The Cosmic Asura Reikeji

"A girl…?"

Requaniel was relieved after realizing that it was nothing but a little girl trying to get out of the bushes.

Noticing her trying to get out of the bushes, Requaniel smiled softly and walked towards her, asking, "Are you having trouble moving, child? Want me to help?"

"Huh? W-who are you?" The girl asked in a slightly skeptical voice as she noticed the battered appearance of Requaniel with ripped attire.

"Ah, well, I'm… just a passby."

Requaniel faked a smile, and he also seemed to realize that his lack of tactics might put him in trouble.

"O-Oh…I see."

The little girl responded, still not sure whether to trust Requaniel or not.

"Here, let me help you," Requaniel said as he picked up the girl and landed her outside the bushes.

Of course, he wasn't doing it out of goodwill, but because he wanted a place to live, at least for now, that's why he was helping her, thinking that perhaps this little girl could help him.

"Ah, thank you, umm….big brother."

The little girl thanked him, hesitatingly.

"Oh, no problem. By the way, are there any villages nearby?"

Trying to be polite, he asked.

"Hmm? Yeah, there is." She nodded and pointed her left finger toward the north, adding, "My home is there."

Then she glanced at Requaniel, asking,

"If you want, you can come to our village. You look like you're not in good shape."

Hearing her concern for him made Requaniel laugh a little, still in a broken voice as he replied,

"Oh, thanks, little one. Also, may I know what your name is?"

"It's Lily Verten."

The little girl introduced herself.

"Oh, Lily. That's a nice name."

Requaniel tried to act friendly.

"What's your name, big brother?"

Lily asked while still looking at Requaniel's attire.

"It's…"

Requaniel bit his lips, realizing that his name held no meaning anymore, he faked a smile, adding,

"...Eden White."

Changing his name from Requaniel to Eden White, he tried to act amicably.

Soon, Lily took Eden towards her village.

On their way, Eden was constantly thinking of a way to get stronger as fast as he could, but he didn't exactly know how he should refine his skill.

He knew that after getting exiled from the land of honour, no angel or deity could use their power against the dominant ones. But his desire to destroy the land of honour was indomitable.

"Umm, excuse me, big brother."

Lily called out,

"Yes, Lily?"

Eden asked, still mused in his thoughts.

"Why is your attire this ragged?"

She questioned it since it was undoubtedly a curious issue for a young girl like her.

"Well, I fought with some monsters."

Eden faked a smile, trying to dodge the question.

"Really? It's a miracle that you survived then. Because monsters in the deeper forest are so dangerous, you know?"

Lily warned Eden while staying cautious around him.

"Hmm?"

Eden was taken aback in surprise as he heard about the monsters.

"This…this forest has monsters…?"

He just dodged the question, but to think his words played out to be true, surprised him a bit.

"Of course," Lily nodded and showed a red crystal to Eden, saying,

"We're safe because I have this with me, it distracts monsters from approaching us. Also, it only works with me; since it's bonded with my soul. If you think it will work for you, then it won't. Please keep that in mind."

She seemed to warn Eden in case he ran away, taking her crystal. Even though, Eden hadn't intended to do anything like this.

"Okay." Eden laughed a little after noticing her wariness towards him.

Shortly, they arrived in Lily's village, and she introduced him to the villagers as someone homeless.

Luckily, they weren't any bad people, so things worked out fine, and for some days, Eden got a place to live. Besides, for some reason, Eden had a sense of familiarity with that village and its people but since his mind was already a mess at that moment, he just ignored thinking about it.

Sigh!

With a sigh, Eden sat on the chair outside, looking towards the sky with an emotionless look.

"Lady Celestia…"

He remembered his goddess, just thinking of her made his eyes teary.

He gritted his teeth and still felt lost. He felt as if his inside was empty; his emotions were all dead, and now the only thing he could do was act.

Think rationally and act accordingly. No matter how difficult it would be for him, he was determined to bring down heaven.

"Big brother?"

"Hmm?"

As Eden heard a voice from his left, he glanced there and noticed Lily standing there alone with some fruits in her hands.

Eden realized what she was up to, yet he acted unaware of it, asking,

"What is it, Lily?"

Lily smiled and walked towards him, saying,

"These are the special fruits of our village; please have some."

"Oh, thanks."

Eden picked up a fruit but didn't eat it; instead, he glared at the food.

"What's wrong, big brother?"

Lily noticed that Eden wasn't eating the fruit, so she asked in a confused voice.

After a while of observation, a smile shaped Eden's face as he patted Lily's head, saying,

"Lily, you guys are so kind. Much more than I'd ever thought of. Also…"

He glanced around, declaring,

"...you guys can come out, there's no need to hide anymore."

Upon his statement, the villagers lurking in the shadows started coming out as if they were waiting for that moment.

"It's an honour meeting you, our Lord."

An old man, basically the village chief, paced forward and greeted him.

"Oh, it's strange that you guys know me."

Eden smiled a little, and showed them the fruit, asking,

"This fruit has healing fabrics inside, right?"

"Yes, my Lord."

The village chief bowed down, adding,

"You seemed to be in bad shape, so we thought it would be better to help you while we could. After all, as the chief of this Carmea village, I've lived for 300 years, and I still remember you, sir. If it hadn't been for you and Lady Celestia helping us, my family would have died out ages ago."

Showing his gratitude to Eden, the old man smiled, adding,

"I'm indebted to you, sir. Even if it takes my life, I'll always be there to help you."

Listening to his testimony, Eden remembered that day, at the Festival of Light, when he went on the detour with Lady Celestia around the world.

"Ah…I see."

A faint smile shaped Eden's face as he remembered all this.

'I think I get it now. This is the Renodiac World. The world that is governed by Cosmic Asuras.'

But then, with a serious look on his face, he pondered,

'But doesn't that mean I'm in danger then? If, by chance, any Cosmic Asura sees me, then I will be–'

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

"?!"

Eden was left flabbergasted at the sound of an explosion as if his fear had come true.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't our beloved fallen angel, Requaniel."

With a dark grin on his face, a man with a bulky body, orange skin, and spiky hair, approached forward from the silhouette.

"Y-You…"

Eden's eyes dilated in terror as if he had seen a nightmare in front of him.

The crimson eyes of the man darted at Eden as if they had pierced through him and with a mocking voice, he commented,

"What's up? It's been a while, Requaniel."

While Eden, on the other hand, narrowed his gaze, still trying to stay calm, calling out,

"Reikeji…"