NOVPUBAzzy's voice cut through the air with quiet determination. "I can't back out of a deal," he said firmly, his eyes never leaving Astro's. "You go and report to the superiors if you want, but I'll stay behind. I'm not leaving. I'll see this through."
Captain Astro's eyes narrowed, his hand rubbing the back of his neck as he let out a frustrated sigh. He had anticipated this response, but it didn't make it any easier. Azzy's resolve was unshakeable, even when it went against the group's collective safety.
"You know the consequences, Azzy. This isn't just about you anymore. This is bigger than one person," Astro warned, his voice edged with concern.
Caelith, her expression becoming more serious, tried to reason with Azzy out of worry. "Rael, It's too dangerous for you to stay behind. Those two fallen angels you encountered—they weren't just wandering around aimlessly. It seems they were trying to find us. Our prisoner briefly woke up in the noon and we found it from his own mouth. They were ordered to track down our team."
Azzy's gaze remained resolute. He had already considered the dangers, and he was prepared to face them. But Astro continued, unwilling to back down.
"Abaddon became aware of our presence when I found one of his fallen angels," Astro continued. "And since I didn't succumb to becoming a fallen angel myself, thanks to you, by the way, Abaddon must have sent his subordinates to find and eliminate anyone connected to us. We're dealing with a being who has resources now and not a single entity anymore. If he's aware of us, then the situation is already critical."
Azzy's mind raced, but his posture remained unwavering. He wasn't shaken by the gravity of the situation, nor did he appear concerned by Astro's warning. The threat of Abaddon was real, but Azzy wasn't the type to run from danger.
However, as Azzy processed Captain Astro's words, a different thought began to form in his mind. It didn't align with what Astro had said, but the pieces didn't quite fit.
He spoke up, breaking the silence. "Wait a minute," Azzy said, his voice calm but filled with thought. "I don't think the fallen angels were just following orders blindly. The one I saw running away wasn't fleeing because he wanted to wreak havoc. He was running from either this prisoner or someone else. It's highly possible that they weren't all under Abaddon's full control. Maybe one of them doesn't want to follow the orders. The one I saw might have been a traitor. Perhaps Abaddon sent the other fallen angel to deal with him... to capture or even kill him. We can get more answers when we thoroughly interrogate the hostage."
The idea seemed to resonate in the silence that followed. The team exchanged glances, each member processing Azzy's theory. Could it be true? That there were fallen angels who didn't fully obey Abaddon's will?
Captain Astro hesitated before speaking, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. "You might be right, but we can't afford to take risks with unknowns. If there's even a chance that one of them is acting on their own, it complicates things. It makes them unpredictable, and that's dangerous."
Azzy's resolve only grew stronger. His eyes, still filled with unwavering determination, met Captain Astro's. "I'd rather die than break my principles," Azzy stated simply, his voice devoid of any doubt. "I made a promise, and I'm not going to walk away from it. I'm staying. You can go and report to the superiors if you wish, but I'll see this through, no matter what."
There was a finality in his tone, a decision made. Azzy wasn't just staying behind to protect his promise to the human. He was staying because he believed in his principles—no matter the cost.
Captain Astro stared at Azzy for a long moment. He could see the determination in Azzy's eyes, the weight of his words. He had always known Azzy to be a stubborn one, but now, more than ever, that stubbornness seemed to define him.
"Alright," Astro finally said, his voice quiet but tinged with resignation. "You've made your choice. But remember, Azzy—this won't be easy. There's no turning back from this."
Azzy nodded, his expression steady as ever. The path ahead would be treacherous, but it was one he had already chosen to walk.
As the tension settled, Aranis couldn't hold back his frustration. The silence in the room was thick, and he finally let it spill over. He crossed his arms, his brows furrowing as he looked toward Captain Astro.
