A sickly stench filled the air as the pus-swollen monster staggered upright, issuing a guttural roar at Draconis and the others.
Draconis glanced at Rias. "What's going on?"
Rias let out a quiet sigh. "I've told you before—whether angel, devil, or human, our bodies are shaped by the power of the soul. That's why soul energy affects flesh and even Sacred Gears."
Her gaze hardened as she watched the mutated creature. "But if the soul is stripped away, or corrupted, the body twists into something unnatural—just like this."
Draconis recalled the stray devil they'd hunted together last time—another soul warped by its own fall. These people, robbed of their souls, had become mindless husks, ticking time bombs of grotesque mutation.
Asia's voice shook. "How could anyone do this? It's… it's too cruel…"
Her gentle heart recoiled at the horror.
Rias nodded, her tone grim. "There are experiments even worse than this, but both angels and devils have banned them. What's in those tanks is a kind of hibernation fluid—it keeps the body dormant. Whoever ran this place tried to destroy all the containers before we got here."
Akeno's smile was razor-sharp. "Someone hoped these monsters would kill us."
Rias shook her head. "They're too weak. The real threat is still waiting."
Draconis stepped forward, sword in hand, channeling power until the blade blazed. The monster lunged, but a burst of light sent it flying.
He frowned. "Should've been vaporized…"
Rias's eyes narrowed. "There's divine power in their bodies."
So that was it—the experimenters hadn't just tortured these people; they'd infused ordinary humans with divine energy. Their ambitions were bigger than anyone guessed.
Draconis swung again, pouring more magic into the blade. This time, the mutant was reduced to ash.
Akeno and the others joined in, systematically destroying the lab's remaining test subjects before any could transform.
Draconis wiped his blade clean. "We've wasted enough time. Whoever's behind this is ready for us."
It was a trap, and they knew it. But leaving these things unchecked would risk chaos in the outside world if the dimensional barrier fell.
Rias's smile was cool, unfazed. "Let them plot. It's all for nothing."
She had every reason for confidence—heiress to the Gremory family, sister to the current Demon King.
The group pressed deeper into the facility, stepping over shattered glass and ruined machinery.
A new figure appeared—a middle-aged man in a white lab coat, thick glasses perched on his nose, eyes bloodshot from sleepless nights. The very picture of a mad scientist.
He turned, face lit with wild excitement. "Welcome! I am Ituzo Gelfin—a mad scientist!"
He swept into a theatrical bow, hand pressed to his chest. "I've been waiting for you."
Rias stepped forward, red hair rippling with magic, one hand on her hip. "The fallen angels left you to cover their retreat? Just you?"
Ituzo's grin widened. "I'm more than enough. I've had the honor of joining these miraculous experiments—witnessed wonders beyond imagination. I have no regrets. My soul will live forever! Ah, life is a marvelous thing!"
Rias snorted. "Who told you souls are eternal?"
She shook her head, a knowing smile on her lips. "So that's how the fallen angels tricked you."
If souls truly lasted forever, the great war wouldn't have claimed so many lives. Even angels and devils, with lifespans approaching infinity, never claimed immortality for the soul. Destroy the body, and the soul loses its anchor—it vanishes too.
But Ituzo was too far gone, a fanatic who'd bought the lie wholesale. Death held no fear for him; he believed his soul would live on under divine protection.
He tsked, shaking his head. "Devil's words can't be trusted."
His eyes gleamed with madness as he laughed. "Enough talk—let me show you our masterpiece!"
He spread his arms. Machinery thundered, and the floor opened to reveal a rising cage of sacred metal. Inside stood a young man, eyes shut, seemingly ordinary—but Draconis could sense a vast, holy power swirling within.
"Test Subject Zero-Two. One of our two perfect creations. What better way to test his strength than against devils like you? Hahaha! He's the god we made."
Draconis smirked, genuinely amused by the scientist's narrow vision.
"You call this a god? You really don't know what you're talking about."
His tone was mild, but the mockery cut deep.
Ituzo bristled. "Arrogant devils—just like the last group who snuck in. They were captured, and so will you!"
He rubbed his hands together, eyes gleaming as he looked each of them over. Then, with a disgusting grin, he licked his lips.
"Perfect test subjects…"
…
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