The Seeker Of The Flames

"How can I judge God when I can't even judge a human..."

Angelo started mumbling. His voice was so faint and feeble. He had lost all of his strength after using his most powerful skill, Heaven's One Billion Strikes.

He looked so depressed and despondent. His gloomy mood would darken the atmosphere with its unbelievable amount of depression and despair.

The edges of his sword lacked sharpness; his blade lacked the sharpness to hurt this man before him. He had judged Adin to be an infidel, and yet he couldn't finish him off. Even one billion lethal strikes weren't enough to penetrate his skin and spare the light of the divine judgment upon this man.

As Angelo continued to think more about his conditions, Adin's voice awakened him from his bewilderment.

"You said 'a human'?" Adin frowned, changing his dull face to an angry one. "Who do you think I am?"

Angelo looked confused. He didn't know what to say or what to do. There was no trace of his strong confidence and faith, which he had used to have in the beginning. Those all had vanished the moment he realized his attacks were pointless against Adin.

"I said, did you call me 'a human'? Did you lower me down to Zeus? Tell me..." Adin's scowl started to get more fierce as he continued talking, "Just who the hell do you think I am?"

Adin began walking to him, stepping forward on the sands. Angelo couldn't defend himself in that condition. If it weren't for his physical remaining strength, he wouldn't be able to stand up either. In such a situation, he was totally vulnerable and defenseless to any kind of attack from the enemy.

He could no more move his tongue to talk or shout, as he had no energy left. He just had to watch what's going to happen to him.

Adin's footsteps ceased to be heard when he stood three feet away before Angelo. Adin brought his irritated face closer and glowered at him.

"Didn't you hear me? I said..." Adin hesitated, intensifying his glares with even more anger, "JUST WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM?"

Adin's sudden shout was loud enough to pierce Angelo's ears and raze the air in rage. Angelo could just keep staring at Adin in fear.

Adin moved his face away from him, turning his glares at the sky.

"Boring... You're all boring! This sand's boring! This sky's boring! This Sun's boring! This land's boring! This wind's boring! Those mountains, rocks, hills, plateaus, beasts, clouds, birds, green spaces, plants, bushes, shrubs, trees, forests, houses, guilds, villages, towns, cities, humans, seas, oceans, stories, legends, myths, books, papers, and anything and everything and all of you... all of you and these and those and this cursed life... You're... All... BORING!"

Angelo could feel the heat of Adin's anger. His skin was burning and blazing in Adin's intense emotions.

"When I fight, when I don't fight, when I destroy, when I don't destroy, when I kill, when I don't kill, when I fly, when I walk, when I swim, when I go ahead, when I get back, when I wait, when I don't wait, when I torture humans, when I go adventuring with them... it all ends up in the same way. No matter what I do, it ... all... ends up... BORING!"

Adin's sound got less harsh and aggressive. His tone no longer carried anger and aggression. It had become soft and mild

"No matter what, it always ends up boring. Every-single-time, no matter how much I try, I can't run away from it... it always ends up the same way, boring as ever!"

Angelo hadn't expected such a reaction from Adin. He didn't understand what's the meaning behind Adin's complains and grumbles, or what's actually going on. He had no idea about anything. His mind failed to comprehend the situation. Angelo had prepared to get killed by Adin, but nothing like that happened. Adin didn't look to be after attacking Angelo and killing him, although Angelo was in an absolutely vulnerable state.

For the first time in his eight hundred years of life, he had come to see another existence except God to be incomprehensible, ununderstandable, and unprecedented in all aspects. He couldn't reach Adin by his mortal brain. He found no way to understand the depth of his words. And most importantly, Adin was far away from Angelo's mortal hands to get judged by him. He couldn't judge Adin; there was no way he would be able to judge someone like him.

"Who... a-are... y-you?" Angelo stammered, trying his best to speak.

"Hmm?" Adin turned his attention at him, staring with cold looks, "Can you talk now? Then tell me, who do you think I am? A human archer? Your savior? An infidel? A God? What?"

"I don't know..."

"You don't know? I thought you were sure that I'm an infidel..."

"I...I... I was... I was wrong."

"You were wrong?"

"Yes..."

"I see," Adin sighed, looking at Angelo with a less severe expression, "it seems I've expected a lot from you. You're a human after all. But well, you're quite good as a human. Your magical pressure is really admirable. That sword striking skill was also worthy."

Adin's words made him even more confused.

A short amount of Angelo's energy had returned, allowing him to talk without stuttering.

"'As a human'? What do you mean? Who are you?"

"Oh, I guess there's no point hiding it now. My name is Adin the Immortal, and I'm the Demon King!"

Angelo would've normally laughed at those words if someone had said it, but the situation was different right then. He didn't know how to react to what Adin had said. Before he could say anything or respond to Adin's sudden revelation, Adin began walking away while talking.

"Ah, well, I have to go now. Wasting time is enough, I have to get going with my quest in greenspace. I also need to bring the White Flame with myself. Sorry but I cannot let you have her and torture her, she's got an important role to play in my plan. I need her to get what I want. So... see you, Angelo! Good luck—wait, I was going to forget. I've also put a spell on you, so you can't tell anyone about me. Sorry, but I can't let you reveal my identity to the others. Good luck judging God, Angelo! You've been a good companion even though for a short time!"

By the time Adin finished his words, he had completely vanished from Angelo's view, disappearing in the sandy wasteland.

Although Angelo could no longer see Adin, he didn't stop staring in confusion.

"Seriously, who was he?"