Chapter 6: Project Azazel

Chapter 6: Azazel

Genji's Dojo

"What do you know about life-force energy?"

Ammar raised his eyebrow and scratched his head, feeling confused at Mikhail's question. He rubbed his chin and then tried to think about the answer, but Mikhail answered it for him.

"Life-force energy is the energy that flows within our body. It keeps us alive and without it, we are dead. It's a concept that has existed for thousands of years," Mikhail then continued, "Life-force energy or Mystic Energy doesn't just keep us alive, but it gives us the ability to perform what normal people will call magic."

"All living things have Mystic Energy but only a few can utilize it as a tool to fight or defend. Normally, it takes some time for someone to learn how to use Mystic Energy. Without any knowledge about it, you can't use that energy, even a small spark. In order to use it, you must unlock it first."

"Small spark?"

Mikhail smiled and said, "I will teach you about that later. But now, let's focus on the basic stuff. As I said earlier, it takes some time for someone to learn how to use it. But there are several cases where people can use it without learning the basic stuff. For example, you and I."

Ammar looked at Mikhail with a puzzled face and pointed at himself, making Mikhail nodded his head.

"I don't want to say this since it was my fault, but when Irina removed your eye, she put a curse mark on your brain. Although that curse mark allows you to use Mystic Energy, it will slowly turn you into a Demon. By training, we are going to remove that curse mark and let you fully utilize the energy," Mikhail said with a serious expression. "Now, about Mystic Energy. There are a few people with unique traits. There's someone I fought with whose Mystic Energy has an 'edge' like a sharp cutting effect."

"Today's lesson is to unlock your Mystic Energy and manipulate it to any part of your body that you want," Mikhail raised his index finger that covered in Mystic Energy which took the form of a dark blue flame. "Now, take a deep breath and clear your mind. Feel the energy that courses through your body."

Ammar nodded and sat in a lotus position. He closed his lone eye and took a deep breath, removing his thoughts. At first there was nothing which frustrated him and was about to give up when suddenly, he saw a bright light and it consumed him.

As for Mikhail, he suddenly tensed up and saw Ammar generate a burst of immense Mystic Energy that took the form of crimson-tainted aura. It was so powerful yet sinister, Mikhail thought. He watched Ammar stand up and open his left eye, giving a devilish smirk at Mikhail.

"…" Mikhail prepared himself and watched Ammar or rather the curse that took him over, ripped out the eye patch and exposed his right eye.

A dark sclera with red irises and a black slit.

The possessed Ammar also alerted everyone in the Genji Clan's House, and they all rushed to the dojo including Mizuki. The moment they arrived; they were greeted with the sight of an unconscious Ammar lying on the wooden floor with Mikhail's back facing them.

"Mika? What happened?" Mizuki asked her brother with a concerned tone.

"Oh, nothing. It's just that Ammar unlocked his Mystic Energy. Quite powerful if you ask me," Mikhail replied and then turned around, revealing the front of his torn shirt. "Sorry to alert you guys, I forgot to place a seal."

Mikhail lifted the unconscious Ammar and went to his room, throwing the exhausted young man to the bed. He then left the room with a single thought.

'Azazel… Wasn't that Lucifer's name?'

Several hours later, Ammar woke up with a headache. He groaned and looked around him, noticing that he was in his room. 

"I wonder what happened." Ammar asked while walking to the door and left the room.

Walking around the house, Ammar noticed Mikhail staring at one picture that made him smile. He greeted his friend with a gentle tap to his shoulder.

"Hey, what happened to me?"

Without taking off his sight on the picture, Mikhail replied, "You unlocked your Mystic Energy, but you passed out for a few hours. It's normal for everyone."

Ammar then noticed the picture of Amaris and Mikhail and then asked, "That girl… I saw her sometimes when you open your wallet or laptop. I know her name is Amaris, but who is she to you?"

"My one and only best friend," Mikhail replied while touching the picture with a smile. "Anyways, you should get some rest. I had a meeting that I needed to attend. Tomorrow, we will continue with your lesson."

Mikhail then excused himself and left the house, heading somewhere else. Ammar decided to take a bath and continued his sleep. 

When Mikhail left the house, he was greeted by Shizuka who was smoking. Like usual, she offered a cigarette to Mikhail who declined it. The two former enemies then went to the location of the meeting.

"So, how's the training?" Shizuka asked.

"Great progress. He possesses a powerful Mystic Energy that one day can surpass me," Mikhail replied, surprising Shizuka. "What? I never declare myself as the Strongest. You and everyone else kept calling me that, especially those who love about supernatural topics."

"I never call you that." 

Mikhail chuckled softly and said, "If I remember it correctly, you screamed at me and told me that I am the Strongest when I was about to give up fighting Lucifer."

Shizuka smirked as they arrived at the location of a small building that Mikhail remembered as the head clan's private library. They entered the building and saw Mizuki with two people that were surprised to see Mikhail.

"Uzumaki Yukiko and Fujiwara Renji." Mikhail greeted them.

Uzumaki Yukiko, the head clan of the Uzumaki Clan that is known for their ability to summon shikigami.

Yukiko is an average-height woman with shoulder-length auburn hair and dark eyes. She wore a long-sleeved brown blouse with dark pants.

Fujiwara Reiji from the Fujiwara Clan. Currently, the clan only has one person, and that person is Reiji who can create and manipulate fire. 

Reiji is a young man with spiky snow-white hair and grey eyes. He has a small scar on his jaw and three piercings through his ear. He wore a white shirt with a loose dark tie and slack pants.

"Mika? I knew it! I knew it!! You are alive!!" Yukiko said with a big smile. She got off her chair and immediately hugged the smiling Mikhail. "How have you been?!"

"I am fine, Yukiko-san," Mikhail replied and then glanced at the stoic Reiji. "Reiji."

"Mikazuki. It seems you have stopped training over the last seven years," Reiji stated as he looked at Mikhail. "Don't worry, I can assist you with your training."

"Thanks Reiji, but I can do it by myself. Plus, we can catch up later. Where's Nishiki?" asked Mikhail, causing Shizuka to scoff. "What?"

"Who needs him anyway? God knows where and what he is doing right now." Shizuka said as she discarded her cigarette. 

Somewhere else

"ACHOOO! I bet that Katagiri bitch is talking about me right now." 

The tall man with shaggy orange hair said before eating his ramen.

Back to Mikhail and others

The door of the library was opened, revealing Mizuki with a scroll in her hand. Judging by the look on her face, there must be bad news and the scroll seems to have… blood? Mizuki sat down and unrolled the scroll, revealing a series of strange symbols that Mikhail could perfectly read it.

"Yukiko, if you don't mind." Mizuki looked at Yukiko who nodded and formed a hand sign that summoned a small monkey. The monkey bit its thumb and smeared the blood on the paper before chanting the mantra.

After doing that, the monkey bid farewell and vanished in a burst of smoke. Strange symbols were deciphered into information that surprised everyone.

"You got to be joking! Is this for real?!" screamed Shizuka to everyone else. "A weapon that is capable of adapting and mimicking someone's power?!"

"Not just that but it seems Lilith is almost done creating her army." Reiji spoke calmly, although he was shocked inside.

"Project Azazel…" Mikhail said, making everyone look at him. "What?"

"Nothing… It just-" 

Mikhail interrupted Mizuki by saying, "When Lilith tortured me seven years ago, she did say something about creating a weapon that capable of adapting into any situation as well as wiping out humanity in an instant." She named it Project Azazel and said that she needs Lucifer to be dead to ensure her plan works."

"Plan? What is the plan?" Shizuka asked Mikhail.

"I don't know, but whatever it is… Lucifer's death was her first step." Mikhail stated to everyone, making them silent for a while.

"Since you are here, I believe we can stop Lilith from completing Project Azazel," Mizuki looked at Mikhail. "You already defeated Lucifer, one of the most powerful beings, there's no way you can't defeat Lilith."

"No, you're wrong."

Everyone looked at Mikhail with confusion, demanding him to explain which made the young man release a heavy sigh. Mikhail took a deep breath and said, 

"It was pure luck that I killed Lucifer. Even if I wasn't injured at that time and awakened Kamigan much earlier, Lucifer is still too strong for me to defeat."

Mizuki asked, "Why did you say that?"

"The only reason I killed Lucifer was because he was still injured from a battle three decades ago. The one who injured him and came close to kill him was…" Mikhail looked at Mizuki.

"Genji Mirza, our father."