Even though the Speakers, having lost the reinforcements of the Spellcasters, possessed formidable psychic abilities, they could not change the fundamental fact that they were powerless against the overwhelming force arrayed against them.
Seeing countless attacks roaring toward his dwindling forces once more, the Grand Speaker finally gave the order to retreat with a sullen expression darkening his weathered features.
"Gather the remaining troops and retreat immediately."
However, despite his authoritative command, the remaining Spellcasters had already scattered like leaves in a hurricane. Those with any sense had fled the moment they witnessed the devastating power of Aizen's Complete Hypnosis. Gathering them would prove nearly impossible, as not everyone possessed the courage to return to a battlefield where reality itself could no longer be trusted.
Even if refusing to fight could result in execution for desertion, facing an enemy who could manipulate all five senses was a fate many considered worse than death.
Azrael watched the retreating demons with calculating eyes, considering their options carefully before speaking aloud. "Keep pursuing them. Kill as many as you can while they're vulnerable."
In a normal world, conventional military strategy would dictate avoiding the pursuit of desperate enemies who might turn and fight with nothing left to lose. But on this world, with supernatural professions like Lore Cardians, even if a card was destroyed in battle, the worst consequence would be a cooldown period before it could be summoned again.
To prevent these demons from employing diversionary tactics or regrouping for a counterattack, the three directors tacitly agreed to withhold their most powerful cards, keeping their trump cards in reserve for any unexpected developments.
Watching the brown-haired girl leading the pursuit into the distance, Azrael withdrew his piercing gaze and turned his attention to more pressing matters.
"Alright, let's establish our defensive perimeters quickly before they can regroup."
As the secret realm's entrance became a hive of activity, several Gold-level cards led by Misaka returned from their successful pursuit. The electromagnetic specialist's usually composed expression held a hint of satisfaction as she reported their results.
Diesel's [Flying Zombie] still carried several demon corpses in its skeletal grasp, though sadly, the Grand Speaker's body wasn't among the grisly trophies. The old demon had proven more cunning than anticipated, likely having contingency plans for his escape.
With their enhanced perception, the three directors could easily discern that the group of demons had indeed been led by the elderly Grand Speaker. His tactical acumen had been evident throughout the battle, coordinating retreats and attempting to exploit weaknesses in their formation.
However, at this point, this particular secret realm was unlikely to cause any major disturbances to the surrounding area. The demon hierarchy had been shattered, their command structure decimated, and their morale completely broken.
As long as Azrael and his team systematically eliminated the remaining Gold-level demons, they could safely delegate the cleanup operations to the lower-ranked Lore Cardians of the Association. The real threats had been neutralized.
Retracting his cards with practiced efficiency, Azrael pinched the bridge of his nose with a weary expression, feeling the mental strain of prolonged combat. "Let's rest for a while before we continue operations."
Meanwhile, in the city of Donglai, civilian life continued with an undercurrent of tension that most residents couldn't quite identify.
Stephen had recently become a proud five-star security guard at an upscale residential complex called Happy Homes Complex. This stroke of fortune was entirely thanks to President Azrael, who had personally retrieved his identification documents when they'd been lost during the chaos; otherwise, he would have failed the interview process and been left to starve on the streets.
He had recently researched the situation in Laiyang Village Three online and discovered alarming information. Not only had Laiyang Village Three been placed under emergency lockdown, but a substantial surrounding area had also been cordoned off by the Association's emergency response teams.
Fortunately, the Association would assume full responsibility for relocating all affected civilians, providing temporary housing and compensation for the inconvenience. The organization took its public relations responsibilities seriously.
"Xiao Duan, take your master keys and check on the situation at unit 114," the security captain instructed, not bothering to look up from his phone as he scrolled through social media feeds. "The residents of 115 have been complaining about a terrible odor emanating from next door recently."
"Understood, Captain," Stephen nodded obediently, grateful for the work despite the unpleasant nature of the assignment.
As the newest member of the security team, he'd been assigned to the night shift, though nocturnal security work wasn't particularly strenuous. The complex was well-maintained and generally peaceful.
Picking up a heavy-duty flashlight, the young man pushed open the security office door and made his way through the carefully landscaped grounds toward the reported unit. Unit 114 was a spacious townhouse in the premium section of the complex.
