"Let's search for it first."
Azrael remained puzzled about the location of the entrance, finding himself completely without leads. His enhanced reconnaissance had revealed nothing but empty buildings and rain-washed stone.
"If conventional methods fail..." He watched Pride switch to the [Hole Digging Master] module obtained from some unknown rodent during his Dabie Mountain expedition, sharp claws extending from his fingertips with predatory elegance.
Azrael had originally dismissed this particular genetic template as amusing but ultimately useless. He'd never imagined it would prove essential for actual mission objectives.
"If there's no alternative, we'll have to excavate our own entrance," he decided with pragmatic acceptance.
After summoning all his cards, Azrael directed them to spread out and conduct a systematic search for any concealed access points. Meanwhile, he began his own detailed examination of the abandoned settlement, hoping to discover overlooked clues about the demons' evacuation.
Unfortunately, despite their apparent haste, the demons had clearly prepared for this contingency. Azrael found nothing of tactical value, no forgotten maps, no discarded equipment, no indicators of their current location or defensive preparations.
After considerable time had passed, his cards returned empty-handed from their respective search sectors.
Observing their collective failure, Azrael released a frustrated sigh. "It seems excavation is our only remaining option."
"Retsu, I'll need your assistance once more."
Since he intended to dig a concealed access tunnel, vertical excavation was obviously impractical. Emerging directly above a concentrated demon population would constitute tactical suicide, exposing himself before he could assess their strength, numbers, or defensive capabilities.
Azrael refused to rush into unknown opposition without proper intelligence gathering. Caution had served him well throughout his Lore Lore Cardian career, and this mission would be no exception.
Unohana Retsu performed the Bakudō #58: Kakushitsuijaku tracking technique once more, her spiritual energy penetrating the mountain's hidden depths with supernatural precision. After several moments of careful analysis, she turned toward Azrael with professional satisfaction.
"I've refined their location," she reported quietly. "The demons appear to be positioned approximately halfway up the mountain's interior structure."
Azrael nodded, immediately following Unohana's guidance to a position on the mountainside that would place them at maximum distance from the detected spiritual pressure signatures.
"Let's begin."
After storing all his cards, Azrael surrendered control to Pride and allowed the symbiote to begin carving through the mountain wall with methodical efficiency. This type of manual labor was better suited to Pride's enhanced physiology than his own limited human endurance.
As Pride worked, Azrael found his thoughts drifting to other genetic modules in their collection. The [Hole Digging Master] template had proven surprisingly versatile, perhaps similar utility existed among the other seemingly minor acquisitions.
I might even be able to develop specialized drilling techniques, he mused privately. After all, excavation is excavation regardless of specific methodology.
Setting aside such distractions, Azrael entered a meditative state that allowed Pride to work uninterrupted. This represented one of the symbiote's greatest advantages, during extended operations, he could rest while his partner handled tedious but necessary tasks.
After an indeterminate period, Pride's hoarse voice resonated through their mental link. "Azrael, we should be approaching breakthrough."
Opening his eyes and resuming control, Azrael found himself facing a rock wall where faint light leaked through hairline cracks. Behind him stretched a dark tunnel that seemed to extend forever into the mountain's depths.
"Thank you for the hard work, Pride," he acknowledged softly, genuinely grateful for his partner's tireless effort.
Extending his mental energy in careful pulses, Azrael probed the space beyond the barrier. But immediately, confusion replaced anticipation.
"Nothing?" he frowned, studying the readings with growing perplexity.
Under normal circumstances, even if he couldn't detect the demons themselves, he should have sensed the hollow interior space that housed them. Instead, his perception revealed nothing but solid stone, as if the mountain continued uninterrupted.
"The demons must have implemented some form of concealment technique," Azrael concluded with grudging admiration. "No wonder previous Lore Lore Cardians failed to locate this underground complex. Our mental energy has been deceived or blocked."
Most Lore Lore Cardians didn't bother creating specialized reconnaissance cards, relying instead on their natural spiritual perception for intelligence gathering. The demons had clearly anticipated this limitation and developed countermeasures accordingly.
