The Damned Demon

677  Mars Vanguard Initiative

Rachel's eyes held a spark of doubt, a hint of nervousness in her voice, "But… did you really sleep with my mom?" Her lips pressed together, her gaze unwavering, seeking the truth no matter how harsh it may be.

Asher chuckled softly, his footsteps echoing in the quiet room as he slowly approached her, "I'm not the kind of demon who punishes someone while they're unconscious. I want them to be fully awake, feel everything, and remember everything." His voice was calm, almost casual, yet there was a dangerous edge beneath the surface.

Other than what he mentioned, Asher also wanted to foolproof his plan. By off chance, Cecilia mustered the courage to investigate her own head for what happened with someone's help...he still can wiggle his way out without making him look like the bad guy.

Rachel felt her heart lighten, a breath of relief escaping her lips. At least he didn't do it while she was drunk and unconscious. She also felt a strange sensation in her heart, imagining him sleeping with her mom.

But then Asher's eyes darkened with a smirk, and he added, "But we are just getting started. I will corrupt your mom. I will turn her into someone she dreads becoming. Still, I will spare her life for your sake."

Rachel's relief was short-lived, her chest tightening with guilt and sorrow for her mother's fate.

And yet, she couldn't deny the wave of gratitude washing over her. For a demon king like Asher to spare her mother was a mercy she hadn't dared hope for. She looked at him, her gaze conflicted, but with a glimmer of appreciation, "Thank you. You have been kinder to me than I expected, even though I don't deserve it."

Asher's expression softened as he stepped closer, pulling her into a warm embrace. His arms wrapped around her securely, his voice low and soothing as he murmured, "I told you. I care about you, and that's why you have no idea how much I'm holding back."

Rachel's arms found their way around his back, holding him tightly as she rested her head against his chest. The warmth of his body seeped into her, melting away the tension, if only for a moment. Despite the turmoil, despite the impossibility of their situation, she felt an inexplicable connection to him, a bond that defied logic. She never imagined she could feel this way about a demon, let alone the Demon King.

*Bzzzz!*

The sudden vibration of Asher's phone shattered the fragile moment, making Rachel step back reluctantly. Asher pulled out his phone, his expression shifting from warm to serious in an instant as he answered, "Grace? What—"

Rachel watched him closely, her brows furrowing in concern as his face hardened with each word.

"Okay. Don't worry. We'll be right there," Asher said, his tone steady and reassuring as he ended the call, slipping the phone back into his pocket.

"What happened? Is something wrong?" Rachel's anxiety spiked as she saw the tension in his eyes.

"It's Derek," Asher said, his voice grim, "He just made a huge announcement across the entire world. He's starting to send Hunters to Mars, including top talents from every Hunter academy, especially the WHA's. He's going to make them all get M.A.M installed into their bodies. But what got Grace so unsettled is that they picked her grandson and added his name to the list."

Rachel's heart sank, her face paling, "Oh no… What do we do? We need more time," she whispered, her voice filled with panic.

"Don't worry," Asher said, his eyes locked onto hers with a calm determination, "Derek can't make this happen all at once. It will be done in batches, and it will take months for everyone to get it. He also has to deal with those who don't want it. That means we have time, but we have to act quickly. We need to stop him before too many Hunters get it installed. We need to stop him before he activates Project Guardian, because I have a feeling it's more dangerous than we might be expecting."

Rachel nodded, her mind racing, "What do we do?"

Asher reached out, his hand gently cupping her cheek, "You need to keep working on your mom with me. She holds the answer we need for this situation, Rachel. She knows where the Nexus Tower is located and what its real function is. Otherwise, she wouldn't have seemed so out of it."

Rachel swallowed hard, pushing down the guilt that clawed at her chest. She had to do this for the sake of her world, "I understand. I'll do whatever it takes." She nodded, a fire igniting in her gaze as she steeled herself for what was to come. —

The world was abuzz, a cacophony of disbelief, excitement, and skepticism that rippled through every corner of the globe. News broadcasts looped footage of the WHA President's address, showing the towering figure of Derek Sterling standing against the backdrop of the WHA insignia, his voice firm and commanding as he made the unprecedented announcement.

