149 Chapter 78: Black And White Part 1

Two people, two men, bust open the door to a church, only to find a single man lying in wait for them inside.

One of the two men who have come to this church is a slightly dark-skinned, 5'6 tall, slightly muscular and prospectively attractive Japanese individual in his late 20s. The other of the two is a relatively pale-skinned, 5'9 tall, quite muscular and decent looking man from the country of Kangaroos, Australia.

And both of them have come here just to meet the man they find waiting for them inside the church. This man, dressed in the attire of a priest, happens to be the most broken human being either of them have ever met. However, despite that, it is a fact that he is essential to their organization and they need to see if he's okay, especially as he has gone in hiding and not contacted anyone for a week.

Seeing his face, that face that they both would gladly prefer never seeing again if they could, they try to ask the most essential question. But, before they can,

Halogen: "Oh my, if it isn't two of the three most powerful Hellfires. What brings the two of you here? Miyamoto-san? Mr. Smith?"

Akio Miyamoto, the first Japanese to become a Hellfire, grits his teeth as he is asked that. It's not that anything in those lines irked him, it's just the existence of the man saying those lines that he despises.

Akio: "Save it, Halogen Dietrich! A word of respect out of your mouth will just give me nausea."

Halogen: "Now, that's cold! I don't remember ever doing something to harm you, or anything of the sort. I have been very careful in making sure I don't end up on your wrong side, I'll have you know."

Akio clicks his tongue. It's true that Halogen has never done anything to cause harm to Akio but, what he has done to others in the name of 'church' and 'serving the lord', Akio can never bring himself to even consider Halogen a human.

However, even though Akio hates him a lot, Vaika Smith, the strongest Australian psychic in present time, hates him even more.

Vaika: "Halogen, we saw what you did in your old church."

Halogen: "What I did? You mean, how I killed the man who killed two of our friends?"

Disgusted. Wanting to kill him. That's Vaika Smith right now.

However, as he's the oldest Hellfire with an age of 48, Vaika is the most mature. As a sign of this, he manages to stay calm, outwardly at least.

Vaika: "No, we didn't mean that. We meant how you sacrificed 80 people to TRY to kill him and couldn't even finish the damn job."

Furrowing his eyebrows, Halogen Dietrich simply asks,

Halogen: "You mean he got away?"

Akio: "Seems that way."

Halogen: "Oh!"

Pondering on that for just a second, Halogen then says nonchalantly,

Halogen: "Well, that's unfortunate. But we can always repeat the ritual, just this time with better minions and larger sacrifices."

Akio: "Shit!"

Halogen: "Come now, Miyamoto-san! Don't use such a foul language in the holy church."

He says as he comes out from one of the many lines of benches.

Akio: "Any place you live in cannot be holy."

Halogen: "Now that's hurtful. Is trying to burn me alive really not enough venting for a while, Miyamoto-san?"

Akio: "It's not even close to enough. And stop adding that '-san' at the end like you are someone from my country. The very hypothetical thought of you being from my homeland makes me want to turn against the entire nation."

Halogen: "I am very appalled to know that you hate me so much. But, I just wanted to show you my respect, Miyamoto-san."

Akio: "Alright, that's it!"

It takes less than a second for Akio to reach Halogen and put a hand through his chest. That said, it takes even less than that fraction of a second for Halogen to dodge that attack. And before Akio could continue,

Vaika: "That's enough, Akio. Don't keep falling for his provocations!"

Shouts Vaika Smith.

Halogen: "Provocations? I would never-"

Vaika: "Enough!"

Halogen calmly and Akio reluctantly back down when they hear Vaika yell so with an angry expression.

Vaika: "We came here to check on you, to see if you are alive or not, and to get you back to doing your job."

Halogen: "But, Mr. Smith, my job is to find and bring more and more talented psychics in the organization. I never stopped doing it in the first place. In fact, that's what I have been doing this whole time."

Akio: "By making them Vampire food?"

Halogen: "It was a necessary sacrifice, Miyamoto-san."

Vaika puts up a hand to stop Akio before he does anything and tells Halogen,

Vaika: "There's something else that you need to do."

As he hears so, Halogen's lips curl up in a grin.

Halogen: "Something else I 'need' to do? That sounds like the Phoenix has a new order for me."

Vaika: "Not just for you. This job is meant for all of us."

Halogen: "Oh, is that so? It must certainly be quite a big job if it needs all of us on it."

Akio scoffs, and leaves the church, asking Vaika to do all the explaining. As Halogen turns towards Vaika though, he first asks,

Vaika: "Before we tell you about the job, tell us about Abgere. Tell us everything you know about him."

Halogen: "... I have no problems with doing that but, may I ask, why do you want to know that? It feels to me like there's a reason beside the fact you are on his hit-list."

