Requiem of the Pathways

Morning light seeped through the frost-kissed windows of Adam's quarters, casting long shadows along the stone walls. 

Despite arriving at the Vatican, it had only been three days since the death of his friends, and their words still haunted him.

"It was a setup… the Church… they knew."

That single revelation had changed everything. The Church had sent them to die.

Adam inhaled slowly, his hands clasped together in a mockery of morning prayer. His faith had not broken, but his trust in the church did. He could no longer rely on the Church entirely if it was compromised. He would need to walk his own path.

A guide for his future steps solidified in his mind.

The first step was to legitimize his "Sacred Gear." If anyone ever dug too deep into it, the slate of Moses would be its false name. 

His silence would be his survival. If the Church had been willing to sacrifice his friends, then he might as well have been a tool to them. Until proven otherwise, he could not afford to reveal his Blasphemy Slate or the knowledge buried within it.

He would need to overcome a huge mountain to gain access to the supernatural black market. For now, he couldn't trust the Church. If he needed access to supernatural materials and knowledge, they would never willingly provide it.

Obtaining Sequence 9 would be his first step toward true power. Without it, he was just another exorcist, bound by mortal limits.

He exhaled, his breath misting in the cold air. A knock sounded at his door.

"Exorcist Morgenstern," a voice called. "Report to Squad Epsilon immediately."

No time wasted. Efficient. Ruthless. That was the Church.

***

The cathedral halls were sacred, bathed in the light that was cast through the stained glass as Adam made his way to the assigned briefing chamber. He was barely a day into his reassignment and was already being sent on a mission.

The Church wasted no time.

The wooden doors creaked as he pushed them open. Inside, five figures stood around a worn wooden table, a map of a small German town spread out before them.

At the center stood a man who radiated authority: Alexander Alaric. He was tall and wiry, with greying hair cropped short. His gaze was sharp, measuring the eyes of a man who had seen far too much of the world. 

A saying came to his mind: "Beware of an old man in a profession where men usually die young."

"Adam Morgenstern," he greeted, nodding. "You're the newest addition to Company Hewbrews 9 squad 28."

Adam saluted. "Reporting in, sir."

His eyes flickered across the others, his new teammates.

Ilya Braun, a woman with cold, calculating blue eyes and short raven hair. She carried herself with the confidence of someone who had been through hell and back.

Reiner Hess, a broad-shouldered brawler with wrapped knuckles, has a sheer bulk that makes him seem more like a soldier than an exorcist.

Felix Devries was lean, almost lanky, with an easy smirk. Something about his posture suggested he had keen agility and was someone who played with his foes.

Beatrice Laine was the youngest of the group, looking to be in her mid-teens at the very least. Her auburn hair was tied in a loose braid, and her brown eyes showed a quiet empathy for the world.

"Your timing is fortunate," Alexander continued. "We've been assigned a mission, and you're first with us." He gestured toward the map. A red mark had been drawn over a cluster of homes on the town's outskirts.

"A devil was reported here a day ago. Low-class, most likely, and it has already taken three human lives. We believe it has taken refuge in an abandoned chapel."

Adam's brows furrowed. One day ago? He had expected bureaucracy and red tape yet within twenty-four hours, the Church was ready to deploy a squad.

"The efficiency is…" He hesitated, choosing his words carefully.

Felix chuckled. "You sound surprised, rookie. What, did you think they'd sit around debating ethics before killing devils?"

Reiner scoffed. "The only good devil is a dead one."

Beatrice frowned. "Not all devils are the same."

Reiner turned to her, unimpressed. "A devil is a devil, Laine."

Alexander raised a hand, silencing them before the conversation could spiral. "The Church's stance is clear. Any devil who abandons their faction or attacks civilians is to be eliminated without question." He turned to Adam. "Do you have any objections to that, Adam?"

Adam met his gaze evenly. "None."

This was a necessary reminder. The supernatural world was brutal, and mercy was a luxury humans could not afford.

"Good," Alexander said. "We depart within the hour. Prepare your gear."

As the others dispersed, Adam lingered for a moment. He had one more question.

"Sir," he asked, "what do we know about this devil's abilities?"

Alexander studied him for a moment before answering. "No need to call me sir, just call me Alexander, and from reports, it's suspected to be Low-class. As such, it wields basic abilities such as enhanced strength and minor spellcasting. Nothing extraordinary."

Adam nodded but knew better than to take things at face value. It was never that simple.

***

The armory was filled with the scent of oiled metal. Rows of weapon racks lined the stone walls, displaying everything from simple light blades to silver-laced firearms. Adam walked in, moving with practiced efficiency as he gathered his standard exorcist gear—a light sword, holy water, and silver-lined ammunition.

He observed his new team as they prepared.

Reiner muttered a quiet prayer over his weapon. True to form, Felix spun a dagger between his fingers absentmindedly, smirking as if this was all routine. Beatrice meticulously checked her supplies, her fingers brushing over a small wooden cross hanging from her belt. Ilya adjusted her uniform, her movements precise and controlled, displaying a discipline that had been hammered into her through years of training.

They were more experienced. That meant he had to be careful of any slipups or inconsistencies, as they would notice.