"This is ridiculous, Captain," Aranis muttered under his breath, his tone dripping with annoyance. "Rael's attitude—he's being reckless! He's not thinking things through. We're dealing with a power far beyond us, and he wants to stay behind. What's he hoping to accomplish by throwing himself into danger like this?"
He paced back and forth, clearly agitated. "Our mission was merely to investigate the presence of fallen Angela and the captain found it. We basically completed our mission. We don't need to probe too much into it, trying to investigate Abaddon's intentions at all. But instead, Rael here wants to play hero and put the whole team at risk. This isn't how we operate!"
Astro remained silent for a long moment, letting Aranis vent. The others exchanged looks, but no one spoke up. They all understood Aranis' concern and quite agreed with him in silence, but they also knew Azzy's determination. It was a difficult situation for everyone involved.
Captain Astro stood still, his hands clasped behind his back as he thought carefully. His eyes seemed distant, focused on the larger picture. After a moment of reflection, he made his decision.
"Alright," he finally said, his voice calm but filled with authority. "Rael and I will stay behind. The rest of you will return to report our findings to the higher-ups. I'll keep watch over him and ensure that things don't spiral out of control. You all need to return and let our superiors know about the situation, but I'll stay here to deal with this directly."
His words hung in the air as the team absorbed the implications. There was a mix of disbelief and worry on their faces, but they knew better than to argue when Captain Astro had made up his mind.
Aranis opened his mouth to protest once more, but Captain Astro's stern gaze silenced him before he could say another word.
Both Caelith and Ramiel couldn't hold back their protests. They tried to speak at the same time, their voices a mixture of concern and frustration.
"Captain, this is a bad idea," Caelith said quickly, his voice tense. "You're putting both of yourselves in even greater danger."
"Agreed," Ramiel added, crossing her arms. "Staying behind could be a deadly decision, and we're not prepared for what's out there."
But Captain Astro's expression didn't falter. His eyes hardened with resolve as he cut through their objections.
"This is not up for discussion," Astro said firmly, his voice unyielding. "I've made my decision. Rael and I will handle things here. The rest of you go back and report. Now, that's an order."
The others reluctantly fell silent, though their concern was still evident in their eyes. They knew better than to challenge Captain Astro directly, but it didn't make the situation any easier.
Azzy, who had been listening to the conversation without interruption, nodded in agreement with the arrangement. Though it was clear that there were disagreements within the team, he didn't let it distract him. His mind was already on the next task ahead.
"I agree with the arrangement," Azzy said, his tone neutral yet firm. "I'll take care of what's left here. You all do what's necessary."
Without waiting for any further discussion, Azzy stood up, excused himself, and left the room. The others watched him go, their expressions a mix of worry and resignation.
Azzy left the house and made his way to Leiza's place. The weight of the situation was clear in his mind, but he wasn't about to back down from what he had promised. It was going to be a difficult path, but it was one he had chosen.
As he approached Leiza's house, he felt a strange sense of calm wash over him. There was something grounding about her presence, something that kept his thoughts steady amidst the chaos surrounding them. He needed to focus now more than ever.
Azzy rang the doorbell, and within moments, the door opened. Leiza greeted him with a warm smile, though she could sense that something was off. Without a word, Azzy walked past her and made his way inside. There would be time for explanations later. For now, he needed to prepare for the days ahead.
Azzy arrived at Leiza's house, his mind heavy with the decisions made earlier that day. His steps were steady as he approached the door, and he rang the bell. Moments later, the door swung open, revealing Leiza standing in the doorway, her usual smile tempered with curiosity.
"Come in," she said, gesturing him inside.
As Azzy stepped over the threshold, his eyes quickly scanned the surroundings. The atmosphere inside had shifted since his last visit. His sharp senses noticed the heightened security at once: at least fifty bodyguards patrolled the house, each armed with energy cannons. Every corner, every entryway seemed to be guarded. The air felt tense, as if a storm was brewing just out of sight.
He couldn't help but wonder why the security had been tightened so drastically. Was there a new threat looming over Leiza's family?