"Christ, it stinks!" Stephen grimaced, raising his left hand to cover his mouth and nose while his right hand directed the flashlight beam across the entrance. The putrid smell was overwhelming, reminiscent of rotting meat left in summer heat.
"Ding dong." He pressed the doorbell with the flashlight's metal handle and waited patiently for a response from the unit's resident.
Long moments passed, but the townhouse remained completely silent, as if it were abandoned. No lights flickered on, no footsteps approached the door, no voice called out in response.
"Nobody home?" Stephen muttered, puzzled by the situation.
After weighing his options, he retrieved the master key from his ring and unlocked the door. The overwhelming stench made investigation unavoidable, this clearly wasn't a case of forgotten garbage or poor ventilation.
The well-maintained door opened silently on its expensive hinges, and the enormous villa beyond lay shrouded in absolute darkness. The silence was oppressive, almost supernatural in its completeness.
Seeing the eerie scene, Stephen felt a chill of apprehension creep up his spine. However, his recent experiences had hardened him considerably. After all, he had witnessed the earth-shattering battle between monsters just days ago, enjoying what could only be described as premium front-row seats to an apocalyptic confrontation.
Compared to watching the very ground collapse and mountains crumble under supernatural power, investigating a smelly apartment seemed relatively manageable.
As he ventured deeper into the living area, the nauseating stench intensified dramatically, making his eyes water and his throat constrict.
"What the hell died in here?" Stephen muttered through clenched teeth, fighting back waves of nausea. He was absolutely certain that the source of this overwhelming odor was somewhere in the main living room.
Steeling himself, he directed his flashlight beam into the spacious living area.
What Stephen discovered made him stumble backward in horror.
A severely bloated female corpse lay sprawled on the expensive leather sofa, her decomposing eyes staring sightlessly at the ceiling. The body was in an advanced state of decay, suggesting she'd been dead for several days at minimum.
Back at the secret realm, after the defensive fortifications were completed to military standards, Azrael, Diesel, and Godfrey methodically began the process of clearing out the remaining threats.
Perhaps because the catastrophic events at the secret realm's entrance had completely demoralized the surviving demons, the three encountered significantly less resistance than anticipated. The enemy forces seemed to have lost all will to fight effectively.
The once-formidable demon army collapsed within a matter of days, their hierarchical structure crumbling without effective leadership. Save for the crafty old Grand Speaker, who had vanished like smoke in the wind, most high-ranking demons were systematically hunted down and eliminated.
Ultimately, despite the three directors' coordinated siege tactics, the Grand Speaker proved too elusive to capture. The elderly demon had demonstrated remarkable survival instincts, slipping through their nets time and again.
Even in his final moments, when cornered in the deepest chambers of the secret realm, the Grand Speaker's dying gaze remained fixed on the gentle-appearing Aizen standing beside Azrael. There was recognition in those ancient eyes, and perhaps the faintest hint of grudging respect for the deception that had doomed them all.
"President, this secret realm is essentially neutralized," Diesel reported with professional satisfaction. As the director of the Secret Realm Office, he understood the standardized procedures that would follow.
The remaining cleanup operations would be systematically assigned to the Association's regular Lore Cardian forces. While a smaller city like Donglai might boast its own institutions of higher learning, it was clearly impossible to offer such a high-risk secret realm as a practical training course for students. The danger level remained far too extreme for educational purposes.
Despite the successful resolution, Diesel breathed a sigh of relief that was audible to his companions. This particular secret realm had been located in an extremely densely populated area, and the situation had already dragged on far too long for comfort. Every additional day of delay meant more potential civilian casualties and economic disruption.
A swift conclusion would allow for the rapid return to normal life for the thousands of affected civilians in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Fortunately, the contaminated area had remained limited to a relatively small zone near Laiyang Village Three and had shown no signs of expansion beyond the Association's containment barriers.
Hearing Diesel's professional assessment, Azrael nodded slightly with satisfaction. "Then I'll leave the administrative aftermath to you, Director Diesel. You have full authority to coordinate with the cleanup teams."
"Director Godfrey and I will return to the city to rest and file our reports."
Upon hearing his name mentioned, Godfrey's perpetually cold expression rarely showed any signs of emotional fluctuation. However, this time he spoke with unusual haste, "I'm departing first."
Without waiting for either of his colleagues to respond, the stoic man strode from the secret realm with obvious urgency, leaving behind a trail of questions.