Only Unohana Retsu's Kidō techniques, with their unique spiritual resonance properties, had managed to penetrate their concealment. Since the demons couldn't have anticipated techniques from Soul Society, their defenses had proven inadequate against her detection methods.
"Time to see what we're actually dealing with," Azrael murmured, applying pressure with his enhanced claws.
The weakened rock barrier crumbled instantly, revealing the space beyond with startling immediacy.
An unknown creature squatted directly in front of the opening, animal ears twitching atop its head as it stared at Azrael with absolute bewilderment. The timing couldn't have been more awkward for either party.
For several seconds, both figures remained frozen in mutual shock.
The demon, for that's clearly what it was, attempted to restore its clothing while opening its mouth to sound an alarm. Before any sound could emerge, a massive black and red hand clamped over its muzzle with crushing force.
Terror flooded the creature's features as its most vulnerable moment was transformed into a life-threatening encounter. Physiological functions that had been impossible to control now added humiliation to its growing panic.
"I'll ask questions, you'll provide answers," Azrael whispered with menacing calm, his merged voice carrying harmonics that spoke of inhuman fusion. "Blink once if you understand."
The demon's eyes blinked rapidly, desperate communication in a situation where speech was impossible.
Azrael gradually loosened his grip, allowing the creature space to breathe while maintaining control over the situation.
But the moment freedom became possible, the demon's expression shifted from fear to hatred and defiant anger. Just as it prepared to cry out in warning, Pride's liquid form flowed through its open mouth with clinical efficiency.
The creature clawed at its throat in agony, staring at Azrael with disbelief that quickly transformed into horrified understanding. It hadn't expected such a rapid and ruthless response.
Genetic module acquired: [Scent Gland Generation]
[Scent Gland Generation]: Allows the development of specialized organs capable of producing toxic or disorienting chemical compounds. These substances can be released through natural excretory processes.
Note: This gas proves ineffective against creatures possessing identical organs.
As Pride's updated capabilities registered in his consciousness, Azrael took decisive action under the demon's terrified gaze.
"Cooperation would have been far more pleasant," he observed with dark amusement, the black and red hand tightening around the creature's skull. "Pride, were you able to complete your analysis?"
"Affirmative."
With Pride's confirmation, Azrael crushed the now-useless demon without hesitation or remorse. The creature had chosen defiance over survival, a decision that carried predictable consequences.
While encountering a demon immediately upon breaching their concealment had been unexpected, it provided an invaluable opportunity for infiltration. Pride's shapeshifting capabilities would allow them to blend among the enemy population.
Under the symbiote's influence, Azrael's bones and muscles began shifting with wet, organic sounds. His human features gradually transformed into a perfect replica of the deceased demon, complete with distinctive animal ears and altered facial structure.
[Shapeshifting]: Regardless of the host's original form, the symbiote can alter physical appearance, size, coloration, and texture to achieve environmental camouflage or species mimicry.
This ability had never been necessary within the Empire of Aetherlight's secure heartland, but finally proved its worth in hostile territory. A Silver-level Red quality symbiote's disguise should fool most opponents below Gold tier, and given the demons' apparent evacuation to this hidden refuge, Gold-level entities seemed unlikely.
After donning the demon's soiled clothing without visible distaste, Azrael collected the newly obtained Black Iron-level [Half-Human Weasel] (Blue) material and disposed of both corpse and his original garments in the excavated tunnel.
Using debris from the digging operation, he sealed the tunnel entrance and eliminated evidence of his arrival. Professional infiltration demanded attention to such details.
Since entering this underground space, Azrael had maintained his mental energy in a tight perimeter around his immediate position. The demons' obvious knowledge of Lore Lore Cardian spiritual pressure detection made broader reconnaissance too risky. Stealth took precedence over intelligence gathering until he understood their capabilities more thoroughly.
A rough voice echoed from somewhere in the distance, carrying easily through the underground complex's acoustics.
"Kael, why are you taking so long to shit?"
The casual tone suggested routine rather than suspicion, exactly the kind of normal interaction that would provide perfect cover for his infiltration. Azrael smiled beneath his disguised features, recognizing opportunity when it presented itself.
Time to discover what secrets the demons were hiding in their underground sanctuary.