Way of the Knights

---

"Uh, hey Raven..." Theo's hesitant voice got Raven's attention. 

"Yes?" Raven asked without peeling his attention away from the documents in front of him. 

"I've been wondering you see..."

"Wondering about?"

"You see, your escapades in the pagoda. You do know that were aware of it, especially me since Elder Flame specifically tells me about it." 

"And?"

"I'm just wondering...do you perhaps, plan on destroying the Devil Emperor's Pagoda and/or pissing off our giant baby prisoner?" Theo said in an exasperated tone, "Elder Flame was being forced to endure the prisoner's temper tantrums you see, and he's approaching the limits of patience, that's why he sent me to you in order to clarify your intentions."

"Bahahahaha!" Raven suddenly burst out laughing in an unrefined manner too. Truly, he wasn't expecting something like this to happen at all. 

Theo, Henry, Logan and Charles who were listening to this had different reactions but they surely had their mouth's wide open when they witnessed the destruction that Raven caused inside. 

"Sorry about that...I was just surprised." Raven said as he calmed down himself. "Whew, anyways it is really my bad this time around. I got a little to excited this time. But to be honest, that was fun." 

"...sure. Raining down giant flaming meatballs to the enemy's base must've been a blast." Logan chuckled, "Unfortunately, you are the only one who can do that and it's too reckless. The whole Pagoda was shaking, I thought it was going to burst at any second then." 

"Oh my, the epitome of recklessness is telling someone they're reckless! Is this rumored 'Pot calling the Kettle black?' How creepy!" Henry muttered but his voice was still audible to the people around him. 

"Shush it, you!" Logan glared at Henry. 

" *Gasp!* He's Becoming self-aware! Oh no! This can't be!?" Henry pointed at Logan with a shaking finger and mock-horror. 

"Grr..." 

"Okay, okay. You two, stop it." Charles sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Seriously, these two just can't help themselves. 

"Okay, but in all seriousness. Dude, you have to be careful." Henry said while tapping Raven's shoulders, "The Pagoda is not indestructible. The 10th floor should've been a clear sign of that." 

"Yeah, I that was reckless I agree. Don't worry, something like that isn't going to happen anytime soon. I don't plan on modifying the 80th floor onwards for now anyways." Raven replied. 

"Well...if you would've been a normal kid then it should've been an impossible for you to reach the 79th floor this early anyways." Theo commented with wry smile, "I still want to ask though? Why are you stopping?"

"Simply because the 80th floor onwards are already within the Domain of the Devil Emperor, I'm not really ready yet to confront him under his Domain." Raven answered, "And didn't you tell me this yourself? The giant baby is throwing temper tantrums. It's probably waiting for my arrival so that it could squash me into a meat paste for burning it's beard." 

Raven chuckled as he returned his attention to the documents on his table.

"Well, so long as you're aware." Theo sighed and felt comforted. He could relax since he knew that Raven won't do anything that could blow out of proportion. So far, everything he has done went completely under his control so if he said that he has no plans on doing anything big for now, then all Theo could do was to believe him. 

"Oh by the way, how's the other War Gods doing?" Raven was curious, he didn't really get many chances of interacting with them since he had been busy these past few weeks as well so he wanted to know how they were adjusting so far.

"They're getting back to the rhythm of things." Charles replied for them, "It was awkward at first but since you discussed the plan with them so far, they're slowly getting under the routine."

"Captain Levi in on fire though." Logan commented, "That dude was really into it. Every time I see him, I get this feeling that his eyes were burning with passion. Seriously, I don't even think he's resting properly." 

"Well, that's not really surprising though. This isn't the first time we saw him acting this way anyways? He always ends up in this state whenever he felt responsible." Henry commented as well. 

"This time was close-shave too, that's why he's being specifically strict not only to the disciples but also to himself." Theo said with a defeated sigh. "Well, at least we become vacant for quite some time." 

"He's really into it huh?" Raven murmured, "Weird, but for some reason I think I can see that Paolo should've been bothering him at this point." 

