Rey used the moment when the man from Euphrates distracted the monster.
Carefully, he began stepping away.
One step at a time.
Without making a sound.
But as soon as he had created some distance, the beautiful, ethereal voice echoed in his mind again.
"Stop."
Rey froze immediately.
After all, that voice had already saved his life.
Across the street, the grotesque creature spoke with a crooked smile.
"How intriguing…"
"If you had taken one more step… I would have killed you."
An icy chill ran down Rey's spine.
That mysterious voice had saved his life once again.
Meanwhile, the Euphrates man walked forward calmly.
"You look even uglier than the last time we met, senior."
The creature answered with a twisted grin.
"And you've grown more arrogant, Lennon."
"Do you remember who taught you everything you know?"
Lennon didn't answer.
He simply watched.
Then the creature continued.
"So… has your Library finished analyzing me yet?"
The creature seemed amused.
"So you remember which angel I carry."
"What an honor, senior Ruben."
Ruben's patience seemed to vanish.
Suddenly, his tentacles shot forward violently toward Lennon.
Lennon dodged at the last second, leaping aside.
The tentacles tore through the ground where he had been standing.
"These tentacles are new…" Lennon commented.
He remembered clearly.
Ruben had never possessed this ability before.
His eyes narrowed.
"Don't tell me…"
"You actually submitted to spiritual cannibalism, senior?"
There was clear judgment in Lennon's voice.
The tentacles attacked again.
Faster this time.
But Lennon evaded them calmly.
As if he already knew where they would strike.
The creature clicked its tongue.
"That Library of Alexandria of yours is irritating."
His eyes turned even more cruel.
"If I tear out your eyes…"
"Will your angel still work?"
Lennon answered calmly.
"I've never tested it."
"And I'd rather not find out."
Then Lennon finally spoke again.
"But I've already discovered which angel you carry, senior."
Ruben frowned.
Strange.
The Library of Alexandria should take much longer to analyze something like that.
He didn't stop attacking.
His tentacles lashed out relentlessly.
Unlike before.
And even though Lennon knew the trajectory of each attack, he was beginning to struggle to dodge them.
Meanwhile, Rey watched from afar.
Even though he had managed to put some distance between himself and the fight…
He couldn't stop looking.
Bearers…
He had heard of them before.
People who carried mysterious powers derived from figures of the past.
Those powers were called Angels.
But they were extremely rare.
So rare that Rey had never seen one in his life.
Only heard stories.
Finally, Lennon managed to move outside the reach of the tentacles.
Ruben stared at him.
Then he simply walked back into the house.
As if challenging Lennon to follow him inside.
Lennon clenched his teeth.
"Damn…"
The mission had failed.
He knew it.
He wouldn't be able to defeat Ruben after his corruption.
And reinforcements from Euphrates would take time to arrive.
The organization had very few agents available.
Then Lennon looked toward Rey.
The boy who had miraculously survived.
Maybe I can use him.
His brown eye gained a faint golden halo.
It was the power of his angel.
The Library of Alexandria.
It allowed him to analyze the angels of others.
And even predict certain attacks.
Lennon remembered noticing something strange about that boy.
An unusual vibration.
Normally he couldn't tell whether an ordinary person possessed an angel.
But with that boy…
He had seen something.
A faint light.
Similar to the presence of an angel.
His analysis ability depended on differences in power.
The greater the gap, the longer it took to analyze.
He had identified Ruben's angel quickly because he already possessed prior information.
Otherwise, it would have taken much longer.
Lennon hesitated.
Is it worth forcing it?
Forcing an angelic awakening carried severe consequences.
The so-called Angelic Flu could strike violently.
Even so…
Forcing an awakening was easy.
He only needed to release enough prana into the boy's body.
"Hey, kid. Come here."
Rey stepped a little closer.
"Closer."
Rey stopped.
"I won't."
Lennon observed him.
He can't be older than seventeen.
Maybe convincing him won't be difficult.
"You know what Bearers are, right?"
Rey nodded.
He did.
"I'm going to turn you into one."
"Come here."
It was a gamble.
If the boy truly possessed an angel…
His chances of surviving would be high.
But if he didn't…
Rey remained still.
Something still made him hesitate.
Then he asked:
"With that power…"
"Will I be able to save someone?"
Lennon answered without hesitation.
"I don't know."
"It depends on your luck."
Silence lingered for a few seconds.
Then Rey finally stepped forward.
And then another step.
Lennon raised his hand.
And placed it on the boy's shoulder.
In the next instant, he released his prana.
Forcefully.
Rey's world spun violently.
"Cough… cough—COUGH!"
He began coughing uncontrollably.
Suddenly, something spilled from his mouth.
A black substance.
Like dark water.
Floating inside that liquid was something solid.
A small white stone.
Panic took over Rey.
His lungs burned.
As if they were on fire.
The pain was unbearable.
It was the effect of a forced awakening.
Something completely unnatural.
The heat seemed to begin in his lungs.
And then spread through his entire body.