A young man was leisurely strolling through one of the European cities. The blond youth, dressed as a priest, had finished carrying out the church's order to exterminate dark creatures. He was not particularly eager for his work, but the presence of the power that earned him the nickname "Strongest Exorcist" obliged Dulio to act.
As he moved towards the church, he heard an angry voice from one of the alleys.
— And that's all you managed to get?! — the furious cry of a drunk man sounded. Then a sharp blow was heard and a small body fell to the ground. — Useless little scum! What are you even for if you can't help your parents?
When Dulio Gesualdo reached the source of the noise, he saw an angry man rubbing his palm, and a girl sitting next to him on the asphalt, holding the right side of her face. They both had some resemblance in appearance, and given the man's words earlier, the exorcist had no doubts about their degree of kinship.
— What do you want? — the man asked warily when he turned around at the sound of approaching footsteps.
— You shouldn't behave like that, sir, — Giulio said, slowly approaching him. — It's not right to insult, and especially not to beat, little children.
— It's none of your business, just like what I do with my child, holy man, — the girl's father said angrily, but with every step the exorcist took, he felt fear growing. The priest's calm and confident smile evoked unpleasant feelings.
— I still have things to do, so I'll go. Don't be late home, little thing, — the man quickly left after glancing at the girl.
— Are you okay? — Giulio asked worriedly, holding out his hand to the girl.
— Yes, — she stood up on her own, ignoring him. — I'm already used to it, — the girl said, shaking off her clothes. — Not the first time.
Giulio looked with pity at the girl of 8-10 years old. She was dressed in old and repeatedly patched clothes, there were abrasions and bruises on her hands and face, and her look did not fit an ordinary child.
— You don't need to look at me like that. It's irritating.
— Sorry, — the young man apologized unconsciously. — I didn't mean to offend you in any way.
Throwing a searching glance at him, she snorted and silently left.
— Wait, — Giulio caught up with the girl, began to walk level with her, — can you tell me why your father treats you like this?
— Why do you need this? — she looked at him suspiciously. — Are you a maniac or a pedophile?
— What?! No!
— You are too suspicious. People, including children, have been disappearing frequently in the city for the last month, the exorcist was again looked at skeptically.
— I'm a priest who came to the city on business, — the young man answered, biting his lip. The church found out about what had happened too late. The werewolves had managed to take too many lives. — It's just that if you're being treated badly, I can negotiate and they'll take you into the church shelter.
— Hmm. Got it.
— Then?
— No. I don't want to go to a shelter, — the girl rejected the offer. — Even though my parents aren't the best and I have to beg on the street, I don't want to go to a shelter. Besides, — a confident smile appeared on her face, — I already have a plan to make my life better.
— Well, if you say so, — the exorcist gave in. At that moment, his stomach rumbled. — Sorry. I haven't eaten anything since this morning.
— Wait, — the girl stopped and reached into her small backpack. — Here, — she held an apple in her hands, — take it.
— I can't. Better keep it for yourself.
— Eat! — she changed her tone to a commanding one and thrust the fruit into his hand. — You were able to drive away this drunkard, thus helping. Consider this my payment.
— Ha-ha! Thank you, — thanking the pouting girl, Giulio took the first bite. — Delicious! Thank you again. By the way, my name is Giulio, and yours?
— You can call me Erica, — the girl said. — I don't think we'll see each other again anyway.
— Why do you think so?
— Ha! Why would a grown man seek out a meeting with a little girl? — Erica looked at him suspiciously again. — Unless he's a...
— Wait, wait! I get it. I didn't mean anything like that.
— Ha-ha-ha! — seeing the guy's panic, the girl couldn't hold back her laughter. — I'm just kidding. You're a priest — you should help those in need. I know that. It's just that you said yourself that you're here on business, which means you'll be leaving soon.
— You shouldn't joke like that, otherwise I might get into trouble, — Julio said angrily, but then tensed up. — Don't leave me, — standing in front of Erica, he began to carefully look around. The few passers—by and cars had disappeared. Now they were standing on a deserted street.
— What's going on? — the girl panicked and grabbed the exorcist's hand.
— Don't worry, I'll protect you, — smiling approvingly, the guy returned to searching for the enemy. The one who set up the barrier had clearly come for him, but there was no guarantee that the enemy would leave witnesses alive, even if it was a child.
— Show yourself! — the sky was instantly covered with thunderclouds. — If you don't do this, I'll make you.
Obeying the mental command, lightning poured down on the ground like rain.
— What an unrestrained guy, — a sarcastic tone was heard and a white-haired youth appeared in front of Julio, accompanied by several youkai.
— Kiyoshi Zankoku, — the exorcist tensed up, recognizing the person who had appeared. — Why would you attack me? Do you really want to start a war with the church and Heaven?
— Start a war? Haha! Whether I want it or not doesn't matter, because it won't change the angels' desire to kill the "system error."
— So a fight is inevitable, — Julio stated with a sigh. — Can you not involve the girl in this? — the guy asked hopefully.
— ...Okay, — the phoenix thought about the request and made a decision. — None of us will touch her during the fight, but you should win if you want to save the little girl. I don't want witnesses.
— Thank you, — Julio turned to Erica. — Can you hide while I punish the bad people? — the frightened girl just nodded and ran away, hiding behind the corner of the building. — Then let's begin.