But there was also opportunity in misfortune.

If anyone knew about the supernatural black market, it would be men and women like these exorcists who had seen the cracks in the system and understood that not all power came from the Church.

Adam strapped his sword to his belt, testing the weight. His mind was already working, formulating the right questions and way to probe without raising suspicion.

Felix noticed his scrutiny and grinned. "You look like you've got something on your mind."

Adam raised an eyebrow. "Just wondering what I'm walking into."

Felix chuckled, tossing his dagger up and catching it effortlessly. "Ah, don't worry too much. Devils are nasty little bastards, but this one's nothing special. Just a cleanup job."

Adam nodded, carefully steering the conversation. "Still, it's strange. You'd think devils would be more organized, not wandering around like wild animals."

"Most of them are," Reiner interjected, strapping a large combat knife to his thigh. "But some get greedy or stupid and break away from their factions. That's when they start feeding recklessly, and that's when we put them down."

Adam feigned curiosity. "And what happens when exorcists need things the Church doesn't provide? If devils and other supernatural beings have their own economies, what's stopping people from trading with them?"

Ilya's cold blue eyes flicked to him, and for a split second, Adam thought he had overstepped.

Then she scoffed. "You're asking dangerous questions for a new exorcist."

Felix, on the other hand, looked amused. "Oh? Looking for something in particular?"

Adam shrugged, keeping his expression neutral. "Just trying to understand how things work. If exorcists deal with devils, there must be ways to gain information and acquire resources."

Felix tapped his dagger against his palm, considering. "There are ways," he admitted. "Not officially, of course, but if you know where to look..." He grinned. "Well, let's just say the Church isn't the only place to get your hands on special materials."

That was all Adam needed to hear. The black market existed. And Felix knew about it.

He would follow this thread carefully, drawing out information bit by bit.

For now, however, there was a mission to complete.

***

The journey was swift, with travel by plane. A black church-issued vehicle carried them through the German countryside, the towering cathedral fading behind them as they approached the outskirts of a small town. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the streets.

Adam watched the passing scenery in silence, mentally reviewing what he knew.

The devil they were hunting had killed three farmers and had taken refuge in an abandoned chapel.

The town itself was quiet, unnervingly so. The few people still on the streets cast wary glances their way before quickly retreating indoors, locking doors behind them. A local priest had been designated as their contact, and they met him at the town's small parish.

Father Reinhardt was an aging man. His face was lined with stress and exhaustion. He greeted them with a tired nod.

"You came quickly," he murmured, leading them inside. "Praise the Lord."

Alexander wasted no time. "Tell us everything you know."

Reinhardt sat heavily in a wooden chair, rubbing his temples. "The devil arrived maybe two nights ago. At first, we did not know what it was. A man, or something like one, was seen at the edge of town. Then... the killings began."

Adam listened carefully. Not just a mindless beast, then. The devil had observed before acting.

"It took three victims," Reinhardt continued. "Two men, one woman. Their bodies were... defiled." His voice caught for a moment. "Torn open. As if something had been feeding."

Adam exchanged a glance with Felix, who gave a knowing nod—classic stray behavior.

"Where was it last seen?" Alexander asked.

"The old chapel," Reinhardt confirmed. "At least the ruins of it. No one goes there anymore. It was set to be demolished some time ago, but paperwork pushed it back."

Reiner scoffed. "A devil hiding in a defiled chapel? How poetic."

Adam seemed to get deja vu at this very instant.

Alexander ignored him. "We'll take care of it. Stay inside and lock your doors. Do not open them for anyone until we return."

Reinhardt swallowed thickly and nodded. "May God be with you."

***

The ruined chapel stood at the edge of town, half buried in ivy and decay. The wooden doors hung open, swaying slightly in the cold wind. The sun had begun to set, casting the world into deepening shades of orange and violet.

Alexander raised a fist, signaling for silence. The team fanned out, their movements practiced and precise. Adam followed, his grip tightening around his sword.

The sound of debris rumbled from within the chapel.

Adam felt a chill crawl up his spine. The devil was waiting for them.

Alexander motioned to Ilya and Felix, who flanked the entrance. Reiner took point, his broad frame positioned to charge in first. Beatrice muttered a quiet prayer, her breath visible in the cooling air.

Then, with a single nod, Alexander gave the signal.

Reiner kicked the door open.

The stench of rot and sulfur hit them instantly.

Inside, the chapel was a massacre. Blood coated the broken pews. The altar had been defiled, its sacred symbols scratched out, replaced with crude demonic markings.

And there, standing at the far end of the ruined church, was the devil.

It had once been a man. Now, it was something else. Its skin was ashen and cracked, its eyes black pits of malice. Long, jagged claws twitched at its sides, and its mouth curled into a grotesque grin, revealing rows of needle-sharp teeth.

"More lambs for the slaughter," it rasped, its voice layered with something inhuman.

Adam felt a cold fury settle over him.

This was no mindless beast.

It had killed three people. Defiled a place of worship. It had mocked their faith and had committed the biggest sin of them all.

Be born as a devil. And now, it would die.

Alexander's voice rang out, cutting through the tension like a blade.

"Kill it."

The devil lunged.

And the battle began.

///

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