Observing Godfrey's uncharacteristic behavior, both Azrael and Diesel exchanged surprised glances, but they simply assumed that the typically grim-faced middle-aged man was exhausted from the prolonged combat operations and eager to return home for proper rest.
Since Godfrey had already departed, Azrael saw no reason to linger in the increasingly tedious cleanup phase. He immediately addressed his companion, "Alice, it's time for us to head back as well."
Indeed, Alice had spent the past several days stationed at the secret realm's entrance, serving primarily as a deterrent force and observer. Her presence alone had been enough to discourage any desperate demon sorties, though she'd rarely been called upon to demonstrate her overwhelming power.
As long as Azrael hadn't specifically requested her direct intervention, she had remained quietly engrossed in her reading, appearing for all the world like a scholarly graduate student rather than one of the most dangerous beings on the planet.
Returning to his comfortable residence, Azrael looked at his enigmatic senior sister with casual curiosity. "Sister, will you be staying with me for a few more days? There's still considerable time before the new semester begins at Pixar University, and my house has plenty of space."
The offer was genuine, he enjoyed Alice's company, and her presence provided a sense of security that was difficult to quantify.
For a long moment, Azrael received no response to his invitation.
Turning around, he discovered the intellectual beauty staring at him with an unreadably intense expression, her usually calm demeanor showing signs of some internal struggle.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, instinctively touching his face. "Is there something on my face?"
"No," Alice replied, her voice maintaining its characteristic calm reserve.
Azrael had long since grown accustomed to Alice's economical way of speaking and didn't take offense at her brevity. Her communication style was simply part of who she was.
"I should go," Alice continued, her tone carrying an undercurrent of reluctance. "Something requires my attention."
Hearing this unexpected announcement, Azrael was genuinely startled. "Is Pixar University starting earlier than scheduled this year?"
He was technically still a student at Pixar University himself, if one really counted such things carefully, he was only a sophomore. However, because he had begun his professional training and Association work early, Azrael didn't need to return to campus for traditional classes.
Alice shook her head silently, her silver hair catching the afternoon light as she moved toward the door with fluid grace.
However, she didn't immediately leave after opening it. Instead, she remained motionless in the doorway, her hand resting on the handle as if wrestling with some internal decision.
Azrael frowned with concern and was about to ask what had happened when Alice's voice, neither sad nor happy but carrying an undertone of genuine worry, reached his ears.
"Junior Brother." The formal address was unlike her usual casual manner.
"Be very careful." The words carried weight that seemed disproportionate to their simplicity.
As she finished speaking, a misty cloud of spatial energy swirled around her slender form, enveloping her completely before she disappeared through the doorway in an instant, leaving only the faintest trace of dimensional magic in the air.
Azrael stared at the empty doorway, genuinely puzzled by the strange encounter. "Senior Sister, why are you suddenly so concerned about my safety?"
With his current level of power and the resources at his disposal, he could easily dominate the Donglai landscape. Protecting himself should be a trivial matter for someone of his capabilities.
After pondering the mysterious warning for several minutes without reaching any satisfactory conclusions, Azrael decided to focus on more concrete matters and began taking inventory of his recent gains.
The raw materials collected weren't particularly impressive in terms of variety, much of the loot had been gathered collaboratively by himself and the other two Gold-level Lore Cardians, and would eventually be converted into Association points through the standard bureaucratic channels.
However, when combined with the substantial rewards for successfully suppressing a Gold-level secret realm, his points total now reached a staggering 20,520. This represented a significant increase in his purchasing power and strategic options.
This impressive accumulation was precisely why he had insisted on handling the situation personally rather than delegating it to more senior Association members. If Alice had taken charge of operations, his point rewards would have been reduced to a mere fraction of their current value.
"I wonder if situations like this will continue to present themselves," Azrael mused, then immediately reconsidered. "Actually, let me phrase that differently, I hope the System provides me with more manageable challenges like the Onefold Doctrine."
Thinking of the mission he'd accepted upon first arriving in Donglai, Azrael couldn't help but feel nostalgia for those relatively straightforward opponents. The half-human, half-ghostly cultists had been dangerous but predictable in their fanaticism.
"Time for some serious shopping," he declared with satisfaction, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
Azrael retrieved his phone and quickly navigated to the Association's points platform, selecting My Account and then Collection to review his saved items.