New lightning strikes aimed at their targets, and purple flames appeared around Zankoku. Having received no effect from his attack, the exorcist did not give up, continuing to send a rain of lightning, forcing the youkai to focus on defense.
— This trick won't work on me, — Kiyoshi began to approach Julio with a smirk, creating a dome of fire above his head. — You know, I'm very surprised.
— What are you talking about? — the priest looked at the blond man who stopped five meters away from him.
— I'm talking about your body. It seems that they didn't call you the —Strongest Exorcist— for nothing, — Gesualdo frowned, trying to understand his words. — You still don't understand?
— Don't try to deceive me! — a magic circle appeared in front of Julio's face, into which he blew, creating giant soap bubbles.
— I'm not even trying, — the phoenix said, jumping away from him. — You're getting weaker with each passing second, just like your attacks. At this rate, you won't last even a couple of minutes.
— What!? How? — to his regret, the exorcist could only sense this after his opponent's words. — What have you done?
A wave of flame rushed towards him in response, burning everything in its path. Cursing Kiyoshi's treachery, Julio protected himself with soap bubbles, but the phoenix's attack did not end there. Dozens of fiery spears appeared around the priest, which instantly fell upon him.
Focusing on defense, he did not immediately notice the appearance of a demonic sword in Kiyoshi's hands. Gram, whose blade was covered in the flames of the Incinerator Hymn, easily overcame the defense and left a vertical cut on Julio's chest.
Having been injured, the exorcist was no longer able to maintain the activation of his mechanism. The sky stopped raining lightning, allowing Zankok's subordinates to breathe a sigh of relief.
The "strongest exorcist" remained conscious, but could not move. He looked at the approaching blond and his servants with doom. Standing next to the defeated priest, the phoenix looked towards the girl's peeking head and beckoned her with his finger.
— No! Don't touch the child, — the young man begged, looking at the approaching girl.
— Don't worry, I won't touch her, — Kiyoshi said to the exorcist with a grin. — I will give you one piece of advice, although you will be able to use it only in the next life, — Julio watched in shock as Erica looked at him mockingly, calmly standing next to the blond. — You should not take food from strangers, especially apples, and now sleep, Snow White, — with a powerful kick, the phoenix knocked out the priest, exhausted from the poison.
— You know what to do, — the youkai nodded at the words of their leader and, picking up the unconscious body, disappeared in a flash of teleportation. — You did a good job of your role, Erica, and helped me a lot, — Kiyoshi praised the girl. — I can fulfill one of your farewell requests.
Erica looked closely at the smiling face of the young man. Just yesterday she was an ordinary girl, far from the supernatural world, but her life changed too quickly.
***
Walking in the evening with a partner, with whom they often begged together, they came across the ill-fated maniac, who was dealing with his new victim.
Frightened, the girls gave themselves away, but were unable to run far. The killer turned into a monster and quickly caught up with the unlucky witnesses. Driven into a dead end, they were unable to defend themselves. Her partner fell into hysterics and became the werewolf's first victim. Erica watched in horror as the monster delightedly tore the child's body into pieces, eating some of them.
Unable to escape, but not wanting to just be eaten, Erica grabbed a small penknife from her pocket. With a trembling hand, the girl held the weapon aimed at the approaching werewolf, understanding the futility of her situation, but not giving up.
— Funny prey, — the monster growled, frightening the girl even more.
— Agreed, — a new voice sounded. — What a wonderful fighting spirit.
— What? — the werewolf did not have time to turn around, as his head flew off his shoulders.
Behind the monster, Erica saw a white-haired young man with a sword in his hands and dressed in a business suit. He snapped his finger and the werewolf's carcass burst into purple flames. A few seconds later, not a single piece of dust remained.
— You were lucky today, girl, — he said with a smile. — If I had not decided to look at a living werewolf, then you could have shared the fate of your friend.
— W-what will happen to me now?
— Under normal circumstances, I would have simply erased your memory of this incident, — the blond said with a shrug, — but you surprised me. Besides, you remind me a little of me as a child, so I will give you a chance. If you can complete this task, then I will fulfill your request.
***
— So, what do you want? — Kiyoshi's voice pulled her out of her memories.
She couldn't sleep all night, thinking about what had happened and her life. Towards morning, Erica was finally able to make a choice. Fortunately or not, it wasn't the kind priest who saved her, but the head of the bandits.
— Take me with you.
— What are you talking about?
— I want to become like you, — the girl looked into the blond's eyes with firm determination. — So take me with you, teach me, make me stronger. I don't want to be here anymore, live in a family of alcoholics, constantly beg on the street and get beaten.
Phoenix carefully studied Erica's face. A minute later, he laughed cheerfully and stroked the girl's head.
— Ha-ha-ha! And you really are funny, but I want to warn you: it will be very difficult and you will also have to see many unpleasant things, like last night.
— I will not give up and will do everything necessary!
— Ha! Okay, — agreed Zankoku. — It would be sad to simply erase your memory. You have good potential, — Taking Erica by the hand, a magic circle lit up under them. — Now I will introduce you to my family. Stay with them for now, and I need to go on business.
Leaving the girl surrounded by his family, Kiyoshi headed to the Yasaka Temple. After capturing one of the best exorcists and the owner of the second most powerful Longinus "Zenith Storm", the time has come for the Heavens to tremble.