Li Feng had no idea what passed between Mordo and the Ancient One the night before. All he knew was that he'd fallen asleep waiting, and when he finally woke it was to the smell of food.
Mordo walked in, set a tray down, and said flatly, "The Ancient One wants to see you. Eat first. Then bring her the Key of Solomon."
He turned to leave, then hesitated, hand lingering on the doorframe. "I told her about you slowing the demon with a time spell. She seemed… surprised. Said it was originally your technique. That she once learned it from you."
Li Feng froze, chopsticks halfway to his mouth. Surprised? Didn't she already know I could bend time?
He caught the flicker in Mordo's eyes—envy, uncertainty. So that's it. He wants to learn time magic but doesn't know how to ask. Now he's fishing.
Li Feng smirked. "Yes. She traded one of her private books for it."
The implication hung there. Want it? Then pay for it.
Mordo gave an awkward laugh and left, already plotting what he could offer in return.
Li Feng finished breakfast, then carried the Key of Solomon to the Ancient One's chamber. He bowed, handed it over, and slid his personal spellbook across the table. "I'd like your help interpreting these. The demon taught me most of what's inside."
She skimmed the Key first, then smiled faintly. "Mordo said you caught a demon with temporal slowing."
Li Feng rubbed the back of his neck. "Only because it was already half-weakened. And it didn't last long."
"Still impressive," she said. "No small feat in combat."
She closed the Key with a sigh. "Fascinating, but mostly useless. Its magic runs on faith, not arcane force. Unless you plan on becoming a priest."
Li Feng grimaced. Priest? No thanks. Wizards are cooler.
"None of it useful?" he pressed.
"In theory, you could translate faith into mana," she said, "but you'd need the original source explained. Unless you have God on speed dial…" She paused, then chuckled. "Ah. I nearly forgot. In your world, perhaps you actually could find an angel—or God Himself. If you ever do, maybe you'll learn the true mechanics. Do that, and you'll earn the name Demon's Bane."
Li Feng groaned inwardly. Ask God? What if He decides I'm evil for using dark energy? Do I beg? Or die bravely?
He pushed his personal spellbook toward her. "These are the spells the demon gave me. I know they're dangerous. Some mark the caster's location, others corrode the mind. That's why I haven't practiced them."
The Ancient One flipped through, pausing on a plaguefire incantation. "Wise. Cast this too often and you'd contract a supernatural infection. Eventually the demon would find you and wear you like a coat."
Great. Now I feel itchy.
Li Feng leaned forward. "Can you modify them? I can't escape my affinity. My power's dark aligned. Mordo already knows. My time at Kamar-Taj won't last forever. For payment… I'll bring artifacts from other worlds. If you like any, they're yours."
She considered. Truthfully, she didn't want him diving headlong into corruption. But if she could reshape these spells—blunt their poison—then at least he'd have a bridge instead of a pitfall. She copied dozens of entries onto parchment, then returned his book.
"Mordo feels his first journey lacked wonder," she said. "He wants to travel again. As for your payment—" she tapped the notes—"this is it. My revisions are your reward. Think of it as thanks for letting him use your portal."
Li Feng nearly laughed aloud. I got the Ancient One to do free consulting? Perfect.
He bowed. "Then we leave at once. I can't control where the portal takes us, but hopefully this time it will please him."
Back in his quarters, Mordo was already geared up, packing relics with deliberate care.
"Last time I went in unprepared," he said, tossing Li Feng a cloak. "Thermal weave. At least this way, if we land in a frozen wasteland, you won't embarrass us by shivering."
"Free gear? Don't mind if I do." Li Feng swung it over his shoulders, then raised his hands theatrically. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard. Three seconds to departure. Please secure the captain. And if you're prone to nausea, kindly don't puke on my robes. They're expensive."
Mordo gripped his arm just as the portal swallowed them both.
They stumbled into a filthy alley. The stench of rot and garbage was suffocating. Rats scattered in waves.
Li Feng wrinkled his nose. First a plague world, now this? Mordo, your luck stinks. Literally.
Mordo steadied himself, then suddenly shoved Li Feng behind a wall. "Demons," he hissed.
Li Feng groaned. Of course. Another demon-infested world. Why can't I ever land somewhere normal?
Ahead, a scarred man with twin metal batons stepped into view. A thug lunged from the shadows. The scarred man moved like a predator, flipping his attacker and pinning him with brutal ease—then let out a roar that was anything but human.