"Oh, he won't." Henry chuckled. 

"Yep, he seriously won't. Don't worry about that." Theo nodded as well. 

"Eh? Why?" Raven was confused. 

"Paolo is dumb but he's not that dumb." Logan answered, "When it comes to Levi, he's especially sensitive. He understands why Levi was doing all of this and probably decided to leave him alone for now so that they won't fight." 

"Yes, he's most likely feeling that way." Charles added, "And unlike Levi, Paolo knows that he's not that patient and wise so he's distracting himself by doing what he does best." 

"And by 'what he does best', exterminating some Devils?" Raven asked, his inquiry was answered by the four nodded at him. "Huh, so he should be somewhere above right now then?"

"He should be...maybe he's below too. Who knows? Anyways, don't worry about them, they're doing just fine." 

"If you say so then, okay."

---

"...how can this be?" 

A disembodied voice lost amidst a thick fog suddenly appeared. It's tone was filled with disbelief, surprise, shock and faint horror. 

"Who!? Who the hell did this!?" 

The disembodied voice suddenly exclaimed in anger, the voice was as loud as a thunderclap, causing the surrounding fog to ripple ever so slightly. 

All of a sudden, a pair of eyes materialized and gazed at the thick fog blocking its surroundings. The pair of eyes looked scary. The eyes scanned it's surroundings while a faint crimson light was being released from its irises.

"Damn this accursed fog! I still can't see a damn thing!"

"No! This isn't what they promised me! This can't be happening! They told me! They promised that they will get rid of this damned fog! Why is it still here!"

"Heretic! Are you there!? Answer me! Why!? Why haven't you fulfilled your promise yet!? You need me, free me!!!"

Unfortunately, despite it's erupting fury, nobody answered. The fog remained how it was as before. It was as thick as it remembered and was still blocking his sight, imprisoning him to this damned place despite the promise that was made.

"Damn you, Heretic! Had I known that a bug like you will take advantage of me, I should've squashed you like the bug you are back then!?"

"Geez! So noisy!" 

"Who!?"

The pair of eyes and disembodied voice were utterly shocked. The eyes searched everywhere but to it's dismay, it failed to see where the voice came from. 

"Woah, I guess you really can't see past this fog huh?" The other disembodied voice let out an amused chuckled after saying this!

"Who the hell are you!? Show yourself! Stop hiding behind this damned fog!"

"Don't wanna, stupid!" A rather childish reply was heard, causing the pair of eyes to narrow dangerously. 

"What the hell do you want!? Who are you!?" The pair of eyes continued searching, hoping to see even a silhouette of the other voice. "Are you the Heretic!? If you are, then fulfill your promise already! Do you want to die!?"

"What promise? I don't recall promising anything to you though?"

"You did!! You promised that in exchange for my Ears, Skin and my Lips, you will free me from my imprisonment." The disembodied voice sounded desperate and urgent as it followed up with: "You better fulfill your promise now or else I will trigger the Oath and you will die!"

"Heh...do it then. I dare you." The other disembodied voice provoked. "You think I'm afraid you, stupid?" 

"Damn you! You leave me with no other choice then! Die!!!" 

A flash of crimson light exploded from the eyes of the disembodied voice. This was probably what it meant when it said that it will trigger the oath. 

What made the disembodied voice feel weird is that, it heard no dying noises nor even a groan of pain, the fog remained thick and no ripples happened nearby. 

"Man, it's just like what Little Young Lord just said, patience isn't really your thing huh?" The pair of eyes quaked in shock as it heard the other disembodied voice still present and most likely alive. 

"H-how..."

"Not only you're noisy and impatient, you're also stupid too. Well, thanks for making my job easier and boring as well." The other voice sounded rather dejected as it said this. 

All of a sudden, the fog around them ripple intensely and before the pair of eyes and disembodied voice can say anything, a massive totem fell from the sky, squashing down the pair of eyes into a meat paste. 

Standing on top of the totem, was a man with an large physique and a pair of large horns coiling around his neck. A snort was heard as he said:

"Where should I head next?"