(Ena's POV )
Quickly checking my phone I saw a new tab in the app that said Demon Essence, and when I tapped there I saw an image of the demon we had defeated named Azumi.
Then I touched the image and a list of skills appeared, two ice magic and a physical attack skill, It seems that the new feature of the app allowed me or my team members to learn new skills.
I tried to use that with Aigis but both magics were grey out, it seems that not all skills can be learned by everyone, it must have something to do with compatibility, I ended up using the essence on myself and my ice magic went up a level, Then I tried to use the physical ability and when I thought of the name of the ability the black marks on my body moved to my hand and there a black matera claw was formed, I took a swing with that claw and five claw marks appeared on the ground, the name of that skill was scratch dance and that opened up new possibilities for me but again we didn't have time for that.
I pulled out a grate in the ground near the fountain and poking my head out I saw a system of tunnels and pipes running all over the mall, I could feel that we were on the right path so after enlarging the entrance with my naginata we jumped in there.
As we fell into the tunnels my phone detected a signal and we followed that, When we reached the origin of the pipes, we saw something that looked like a laboratory, the pipes were transporting water to large transparent containers, more azumi demons were there they were about twenty Azumi demons and they grabbed a slime from a cage full of them and they threw it into the water container.
It was as if they were cooking some kind of potion, the Azumi mixed their strange concoction until the slime was completely dissolved and the strange green liquid that remained was releasing fumes as if it were a powerful acid.
Aigis: Ena, over there.
Aigis pointed me to another cage but instead of demons it was filled with people, more specifically with the teachers we were looking for, they were scared and a little disheveled, but that wasn't going to stay that way for long.
One of the azumi approached the teachers' cage and it seemed like they were going to use them as ingredients.
Ena: Aigis, do you have a clear shot?
Aigis: ...no, the pipes are in the way.
Aigis aimed at the demons but when she said she couldn't shoot, I had to sneak up on them, The Azumi arrived at the cage and seemed to choose to use one of the female teachers but when he opened the cage, the somewhat muscular PE teacher went all out and threw a punch, but all he managed to do was damage his own hand.
I could tell if the demon was upset and indifferent to the attack attempt the teacher made but the next thing the demon did was twist his head 180 degrees creating a disturbingly loud crunch sound.
The rest of the teachers froze in terror and the demon closed the cage and continued with his work, the Azumi threw the corpse into the container and as it slowly sank, it dissolved and then turned into red experience particles just like any other demon, the demon continued mixing and the liquid turned into a kind of red gel, which he then poured into a barrel.
That was then moved on a cart along with another stack of barrels, if each barrel was a sacrificed person this was certainly a disturbing scene.
The demons started the process again and Aigis and I took the opportunity to get closer, the cook Azumi went for the teacher he had chosen before, but when he approached the cage, Aigis told me with a nod that she had a shot.
I waited for Aigis to shoot and when she pulled the trigger the demon's head exploded and obviously the other demons were alerted but we also made the second move, I charged forward and with my naginata I pierced two demons, they turned into experience and then I swung my weapon through three demons, Aigis continued firing and before they could react we had eliminated almost half of the enemies.
These Azumi were small potatoes compared to us, but when they started their counterattack, their numbers put us on the back foot, they all used scratch dance at the same time and with that large amount of attacks we could only run, going back to the corridors would guarantee that we would be beaten up so we stayed in the cooking room.
The erratic claw attacks were flying all over the place, the cage where the teachers were locked now served to protect them but Aigis and I had to run for our lives, I was dodging OK but Aigis couldn't seem to keep up, I had to throw my naginata at one of the demons and I ran towards Aigis to carry her out of danger.
While I was running with Aigis in my arms she gestured with her head for me to look up, and what she was pointing at me was a big water tank, I threw her up there and most of the demons' attacks couldn't reach her, and we retake the offensive, I used the scratch dance skill consecutively and with the combined efforts of Aigis and I the demons were disappeared until only one remained.
I picked up my naginata and walked slowly towards the azumi, the demon no longer had the will to fight and when I raised my naginata he fell to the ground and stretched out a hand towards me in surrender.
Azumi: w-wait, p-please let me go.
Ena: now why would I do that?
Azumi: I promise you'll never see me again and you can have this, I'm sure it will be useful.
The demon opened his other palm and that sphere of light that was the essence of a demon came out of it, letting him go or destroying the demon didn't make much of a difference to me so I didn't have a problem letting it go, but some of my curiosity did need to be satisfied.
Ena: Very well, I'll let you go, if you answer a few questions.