Chapter 69: CONDITIONS
Azrael stood facing the panel.
Unknowingly, beads of sweats had begun to drop from his head.
His heart drummed louder and louder beneath his ribcage with each passing second.
This was the level of fear he felt by standing within the council’s midst
"With this confirmation, we have decided the following."
As Abaddon said those words, he glanced toward one of the women.
Her face was as smooth as crystal. Red hair cascaded down her back, reaching her waist even from her seated position.
"I have retrieved the only Infernal grade skill fruit in the clan’s treasury," she said, her voice cold and unhurried.
Azrael recognized it immediately.
He had heard that voice barely a week ago, in the treasury vault.
It was Morgana, the great elder in charge of the treasury.
As she spoke, a red light began to condense in her palm.
Then it shattered, revealing a ring.
The ring pulsed with raw power that threatened to swallow anyone who drew near.
But the force gradually calmed, settling into a dormant stillness.
The ring drifted off her palm and floated toward Azrael.
"The fruit is inside. You can examine it once you are alone."
Azrael nodded and slipped the ring onto his finger, his hand slightly unsteady.
Gone was his usual composure.
In the presence of beings who could erase him a billion times over within a second, he could not afford to breathe too loudly.
"Why are you so tense?"
The other woman asked with a smile.
Azrael turned to look at her.
For a moment, the fear on his face nearly broke into a laugh.
The person who had spoken looked like a child.
Her face belonged to someone who appeared no older than thirteen, despite having lived for millions of years.
"Laugh, and even Abaddon would not be able to save you," she said, her smile carrying more threat than comfort.
Azrael shook his head slowly, as if to make clear he had no intention of laughing.
"Jasmine, is that any way to treat your new student?" Alaric asked with a sigh.
At the word student, Azrael’s brows furrowed.
Before the implication could fully settle in his mind, another voice pulled his attention away.
"Can we please try to stay focused," Morgana said, attempting to restore some order.
Abaddon simply sighed.
"I hate attending council meetings with these people," he muttered, barely above a breath.
Everyone in the room heard it anyway.
Nobody reacted.
As the brief chaos settled, Abaddon continued.
"Because of the disruption that would follow if the existence of a person with an Infernal core were to become widely known," he said, lifting his gaze from the table.
"You will not be permitted to participate in the coming Nexus Convergence."
It was like lightning had passed through Azrael’s skull.
He could not understand why they would exclude him when his presence could only improve the demon race’s chances of winning.
"Do not look so shocked," Alaric said calmly.
"We cannot defend a person with an Infernal core alone."
"The angel race may move against you the moment they learn of the implications."
Before Alaric could continue, Jasmine cut in.
"What do you mean we cannot protect him alone?" She asked.
"I mean that if it came to open conflict with the angel race, the losses on our side would be too significant," Alaric clarified. "Having him forfeit the Nexus Convergence avoids that entirely."
Jasmine nodded.
"I thought we agreed on all of this beforehand. Why are you acting as though we did not?" Morgana asked, looking at Jasmine.
"Hey."
The single word thundered through the space.
The great elders did not flinch.
Azrael felt as though his eardrums were about to give way.
Abaddon exhaled slowly.
"I will take it from here."
The words were casual. The authority behind them was not.
"Let us begin with the Nexus Convergence."
He breathed out, as though releasing something he had been holding in.
"We can protect you during the event, but if you are too weak, our protection can only extend your survival. It cannot guarantee you return home."
His eyes moved across the great elders, then settled on Azrael.
"There is a condition. If you wish to participate, you must reach tier six."
Before any of the great elders could object, Abaddon pressed on.
"You will also no longer be attending the academy. Its environment is too controlled for the kind of growth you need."
[If he considers that environment calm, I would not want to imagine what comes next.]
The system said in his mind.
Azrael did not dare reply.
His attention could not slip for even a moment here.
"That is why Great Elder Jasmine has been appointed as your new teacher."
Azrael looked at her again.
Since arriving here, everything about her had read as childlike. But the way the other great elders interacted with her, the way even Abaddon let her call him by name without a word, told a very different story.
A strange quiet settled over the room after Abaddon finished speaking.
"You heard that? I am your teacher now. Kowtow to me a hundred times for not greeting me properly when you arrived," Jasmine said.
Just as the atmosphere had begun to turn serious, she dismantled it entirely.
Abaddon shook his head.
"Alaric will also be available if you have questions going forward," he added.
Azrael nodded slowly.
"If you have anything to ask, now is the time," Abaddon said.
Azrael thought for a moment, humming quietly to himself before he spoke.
"Who is replacing me for the Nexus Convergence?" He asked.
Abaddon’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Then he answered the question with one of his own.
"Are you worried we will lose?" He asked.
Azrael did not admit it aloud, but his expression already answered.
Abaddon shook his head.
"Child, the Wrath lineage is not so fragile. How do you think we have continued winning for decades, even without someone with an Infernal grade core?"
The question landed in Azrael’s mind with a weight he had not expected.