Vaika leans his body backwards, relaxing himself, and says,

Vaika: "Let's just say, it's related to the job."

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Ethan: "What's up, guys?!"

He asks cheerfully. No one replies.

Ethan: "How's it going?!"

He asks more cheerfully. No one replies.

Ethan: "Is everyone doing well?!"

He asks even more cheerfully. No one replies.

And as that happens, as everyone he tries talking to ignores him and keeps quiet, Ethan hears a few excited whispers coming from behind him.

Kais: "Hey Sona, did you record that on a phone or something?"

Sona: "No, that was Sneha's job."

Sneha: "No, it wasn't. It was your job."

Sona: "What!? Then why didn't you tell me this earlier!?"

Sneha: "I thought you knew!"

Sona: "How was I supposed to know that!?"

The excitement in those voices fades and despair strikes. And with crying voices, the despaired whispers continue.

Kais: "That means no one recorded that."

Sona: "We will never be able to re-watch that moment again."

Sneha: "But it was so beautiful!"

Struck by the pangs of despair, all three of them fall to their knees.

Kais: "This ... this is just unfair!"

Sona: "Why? Why!? After all we have been through, couldn't we at least get a recording of that bastard being ignored?"

Sneha: "We deserved it. We deserved it! But, I suppose 'God' truly is cruel in this world."

At that moment, Sneha Stone understands the feelings of those who want to blame God or such concepts for anything bad that happens to them. She truly understands them. Obviously, for the other two who already fester a deep hatred for 'God', it could only grow worse.

Kais: "You shut up!"

Yells the despaired youth with a raging voice all of a sudden.

Sneha: "Wha-why?"

Kais: "Oh, I'm sorry."

Returning his pitch to normal, the youth explains.

Kais: "I was yelling at the ghost inside me. He dared to tell me that we were being mean to that bastard and requested that we stop doing so."

Sona: "Hah! Looks like being cooped up inside you for so many years has made him retarded! I mean, how could he possibly suggest such a thing?!"

Sneha: "I know, right?

Abgere: "..."

Not saying a word, the anomaly of a man continues to stare, also being pulled down by the chains of despair but putting up a strong act as if it doesn't affect him.

But, just as it starts to seem that there is no hope, that all is lost, that the war is over, a light shines through the darkness pulling the youthful souls towards it.

Gabriel: "I expected you people to fail. But worry not, for I have recorded it, ALL OF IT!"

And with those words said in a pleasing voice, the Hellfire pulls them out of their Hells, out of the pits of despair they had fallen into after being abandoned by fate and God alike.

Kais: "Gabriel, despite me calling you a loser for ever since I have known you, you should know that I never really meant it and actually always respected you."

The saved youth says so despite it not being true.

Sona: "I have not known you for long, Gabriel. But, I can tell that you are a man who deserves my whole-hearted respect and admiration. I wish I could be like you someday, although I would probably never be as good as you."

The female saved youth also says so despite it not being true.

Sneha: "Indeed. I always thought I was really strong and independent, until I met you. You showed me what true strength is. You, Gabriel Washington, are the epitome of manliness and courage."

The other female saved youth also says so despite it not being true.

Abgere: "Although I hate to say this, you are someone I have come to respect too. And know that you are the first person I have ever said that about."

The anomaly of a man mixes bitter truths with sweet-sounding lies as well.

And with that, all four of them bow as they all make one request,

All four: "Please show us the recording!"

Their savior smirks, and then says,

Gabriel: "Fear not, people! Regardless of our differences, we all share the same goal here. I couldn't possibly be cruel enough to deny you the right to see this recording. Come, stand up, and prepare yourselves for the greatest video you'll ever see."

And so they stand up and prepare themselves for what would be the objectively most sacred video they will ever see in their-

Ethan: "Are we done with this nonsense? We kinda need to find a way to talk to these guys."

Hearing that, all five of them scoff.

All five: "You will never be able to understand the beauty of this video. We have nothing to say to you."

Ethan: "Alright, don't say anything to me. Just say something to these morons. None of them seem to be willing to talk to me."

"Excuse me?"

They all turn to that voice, the voice of the man who leads the Aurals they have come to meet.

With eyes glittering, all the Aurals behind him await his words, the words that would carry enough weight to be considered equal to the very fate of their race.

And so, with all that weight behind it, their leader, abandoning all pride and prejudice, voices their most heartfelt desire.

Ethan: "Yes, what is that you want to sa-"

Leader: "Please share that holy recording with us too!

He asks with his head bowed, and the rest of them follow suit.

This is the singular most heartfelt request of not just the leader, but the entire group of Aurals, who are famously known as 'Heise'.

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