Rose nodded, eyes full of worry.
"You're going undercover again?"
"Yes," he said. "And I'll return before you miss me too much."
"How many days will it take this time?" Rose asked, arms folded, concern deep in her eyes.
Arsh leaned back against the desk, sipping his coffee. "If it was just about killing demons, I could erase the entire city in days. But their leader knows my power. He's being cautious. Now they only send groups—coordinated, with a commander among them. I can't go in officially. He'd sense something. That's why I'm going undercover... as a college student."
Rose raised a brow. "A student? Arsh, look at you. Your aura, your face, your eyes—you can't just blend in."
Arsh smiled mysteriously. "Wait here."
He disappeared into the hallway. Minutes later, he returned. His striking sky-blue hair was now a muted gray, his eyes dimmed to an ordinary steel-blue, his features subtly altered. He still radiated charm—but no longer Arsh, the World King.
Rose blinked. "Wow. If it weren't me, I wouldn't believe it was you. So... when are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning. Preparations are already done."
She narrowed her eyes. "So you knew I'd agree?"
He grinned.
"Are you going alone?" she asked again.
"No. I'm taking Noar with me."
"You better make me something good for lunch and dinner, then," Rose muttered.
The next morning, Arsh soared toward Sitler in his sleek, silent stealth aircraft. The sun barely peeked over the horizon as the dark silhouette of the City of Sin emerged in the distance.
"OSAI, have you informed the city officials?" he asked, leaning back.
"Yes, sir. They've been told not to prepare anything flashy. Also, the headmaster of the college has been notified."
"Good. Keep it clean."
As he stepped into the massive college campus, wearing a simple hoodie and jeans, no one recognized him. Just another young man. Just "Azura."
He stopped a student nearby. "Excuse me, where's the principal's office?"
"Straight ahead, first right," the girl replied, barely glancing at him.
He entered the office to find several staff members waiting. They stood quickly when he walked in.
"Didn't I say not to attract attention?" Arsh—Azura—asked calmly.
They scattered, leaving only the headmaster.
"So… I'm Azura, second-year transfer," Arsh said, extending a hand. "From a humble background. My last school was... too expensive."
The headmaster nodded, smiling. "Welcome, Azura. If you need anything, just come to me."
As Arsh exited the office, OSAI's voice buzzed in his earpiece.
"Sir, Level 4 demons spotted—just a street over. Two civilians in danger."
"I can't run at full speed," Arsh muttered. "I'm a student here now."
"Best route is through the fire exit, but it's locked."
"Transfer access until I reach it."
"I can't. The system's isolated from external control. But I can disable the alarm if you breach it."
"Do it."
He reached the fire exit, cracked his knuckles, and punched through the lock. The door swung open, silent.
"Alarms disabled. You're clear."
At the next street, flames licked broken buildings. Two terrified refugees were backed against a wall by snarling demons.
"OSAI, mask," Arsh ordered.
A sleek mask formed over his face from nanotech particles.
"There's another human here," one demon growled, noticing him. "Let's make him our next meal."
Arsh stepped forward slowly, hands in his pockets. "My first-period bell already rang. I don't have time to play long."
"Do you know who we are?" another demon barked. "Level 4 demons. Even Arsh wouldn't—"
The demon charged.
A flash of steel.
Silence.
The demon's head hit the ground before his body even realized it was dead.
The others froze.
"Who's next?" Arsh asked casually.
They attacked together. He danced between them like wind through trees—graceful, lethal. In seconds, all lay defeated.
As he stood among the dust and silence, he looked at the refugees and whispered, "You all keep taking Arsh lightly."
He turned back toward the school, brushing dust from his jacket.
"Noar's in position. You're clear."
"Good. Let the fun begin."