cassian is hungry so his stomach is growling. That was the effect when he used a huge amount of his powers. Their kind can store a lot of energy by doing their tasks or eating some souls or absorbing spirits. What they consume has different effects though.

Cassian looks at Johann happily. He is like a kid being offered a happy meal with a freebie.

“Well, I think it’s time for me to eat your soul. Thank you for the food!!!”

Johann knelt like a knight in front of their king or queen and touched the ground. A bright light appears below them, the same circle that Johann’s mother used to summon Cassian years ago.

“Ligemur.”

Cassian was shocked. “Eh?”

Cassian was vanishing fast. He was becoming transparent like a ghost. He suddenly understood the situation.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” he yelled  as he continued to disappear.

Cassian vanished. It was once again a peaceful night at the rooftop of the hospital. Johann is tired and has some minor cuts and bruises but he’ll live.

Johann stands up. His last thought was, Well, at least, we get what we both want, right? You wanted my human body and I wanted you to end the deal with my mother.

“This is not what I asked for, you fool! You used an incantation spell on me that would force me to protect you no matter what while I am inside this human body of yours!

Ligemur is a type of spell that forces a ghost or spirit to enter the body of the one chanting the spell and to protect it at all cost. It was not easy to master but Johann focused on that spell for years as his backup plan. A plan he really did not think would work.

My mother warned me that you’re a strong death dealer. I knew I could not beat you even if I tried. But… at least I get to punch you once for making me and my mother worry too much.

Cassian is now standing straight while listening to Johann speak from within him or rather within the boy’s body.

Since she told me about that day that she summoned you, we knew we needed to be ready once you came back for me.

“I may not be able to instantly get out of this body of yours. But mark my words… once I get out—

Cassian’s presence vanished again and now we can see the normal color of the eyes of Johann.

“I know…”

Johann is walking back inside the hospital.

“You will make me suffer. That’s for sure. But for now… I need to see my mother.”