Kelsey, Mai and Saige are practicing combat poses in Master Shik’wa’s backyard, as Master Shik’wa and Gregory watch from the side. The three go from a starting boxer pose, to a punch, to an upward kick, shouting, “Ha!”, as they do so. “So when do we get to facing each other?”, asks Saige. “In due time. First you have to learn the basics of Sen-Ro-Ku. From first the stance, to the punches, to the kicks.”, says Master Shik’wa. Suddenly, there’s a knock on Master Shik’wa’s door. “Ah, I must be getting popular. Excuse me.”, says Master Shik’wa. Master Shik’wa leaves to go through the house and answer the door. “Oi, who’s this!?”, everyone hears.

  Gregory, Kelsey, Mai and Saige then head to the door. They then see Roman and Jax there. “What happened to Senno?” asks Roman. Gregory comes up from behind Master Shik’wa and answers, “He’s gone.”. “Greg?”, says Roman. “Mind if they come inside so I can explain more? They’re friends of mine.”, says Gregory. “I do not mind.”, says Master Shik’wa.

  Next moment, they’re all sitting around a table, inside the shack. “Damn, so the geezer’s really gone. And you took his place.”, says Roman. “I wouldn’t call it taking his place. More so continuing his legacy.”, says Master Shik’wa. “Ay, whatever you say.”, says Roman. “Anyway, I got him training Mai, Saige and Kelsey.”, says Gregory. “No kidding huh. H-Hey wait, did you tell him about why we’re here.”, says Roman. “I understand you’re hunting Azrael.”, says Master Shik’wa.

  Roman looks toward Gregory, with a stern look. “I didn’t tell him anything. He more so guessed on his own. He doesn’t know the full details.”, says Gregory. “Alright, good.”, says Roman. “Alright alright.”, says Jax. “So how was it at that Queen’s place?”, asks Saige. “Queen Evelin? She’s actually a very nice lady. She actually was rehabilitating us by teaching us about meditation and learning us about how demons here aren’t bad.”, says Roman.

  “Huh.”, says Mai. “Yeah. Still wanna take out the demons outside these walls though.”, says Roman. “That’s fair to say.”, says Master Shik’wa. “Don’t worry, I know you’re one of the good ones.”, says Roman. “Uh really, one of the good ones?”, says Mai. “What? What did I say?”, asks Roman. Jax chuckles abit. “Either way, I know you can be trusted like Saige here. “What am I one of the good ones too?”, says Saige. They all chuckle. “Wait, that mean you finally accept that you could be a demon?”, says Gregory.

  “You know.. I still don’t know. I’m human, but what I heard that bird guy say.. about me being demon blooded, gots me thinking different.”, says Saige. “Bird guy?”, asks Roman. “It was a half bird half man who said they work directly for Azrael.”, says Gregory. “Half bird half man you say?”, asks Master Shik’wa. “You know who we’re talking about?”, asks Gregory. “Yes. His name is Renkuro and he’s apart of the Secret Upper Four.”, says Master Shik’wa.

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  “Who are they?”, asks Saige and Gregory in unison. The two then look at eachother. Master Shik’wa then explains, “The Secret Upper Four are a group of demons that closely serve Azrael. Each are as strong as a Demon General, if not stronger. They are also called the Secret Upper Four, because their existence and identities are kept secret from Humanity. But I could tell you their identity. “Really, you’d do that for us?”, asks Mai. “Of course. I no longer serve Azrael and I would like you to be prepared. The first is Renkuro. He has the power of invisibility.”, says Master Shik’wa. “No wonder why we couldn’t find him, he went invisible.”, says Mai.

  Master Shik’wa continues, “The second is Senko, ‘the enchantress of pleasure’, they like to call her. She has the ability to enchant others into falling in love with her. The third is Jaren. He has the ability to temporarily steal the abilities and health of others. And the fourth is Aros. Who has the ability to get stronger the angrier he gets. He’s also the son of Azrael.”

  “Wait wait, Azrael has a son?”, asks Saige. “Yeah, had no idea.”, says Mai. “That’s uh.. troublesome.”, says Gregory. “If Azrael has a son, imagine having two Azraels in the world.”, says Kelsey. “The important question is how do we defeat both of them, and the four for that matter.”, Mai wonders. “Well his powers work like my own.”, says Saige. Gregory just looks at him. “Guess I’ll have to beat his ass before beating Azrael.”, says Saige. “I think it depends on who we see first. Whoever we face first we defeat first.”, says Kelsey. “And first on the list is Azrael, unless his son shows up first.”, says Saige. “It’d be a problem if both of them were there though.”, says Mai. “Hold on, I gotta catch some air.”, says Gregory. “I’ll join you too. Hearing about how Azrael has a son now brings a new problem to the table.”, says Roman. Gregory and Roman go outside to the backyard and close the door behind them.

  “So.. Azrael has another son named, Aros.”, says Gregory. “And he matches Saige’s ability, right. Soo... this means our theory is checking out. But if he has another son...”, says Roman. “...this adds onto the problems we have. Like how is Saige supposed to beat both of them.”, says Gregory, completing Roman’s sentence. “I figure it’d have to be one at-a-time somehow.”, says Roman. “Probably... “Aros” huh. I wonder what he’s like.”, says Gregory as he looks at the sky.

  Meanwhile with Azrael...

  Azrael sits on a throne made of rock, while inside a cave. He has red skin, two horns protruding from his head and long white hair, while wearing a black winter jacket with a fur hood and black jeans. His long white, similar to Saige’s, flows over his backside and down the sides of his throne. Renkuro, the half bird half man then approaches Azrael and puts an arm across his chest, while greeting. “Your sire.”, says Renkuro to Azrael. “Renkuro, how has it been?”, asks Azrael. “Seems we have had a stir up. It appears Saige and a large group of his friends have headed to the Emerald Kingdom and stopped there for now. They may be trying to make their way to Diamante Kingdom.”, says Renkuro. “I thought you killed Gallus.”, asks Azrael. “I was sure I did. This is either coincidence or he might have told them your location with his last breath.”, says Renkuro. “Damn.”, says Azrael.

  A demon humanoid with red skin, two horns protruding from his head and long black hair and a black winter coat and jeans of his own comes out of the shadows and talks, “What’s the big deal, so they found your location. Father, let me handle them.”. “No Aros, this is too risky of a move to try early.”, says Azrael. “You’re just afraid I may end up killing Saige, is that it? I won’t kill him, just his friends.”, says Aros. “Enough! You will not attack!”, says Azrael. “Hmph. Very well.”, says Aros. “Renkuro, keep your eye on them and continue to watch where they go next. We will act depending on their next actions. For now, the both of you are dismissed.”, says Azrael. The two leave Azrael’s presence. “I wonder how this will play out.”, says Azrael.