Li Feng didn't need a spell to confirm it. That was their quarry.
Another demon.
Li Feng blinked, baffled. Didn't I already introduce myself? Why the sudden hostility?
Mordo caught on first. He leaned in and murmured, "Think about the gargoyles' divine purpose… then think about your magic."
Li Feng grimaced. Right. My affinity's baked in. Nothing I can do about that. And Ophir—so much for the stone-faced paladin routine. Couldn't take Mordo head-on, so you drag me here, hoping numbers do the work. Turns out I'm the fool for walking straight in.
Humanoid gargoyles closed in, wings flexing. Considering this was Archangel Michael's domain, Li Feng decided honesty was safer than defiance. He summoned a Kamar-Taj shield, its golden disc gleaming.
"We are mages," he said calmly. "From another world. We travel through magic to learn. As for my power—" he opened both hands "—it's innate. Not chosen."
Leonore, the Gargoyle Queen, studied him in silence. She knew angels and demons could pierce worlds, but humans? Fragile, fleeting creatures were never meant to breach crystal walls. If these two weren't lying, they had some artifact.
Her eyes locked on Li Feng's. After a long beat, she lifted her chin. "An energy trait does not define character. I see humanity in you. You are not evil. Still… Ophir will remain at your side."
Li Feng nodded. Surveillance or protection, he didn't care. His goal was simple: survive the story, claim Frankenstein's notes, return home. Mordo, meanwhile, was here to learn. And nothing would challenge his prejudice against shadow more than watching Adam—born of darkness—fight for the light. Let's see you keep preaching 'darkness always corrupts' after that.
Li Feng pulled the Key of Solomon from his robe and offered it to Leonore. "While we stay, could you help me decipher this?"
She glanced at it. Every page screamed of anti-demon warfare. Teaching Li Feng these spells only strengthened their side. She passed it to Ophir. "He can explain the simple incantations. When you grasp the basics, I'll show you the higher mysteries."
Li Feng raised an eyebrow. Didn't you just claim you didn't know this book? So much for 'angels cannot lie.' Guess Michael teaches loopholes too.
Ophir ignored him and led him toward the guest halls.
Leonore turned to Mordo. His calm, radiant aura contrasted sharply with Li Feng's shadow-tinged one. She wanted to test his view of his companion, but before she could, a soldier rushed in.
"Your Majesty! Demons at the chapel. At least fifty."
Leonore's face hardened. The monastery had stood for centuries. Demons knew it, but rarely dared assault. This was deliberate—and aimed at Adam.
"Protect Adam," she snapped. "Everyone else—fight!"
Li Feng smirked inwardly. Right. Naberius has been stockpiling corpses. Adam—alive flesh, no soul—is the key. With him, Hell wears human skin. But if I say that out loud, they'll string me up as a conspirator.
Mordo's staff was already out, eager to join. Li Feng, not yet trusted, found Ophir at his elbow. "I'll get you to safety."
Safety? Yeah, right. Li Feng followed, muttering, And by safety you mean dumping me next to Adam—the demons' prize. Brilliant.
Through breached halls they cut, slaying fiends. Finally Ophir shoved him into a chamber—and Li Feng froze. Adam sat chained inside.
"This is safe?" Li Feng muttered.
Adam glared. "Give me a weapon! I can fight!"
Ophir didn't hesitate. He shattered the chains and tossed him a blade. Adam surged forward, carving through demons with terrifying precision.
Li Feng flicked burning cards into snarling faces, eyes fixed on Adam. Stick close, follow the trail, and Frankenstein's notes are mine.
Then came the report: Zuriel, Naberius's general, had bypassed the fight and seized Leonore herself.
The monastery roared with outrage. None dared move—strike wrong, and their queen died.
Ophir stiffened. Li Feng's lips curved. Perfect. Time to play the ally. He pressed the Key of Solomon into Ophir's hands. "Take it. In your grip, it'll do what it was meant to—hurt demons."
Did he care? Half. He'd already copied the spells. What he needed was explanation, not the relic.
Ophir froze, stunned. For gargoyles, this wasn't just a book—it was Heaven's weapon.
He met Li Feng's gaze. "Thank you."
In an instant, Ophir's stone wings spread. He launched skyward, holy tome blazing in his grip.
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