However, the message that appeared on his screen caused his expression to freeze in disappointment.
"The material you have collected, Gold-level [Overflower] (Gold), has been removed from the shelves due to purchase by another member."
The young man held his phone with growing frustration, wanting to curse but restraining himself. Undoubtedly, the specific material he'd been coveting had been purchased by another Lore Cardian while he was occupied with secret realm operations.
This outcome was inevitable, unfortunately. The points platform served Lore Cardians from across the entire Empire of Aetherlight. Donglai alone had more than ten Gold-level practitioners, not to mention the hundreds of qualified buyers in the major metropolitan areas.
Azrael reluctantly scrolled through the platform's current inventory for several minutes, searching for suitable alternatives.
Ultimately, he had to accept the disappointing reality. "Never mind, I'll just take things easy for a while," he sighed inwardly. After all, it hadn't been that long since he'd successfully created Aizen. Patience was a virtue in the Lore Cardian profession.
Calming his initial disappointment, he redirected his attention to other pending matters that required his personal oversight.
Previously, Memphis had provided him with a batch of high-quality materials and new recruitment contracts to expand the Crimson Oath Society's membership base. After dividing the acquired resources with Magnus, he had used one of the new contracts to deal with the Autumn situation, then set the matter aside temporarily.
After all, both he and Godfrey had been occupied with the newly emerged secret realm crisis, and he hadn't wanted Magnus to reveal himself during such a public operation. The Donglai branch of the Crimson Oath Society had been left without suitable personnel to handle recruitment activities.
Now that he'd finally freed up his schedule, it was appropriate to begin the organization's summer enrollment campaign. The timing was actually quite favorable.
He had already selected the ideal examiner for prospective recruits: Godfrey, Director of the Public Security Office.
Was there any Lore Cardian in Donglai more intimately familiar with the city's unstable elements than the man responsible for maintaining public order? His position gave him access to comprehensive criminal databases and behavioral profiles.
Rather than allowing those unstable elements to join the Onefold Doctrine and participate in large-scale extremist operations, Azrael figured it would be far more beneficial to bring them under his direct supervision and guidance.
Supervision through the Crimson Oath Society was still supervision, and more importantly, he retained final authority over all recruitment decisions and organizational policies.
With this strategic plan in mind, he summoned his encrypted communication device and sent a concise message.
[Sixth Master: Same time, same place.]
The response came almost immediately, indicating that Godfrey was monitoring his communications closely.
[Godfrey: Understood.]
Seeing the prompt confirmation, Azrael breathed a sigh of relief and stretched his muscles, working out the tension from days of combat readiness.
It had been far too long since he'd enjoyed some recreational time. If his Pokémon cards didn't get some exercise soon, he'd lose the essential bond that made them so effective in battle.
Late that night, in the familiar abandoned factory that served as one of their regular meeting places, Azrael watched with mild amusement as Shiraori gorged herself on the gourmet feast he'd brought for her.
"Eat more slowly," he advised with a wry smile. "You're acting like you haven't been fed in weeks."
Shiraori didn't even pause in her enthusiastic consumption, simply stating between mouthfuls, "Chew, chew. Azrael doesn't respect his cards properly. Chew. It's been so many days since you allowed me, Shiraori, to stretch my legs and enjoy the outside world."
"But for the sake of this delicious food," she continued magnanimously, "chew, I graciously forgive your neglect."
Azrael helplessly covered his face with one hand, torn between exasperation and affection for his most eccentric summon.
Did he want to keep her confined? Absolutely not. The problem was practical rather than personal.
He'd been completely absorbed in the secret realm's crisis for days, essentially living and eating at the operational site. With so many Association eyes constantly watching his every move, how could he dare allow Shiraori to manifest for some much-needed recreation?
Just then, a respectful voice emerged from the shadows behind him, "Sir, you requested my presence."
It was Godfrey, arriving with his characteristic punctuality.
Without bothering to turn around, Azrael casually tossed a black briefcase in the director's direction. "This contains the latest materials and resources from our organization. Take whatever you need first for your personal use, then distribute the remainder among your trusted subordinates according to their contributions."
"Remember to keep a substantial reserve," he continued with authority. "The organization needs to recruit new members here in Donglai to replenish our operational manpower, and you'll be taking personal responsibility for that process."
Finally turning to face the middle-aged man directly, Azrael's expression became more serious. "Are you prepared to handle this responsibility?"
