God Ash: Remnants of the fallen.

"I can't afford to waste any more time here," Cain said through clenched teeth.

"That was the agreement we had. As long as you do not complete these challenges, you will stay here with me until I feel like letting you go." Azazel said with a smile.

'This freaking snake!' Anger bubbled within his heart, but he knew he wouldn't be able to do anything or go against the will of this ancient demon who was way more powerful than he was.

Seeing that Cain had fallen silent, Azazel nodded in satisfaction and placed a hand on his shoulder, preparing to whisk him back to the site of his trial grounds to put him through hell again.

This time, things played out a little bit differently...

Time seemed to freeze around the demon, causing his eyes to go wide. Even Cain who stood before him seemed to have been frozen in time. The space around him also began to distort and shift.

'I am under attack? By who?' Despite the suddenness of the attack, the demon of sorcery was known for his coolheadedness amid battle.

"Dismantle." Casting a spell, a magic circle filled with complicated and advanced runes appeared before him and seeped into the surrounding space, attempting to destroy the magic that was trying to attack him.

However, just a brief second later, his magic circle exploded into thousands of little bright lights.

"W-what is this?!" Azazel couldn't believe his eyes as he stared at the broken pieces of his magic circle.

'My magic was destroyed?! No, overwritten?! Nobody in the entire universe should have the power to do this! Not even Tian!' Azazel's eyes seemed to burn like embers as he prepared to take the upcoming battle completely seriously.

"Seems like you finally found where you dropped all your guts, Azazel..." A voice that contained unimaginable power seeped into Azazel's ears, causing his eyes to go wide.

'T-this! This voice!' A look of absolute disbelief appeared on Azazel's face.

Starting around, Azazel realized he had been transported to a strange dimension. This dimension consisted of only a large floating Island and an endlessly dark void.

"Show yourself!" Fear appeared on the demon's face as he yelled into the abyssal darkness. The light of magic burst forth from him as he tried to make sense of what was going on.

'It is impossible. He died so long ago, unable to even reincarnate. I'm sure of it... If that is so, then this person is most likely an imposter, or this is an illusion. However, an illusion that can fool me must be some illusion.'

A deep rumble raced through the void as a giant figure immediately appeared, causing Azazel's soul to get stuck in his throat...

The figure of a huge golden dragon suddenly appeared, before Azazel, causing him to move a few steps backward.

"I-Impossible!" Azazel still couldn't believe his eyes despite trying to convince himself that what he was seeing was an illusion.

"Long time no see, Fallen angel..." Ashur said with a smile as he stared at Azazel.

"M-my Lord!" Falling face-first to the ground, Azazel's heart was filled with all sorts of emotions.

"H-how are you still alive?! It should be impossible for anyone killed by the heavenly emperor to have even the slightest chance of reincarnation, not to talk of surviving..." Azazel said on the verge of tears, deep confusion etched onto his face.

His body shivered with all sorts of emotions, but joy was the most prevalent of them all...

"Well, I am dead. And I haven't reincarnated..." The golden dragon said mysteriously.

"I don't understand your words, My Lord..." Azazel said with humility. This Azazel was many times different from the Azazel Cain was used to.

"It is quite difficult to explain, but in simpler terms, I rewrote destiny and fate. Pretty neat, right? HAHAHA!" The golden dragon let out a boisterous laugh that shook the dark space around them.

"Rewrote destiny and fate?" Azazel said, a strange look on his face. Suddenly, his eyes turned wide, "You don't mean!"

"This is exactly why you were my top student. So smart I can barely keep anything from your intelligent mind." Ashur said with a draconic grin that looked more like a snarl than a smile.

"In other words, I and the boy are the same. Not two beings in one, not a reincarnated soul... We are the same... It will just take him some time to gain my(our) memories."

"My Lord, what about the war we left unfinished?" Azazel said, embers burning in his eyes.

"Frankly, I thought I wouldn't have been able to meet you again. I was quite convinced you would have been killed by Tian by now. As for the war, let's just say I have a few plans of my own..." Ashur said, his loud dragon voice reducing in tempo, becoming extremely menacing.

"A lot has happened since you left, Lord Ashur," Azazel said, deepening his bow.

"Is that so... Then, I'd like to ask for your help. I need a lot of resources to grow. However, I do not want you to help him(me) too much. Do you understand my words?" Ashur said seriously.

"I do, My Lord." Still maintaining his bow, Azazel drove his fist not the ground, "I deeply apologise, My Lord! If I had known, I wouldn't have put you through so much suffering." Azszel said, his body twitching and his pupils dilating from fear and shame.

"Eh? You do not need to mind that. I'd like you to arrange more trials in the future. I want my body to be properly forged with suffering so it will be able to take Tian on once again. Don't think I will be dropping old grudges as that battle is far from over. However, I do as that you let him(me) go for now.

Some things need to be done that just can't wait." Ashur said, his words containing several meanings.

"I understand, My Lord. I will do as you command." Azazel said. The tears at the corners of his eyes seemed ready to fall at any moment.

Staring at the fallen angel who called himself a demon, Ashur had a smile on his face, "You are kind, Azazel. You didn't know who I was when I arrived at the entrance of your cave, yet you saved me from certain death. If not for you, It would have taken me much longer to deliver vengeance onto Tian."

"I would gladly do it again, My Lord! I would even sacrifice my life for you." Tears flooded his eyes and spewed forth like broken dams. The tears of a being such as Azazel were incredibly powerful and contained mana so potent, it could turn barren worlds into planets filled with life.

"That's good... Now then, you best get going. He(I) doesn't know anything, so it would be best if you mentor him. If I interfere too much, he will end up becoming just like I had been in the past. Since that didn't work, I'm afraid we will need to look for another way to defeat Tian. And I am sure he will find it this time." The golden dragon said in a deep rumbling voice.

"I will do whatever it takes to make sure you sit on your rightful throne, My Lord," Azazel said with a smile.

"Hahaha! That's the spirit. The Azazel I know doesn't have such a sad expression." Ashur did with a laugh before turning away.

The space immediately began to warp, and Azazel found himself back on Prometheus standing with his hand stretched out toward Cain.

The years in his eyes quickly evaporated, and a smile made its way onto his face once again...

"However, it seems I might be willing to change my mind."

Cain stared at the suspicious smile on the demon's face with raised brows, 'Whatever this demon is planning can't be good. However, if it will get me out of here, then...'

"Cain, I have a proposal for you," Azazel said. Taking a tag that was described with numerous runes out of thin air, Azazel walked closer to Cain, causing the latter to become wary.

With a smile, Azazel began to speak, "If you agree to these terms, then I will be sending you back to your planet on the earthly plane. I'll even throw in a few rewards for you for passing my first challenge."

"What's the catch this time?" Cain said with a frown.

"This tag will allow you passage to this planet once thirty days have passed after its activation. If you agree, then you will be allowed to go back to your world for thirty days before you will be brought back here to complete the remaining challenges. Do you agree?"

The look on Cain's face became even more interesting, "Is that all? Are you sure you aren't lying to me?"

"Eh? Why would I lie? I haven't told you a single lie so far, right?" Azazel said with a small laugh.

"Well, that's true... However, I have a few conditions of my own..." Cain said, a grin suddenly appearing across his face.

"Oh? And what might that be?" