150 Chapter 19

The demon knelt before the church altar, engaged in a moment of prayer. "What are you doing that for?" someone asked from behind it. "Levarick used to do this, so I do it in his memory," the demon explained, rising and facing the angel, who notably lacked his wings.

"That's dumb. Why bother honoring a dead guy? Also, Levarick? Why do names in this world have to be so weird?" the angel scoffed. The demon shook its head, countering, "There may be no inherent purpose, but engaging in activities without a clear point doesn't negate their significance. If all sentient beings only pursued purpose, they'd lose the essence of sentience itself."

The angel dismissed the philosophical discourse, claiming, "Don't hit me with that deep shit; I won't understand a word." The demon shrugged, changing the topic. "Alright, I will now change the subject. Why did you retract your wings?" it inquired. Leaning against a pillar, the angel replied, "The hole in my stomach you gave me healed, so I don't need to flaunt 'em. Plus, being wingless makes me more relatable to these people—after all, they're gonna help me stop a demon invasion."

**10 minutes earlier**

In the room, gazes turned towards the angel, expressions ranging from uncertainty to seriousness. "I'm help," Xain declared promptly, raising his hand. Larkin seemed disappointed, while Zee appeared shocked, immediately zipping back to Xain's bedside. Larkin sighed audibly. "You seriously going to do this again?" he mumbled.

Zee, now by Xain's side, couldn't contain her concern. "What are you saying, Xain? You can't seriously be considering going!" she exclaimed, gripping his shoulders. Larkin's disappointment lingered in the air. "No, Zee, you're right. I'm not just considering it; I've decided to go," Xain affirmed, feeling the weight of his choice.

Zee tightened her hold, her voice tense. "This is no time for jokes, Xain! We're dealing with angels and demons, not some street thug or crime lord!"

"Zee, stop, that hurts," Xain groaned, feeling the pressure of her grasp. Zee released him, her hands trembling, attempting to convey the gravity of the situation. "Please, we've already discussed this. Just st—" She was abruptly cut off mid-sentence.

"We have, and I already said that it's his choice," Grace interjected, glaring at Zee, who returned the glare. Caught in the middle, Xain looked between the two women in panic, wondering, *What should I do!?* as the tension threatened to escalate into a fight between the two.

Suddenly, Larkin intervened, saying, "Zee, just stop; there's no point." Zee looked shocked once again, about to protest, "What are you saying? You know th—" But once more, Zee was cut off mid-sentence.

"You're right, Zee. I do know, and I know enough to understand that there's no point in arguing with Xain," Larkin declared, sounding defeated. Zee, wanting to respond, found herself unable to form words as the realization sank in. Meanwhile, the angel, eager to address the pressing matter at hand, stated, "Listen, I don't know what kinda drama's happenin' with you all, but it feels like you have a bigger problem to deal with right now." While he found the situation somewhat entertaining, he recognized the urgency of stopping an invasion sooner rather than later.

"I'll help too," Grace chimed in, turning to the angel. Zee shot her another glare before defiantly declaring, "Then I'll help too!" Xain, hearing this, attempted to argue, "But you're injured; you ca—" However, it was now Xain's turn to be cut off mid-sentence.

You don't get to pull that card! If I'm too injured up to go, then so are you," Zee asserted. Xain extended a finger, struggling to conjure a counterargument before conceding, "I can't argue with that."

The angel shifted his gaze to Larkin, inquiring, "Old man, are you gonna lend a hand too?" Larkin dismissively waved him off, "Nah," and headed to the door, announcing, "If anyone's lookin' for me, I'll be in the strider." He exited the room without further explanation. The angel shrugged, "Doesn't seem like he'd be much help anyway. But," he clasped his hands, continuing, "Looks like I've got some meat shields to assist me. What about you, demon?" Grace wore an annoyed expression at the term meat shield, while Xain chuckled, and Zee seemed indifferent.

"I cannot aid you, as I am bound by contract to stay in Wolfdale. Otherwise, I would have gone to the Rasanto estate myself," the demon clarified. The angel looked disappointed but turned to Grace, Xain, and Zee, declaring, "Then get your asses in gear, 'cause we're going to stop an invasion!"

**Back to the present**

The demon's eyes focused on the shattered stained glass, remnants of the angel's dramatic entrance. "I wish you all the best in facing Verandez and his mercenaries," it spoke, its tone holding a genuine concern. The angel, adopting a casual stance with his arms behind his head, responded, "Yeah, thanks. I reckon we'll need it."

Turning to face the angel, the demon, despite lacking most of a face, managed to convey curiosity, "From our initial encounter, I never expected you to display such humility and mortality." The angel sighed, "Let's just say getting the shit kicked out of me by a sixteen-year-old girl really humbled me. Anyway, I've got a question for ya." The demon nodded, "Ask away; I shall answer to the best of my ability."

The angel squatted down, resting his head on his hand, "Why are you in that form?" he asked. The demon tilted its head in confusion, "What do you mean?" The angel explained, "Well, it's just that wouldn't people come here to this church more often if you had a human appearance? Because from what I heard from the village folk, they're still pretty scared of ya." The demon pondered for a moment before deciding, "I suppose you are right. I thought revealing my true form would foster trust, but I am open to testing a different approach." Suddenly, the demon's skin and body began to shift, twist, turn, and wiggle. Right before the angel's eyes, the demon's form transformed. Seeing the change, the angel couldn't help but give a nod of approval, stating, "Now, that's one hell of a human form."

"I would express gratitude, although this form is not one I crafted myself; it is the likeness of Levarick in life," the demon clarified, its voice now seamlessly human, a stark contrast to its true form. The angel, taken aback, exclaimed, "Damn! You're telling me this guy was a priest? What a waste of good looks."

Surveying the transformed demon, now standing at a height of around 6 feet with a slender yet athletic physique, the angel marveled at the human features. Levarick possessed a face that could quicken the hearts of most women and make men question their own sexuality. With light blond straight hair brushing the ears and piercing red eyes radiating an otherworldly charm that could induce shivers even in the most celibate of monks, the Levarick's appearance could rival even the gods. The demon, however, appeared puzzled, asking, "Is this form considered attractive?" The angel, nonchalant, responded, "For a human, definitely. That priest could probably have his way with most female and some male angels if he wanted to."

The demon, examining its new human hand, acknowledged, "I see. It is unfortunate that Levarick's life was abruptly cut short," it lamented. The angel, casual as ever, suggested, "Well, you can honor the dead by using his looks to inspire the living." The demon nodded in agreement, "I will do that," before the angel smirked and declared, "While you're at it, I'll hatch up a plan to stop this invasion." With that, the angel exited the church, leaving the demon alone amidst the echoes of their conversation. Contemplating its newfound appearance, the demon muttered to itself, "Perhaps showing this face to the people will instill some hope." With a determined resolve, it, too, exited the church.