Mars. An entire planet, once deemed inhospitable and unreachable, was now the frontline in humanity's battle against the demonic scourge. It was the kind of revelation that left people blinking at their screens, mouths agape, trying to grasp the sheer magnitude of what they were hearing. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

In the bustling streets of New York, crowds gathered around massive digital billboards that played clips of the President's speech on loop. The words "Mars Vanguard Initiative" and "M.A.M Technology" flashed in bold letters, accompanied by sleek visuals of futuristic bases and advanced Hunter equipment. Conversations buzzed around the announcement, voices overlapping with a mixture of awe and confusion.

"They're really gonna fight demons on Mars?" a middle-aged man muttered to his friend, both of them craning their necks to look up at the screen. "I thought that place was just a dead rock. Not even S Rankers can survive there for too long, right?"

"Not only S Rankers but every Hunter can now walk on Mars with this revolutionary tech. Just think about it," his friend replied, eyes wide with excitement. "If they can move the fight there, then we don't have to worry about demons showing up in our backyard anymore. No more attacks, no more bloodshed on Earth. Those guys at the WHA seem right. Demons attack places where Hunters are nearby, and only by killing Hunters do they get more power."

"That's absurd. Obviously, not all Hunters or manaborn can be shifted to Mars," He said with a scoff.

"I know. But just think. Like they said, if most of the battles happen on Mars, ordinary people like us can live more peacefully on our beautiful Earth. We don't have to live everyday in fear. Putting aside that fact, our Hunters can easily destroy the demons who won't have power on Mars, hehe."

In Tokyo, Hunters gathered in training halls, their usual competitive banter replaced with excited chatter about the WHA announcement.

Young, wide-eyed trainees whispered eagerly, their minds filled with dreams of glory and the chance to prove themselves on an alien battlefield.

"Did you hear? The new M.A.M tech can make you fight demons without running out of mana!" a young Hunter exclaimed, his voice cracking with excitement.

"Yeah, but only S Rankers get it first, and then A Rankers and so on," another grumbled, his expression a mixture of envy and resignation, "It's gonna take so long before they get to the likes of us."

A third Hunter, older and more seasoned, frowned as he leaned against the wall, arms crossed, "Doesn't anyone else think this is a bit too much, too soon? They're gonna put that stuff into our bodies and ship us off to Mars? What if it's not as safe as they say?"

The younger ones glanced at him, their enthusiasm dampened slightly, but not entirely quelled. The allure of new technology and the promise of making history was too strong. Even the skeptical few felt the pressure. They knew what it meant if they didn't volunteer: the disappointment in their families' eyes, the whispers of being cowards in a world that idolized strength and sacrifice.

In the grand halls of government buildings around the world, officials debated fiercely. Politicians and military leaders argued over the potential benefits and risks of sending their country's best fighters to a distant planet. Some praised the WHA's boldness, seeing it as a beacon of hope, a symbol of humanity's relentless spirit. Others worried it was too much of a gamble, the costs too high if something went wrong.

However, in the end, the majority of the governments came to a common consensus that the right move would be to ship their Hunters off to Mars.

After all, this was the first time humanity saw some hope in having a chance to finally crush the demons or suppress them to the point they would dread doing a quest and coming over.

Meanwhile, in quiet homes and busy cafes, families sat around their devices, watching the news with bated breath.

Mothers wrung their hands, fathers frowned in contemplation, and children looked on with wide-eyed wonder. They all shared the same unspoken fear: what if their sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters volunteered for this mission and did not get much time to come home? What if something goes wrong with the installation of such tech?

Yet, amidst all the anxiety, a sense of collective resolve was building. The President's words echoed in their minds: "We must make sacrifices today for a safer tomorrow." And so, even those with doubts felt a pull to support this endeavor, this leap of faith into the unknown.

Other families were excited and were looking forward to send their loved ones for this greater cause. But the main catalyst for many of them giving in or being forced into this initiative was the last few sentences they heard from the president.

In the ending section of the broadcast, Derek stared into the camera as he said with a sharp gaze, "Those who don't want to be part of this initiative are free to back out. But since this initiative concerns the future of humanity, we can't let those who refuse to be part of this continue to stay with us. To be part of the WHA it means to stay true to your vows as a Hunter and dedicate your life to humanity. In our eyes, those who cannot...will not be worthy to call themselves a Hunter, let alone be part of the WHA."

From this, one thing was obvious. Either join or be ostracized from the Hunter society since literally, every Hunter had to be recognized by the WHA to be a legitimate Hunter!

Damn :#

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