Haste

[Does this guy take me for an idiot—oh wait, I guess they do expect demons to be that ignorant huh…] Raijin thought and just answered the question unwillingly.

"They do extraordinary things using magic energy, but I heard they calls it source energy on other places. Ahm, what else… ah, yeah, they have different affinities. There are also different stages and ranks but I do not know a lot about them."

"Oh, I see, common knowledge huh. Yeah, what you said were all true. About stage, there are eleven of it. They are measure by the magical functions in your body. For example, a beginner stage, he could only use body enhancing abilities because that person's magical veins are not still connected on the outside. And as you go on different stages, additional systems on your magical systems will be added."

[So I am more than a beginner huh…] Raijin thought.

"As for the rank, it is how purified the energy you're releasing. Because the more purified it was, the more powerful your magic will be. It ranges 1-10 and it can be improved in whatever stage you are. Got it?" Antonio asked to Raijin and the latter nodded, surprised.

This, is the personality of Antonio. He didn't really despised demon but as he was also affected by the society, he also hold prejudice against them but he was known to do his duties well and one of those was explaining. He really like to teach.

"We're here, enter please."

After entering the door, the only thing that Raijin saw was a big circle mark on the tiled floor. Inside the circle was some kind of circuit that resembles a round maze. And at the center, there is a small podium that was more than enough for a person to stand up.

Antonio prompted them to enter and he began explaining.

"This, is the Lito's podium. It was invented six hundred years ago by the collaboration of witches and dwarves. It measures the ratio of your source capacity to purify energy. It also identifies the awakened magic system you have so it can identify what stage you are."

[Neat,] Raijin thought.

"Now, please go to the center," with professionalism, Antonio guided him at the center as he went to a cylindrical podium at the side of circle.

"Thanks…"

Raijin watched his steps as he walked onto the smooth floor. He walked carefully because the circuit are slightly higher than the surface.

After reaching out the center, Antonio instructed him what to do.

"Now, pour as much source energy into your feet unto the podium."

[That's all?] Raijin's processed and his mind.

"Yes."

When he did what he was ordered, the circle lit up. But not only on the floor but also at the ceiling. It was late but Raijin finally realized that there was a similar circuit on the top, he began to wonder as it lit up.

"Oh, I forgot. That is the Interjector. It measures how much Source energy capacity you have.

"Eh?"

Raijin was blinded by light that came from the ceiling. During that moment, he felt a tingling sensation that went until his feet. It was like a scanner to his soul, his magic storage pulsated as well. After his eyes recovered, Antonio was already examining the results so he went into their direction.

Antonio was reading the paper he got from the podium. Raijin surmised that the machine has transported the information to paper on the podium. Perplex, the employee looked at Raijin.

"Hmm…"

"What it is Mr. Antonio?" Marcos asked curiously.

"Raijin is, how do I put. When did you learned Sorcery by the way?"

"Two years ago."

[Again with age,] Raijin thought while Antonio was quietly amazed by it.

On the background, both Marcos and Gibbs were flabbergasted as well.

"That was too early for your age, and how?"

This time, he asked the perfect question because it demons were barely expose to sorcery, thus, their abilities as sorcerers were in deep slumber.

Raijin stayed silent for a while, thinking on what will he say. He then sighed and answered.

"I found a magical tool on the outskirts and twinkled over it."

With that, Raijin yet again produced comical dumbfounded faces

"Ohh… that's…" "Brat is different breed I'd say."

Both Antonio and Gibbs said their side comments but Marcos easily recovered and asked the important question right away.

"So how was it Antonio?"

The result.

Antonio immediately fixed himself and focused on the paper

"Oh, pardon me. Here it is, let me read it for you Mr. Marcos. After conducting the test and examining it, it was concluded that Raijin is already at intermediate stage and his Source capacity was a little larger than average. As for his purification, well, it exceeded my expectation. It is already on level four."