Godfrey examined the briefcase briefly, noting its substantial weight, then nodded his head with professional determination. "Yes, sir. I understand my role completely."
Azrael smiled, thoroughly satisfied with such immediate obedience and competence. "Excellent. Now, brief me on the recent developments in Donglai's security situation."
Godfrey paused momentarily, organizing his thoughts, then began sharing the intelligence he'd gathered through both official channels and private investigation networks.
Most of the information was routine, the usual array of minor crimes, jurisdictional disputes, and bureaucratic complications that plagued any mid-sized city. However, some details caught Azrael's particular attention.
For example, the middle-aged man displayed a rare hint of anxiety when discussing Alice's recent activities and movements around the city. The emotion was subtle but unmistakable to someone trained to read such signs.
It was then that Azrael realized the true reason for Godfrey's earlier eagerness to depart from the secret realm. It hadn't been fatigue at all, but rather a villain's instinctive fear when confronted by overwhelmingly powerful forces of righteousness.
Although Godfrey was ostensibly working for the legitimate authorities, his deeper loyalties lay elsewhere. The cognitive dissonance must be considerable.
Then Godfrey shifted to more pressing matters, "Sir, do you recall what I mentioned previously about the newcomer having developed a grudge against Kavach, Diesel, and their associates?"
Azrael nodded slightly, encouraging him to continue with the report, "Yes, I remember. Proceed."
"They attempted to use a female operative to gain leverage over their target." Godfrey's face displayed obvious confusion as he spoke, clearly puzzled by the tactical approach. "However, I received intelligence today confirming that this woman is now deceased."
"The cause was officially ruled as suicide," he reported, studying Azrael's expression carefully for any telltale reactions.
As the Director of the Public Security Office, Godfrey had naturally been among the first to examine the body and crime scene. The investigation had revealed several troubling inconsistencies.
The death had occurred some time ago, interestingly, before the appearance of the mysterious figure who could create perfect illusions through newly manifested cards.
The middle-aged official had initially suspected that Vice President Azrael might have manipulated the woman's suicide through psychological warfare using his newly created card's hallucinogenic capabilities.
However, upon closer examination of the timeline, he discovered a critical discrepancy. The woman's death had occurred before the illusion-casting card's first documented appearance, making direct causation impossible.
He had also made another significant discovery during his forensic analysis.
"This woman's bone density and structural analysis," Godfrey continued carefully, "suggests that her actual age was significantly greater than her physical appearance indicated."
Hearing this revelation, Azrael's face lit up with a genuinely playful smile, as if he'd just heard an amusing joke. "What's the Association's official position now? Will they attempt to strip me of my current rank and privileges?"
Godfrey was visibly startled by the direct question and immediately shook his head emphatically. "Sir, you're joking. The Association currently lacks any concrete evidence linking you to this incident, so naturally they cannot pursue disciplinary action."
"And even if there were evidence suggesting your involvement," he continued thoughtfully, "the woman's true identity remains deliberately obscured, so the matter will most likely be allowed to fade away without further investigation."
"Of course, another significant factor is that Kavach and Diesel don't seem particularly interested in pursuing this matter to its conclusion."
The consequences of the woman's death were entirely unsurprising to Azrael, which explained his long-standing cautious approach to such sensitive operations. He'd been a student of realpolitik for years, understanding that discretion was often the better part of valor.
The elderly woman had been involved in at least eighty questionable operations over her extended career, many of which would not bear close scrutiny from law enforcement agencies.
Some secrets carried immense weight, capable of destroying reputations and ending careers if brought into the light.
Who could say how many innocent people like the fictional Liu Su or Wang Su had been victimized by similar schemes before Azrael's intervention? The woman's web of connections and compromising information represented a significant liability to multiple parties.
If her true identity and operational history were revealed through a thorough investigation, the primary individuals facing serious consequences would be Kavach and the shadowy figures supporting his faction.
Observing that Azrael's expression remained completely unchanged by this sensitive information, Godfrey transitioned to his final piece of intelligence, "Sir, there is one additional matter that requires your attention."
"Earlier today, I received reports from my field operatives suggesting they may have observed," he paused dramatically, "members of the Onefold Doctrine collaborating directly with demonic entities."
This revelation hung in the air between them, carrying implications that could reshape the entire political landscape of Donglai, and potentially the broader region.