A beginner stage sorcerer has a energy transport system called beginner or primary veins. The are thin intangible veins that connected to the entire body. But this vein doesn't connect to outside so the only sorcery they can do was body enhancement. And for Raijin's case, his body already developed the intermediate veins. These veins have many kinds of different elements, and all of those are connected outside the body.

Gibbs gave an examining face to Raijin.

"Intermediate, Level 4…so that's how you overpowered my men eh? That number ain't a joke."

"Well, how fantastic." Marcos said. He tried to but his grinned won't leave him.

Marcos was too engrossed that they didn't notice something, it was the face of Antonio. A cold sweat dropped from him that manifested the lie he made. What he just said weren't completely true. The only truth he told was that he still on intermediate stage. He leave off the fact that Raijin's advance vain were forming. Advance veins are bigger than the intermediate ones. Having advance vein of an element lethally increased the firepower of a person's sorcery.

Raijin surely left questionable numbers. One of this was his energy storage which was too big that can be compared to imperial sorcerers. Another thing was his purification level. This nearly gave him an heart attack when he saw that his was seven, which was nearing its peak. Many sorcerers can't do that, as the average for their highest was only five.

As for why Antonio left such a important information behind, it was because he felt empathy. This world may have the heaviest prejudice against demons, not all are merciless. He thought that if they discovered this abnormal status, he will be theirs for the rest of his live.

•°•°•

The night of usual gloomy slum that same day…has become gloomier. The event involving Raijin lead to this. Lucia, as they expected, locked on her house and wailing for her son. That probably tired her as she fell asleep soundly, a mark of devastation on her face. Thankfully, there were holes for each of their houses so those who were underneath the slum could check her situation.

That very underground now was being used again as a meeting place. Those who felt lost and those who wanted to do something were there, in short, almost all of the demons of slum where these. The center of their attention now was Kazan who was currently submerged on his mind.

[I've thinking how we've burdened him. Thinking what we should have do instead. But at this point, we could only trust on him while I do something on them. They've been judged the moment they were born, resulting for their decision to be this weak. But thankfully, that kid affected us. So, I must do something.]

"Listen," he spoke with such a complete voice. Eliminating every possible nervousness on his body, he stood up and stomped heavily.

[Pride was it…? I, myself, want to protect them too. And if I were to be stopped just by pride, then I am to die now.]

"Kazan…"

"There's no time to feel gloomy for now!" he shouted.

"But—"

"Before he leave, he said that we wait for him!"

Unsurprised, the reaction they made was doubt.

"The moment he returned, those who want to leave will escape!"

Now that Raijin wasn't present, the droplet of hope they've been holding has spilled. But Kazan so this, he saw through this so he has no choice but to force them by setting aside his pride.

"We will leave and you know what will happen later? A heavier situation for those who remained!"

That truth woken them up, fearing that this could happened, some started thinking on how to stop their fellow kind who seek freedom but Kazan didn't let it to happened and he pierced his words onto their heart and mind.

"What now?! You want to rat us to prevent our plan!!?"

Those who were thinking saw fell silent, guilty by his remark.

They thought, [what we can do?]

But Kazan continued.

"Is that so!!? What do you expected them to do after?!? Go easy on you while punishing us?! Wake up! They won't do that? Huh?! With us, you will share the same treatment! You already saw throughout your life that this world can't change for us! But are you just gonna stay there?!"

He paused, scanning the faces they were making. Kazan knows what they want, he knows what those fragile faces where seeking. It was to make them kill all their reasoning just to pursue hope.

"Me, my family and Aunt Lucia. Together with Raijin…we will escape. We just want to escape and leaving everything behind. We won't give a sh*t whatever happens to those who remained. Now, answer me! Do you want to follow us!?"

It wasn't that long for someone to voice their desire. It was Amid who was full of tears on his face. The old man then said, "take me, please. I want to escape this hell."

That was the trigger. One by one, the demons raised their. There were truly who want to go but for others, it was a peer pressure. But on Kazan, that was fine. In order to bring out everyone, that will be necessary.

[Be foolish, be greedy, and be brave,] he thought.

"Then make sure that the tunnel will be finished before his return! So demons, make a haste!"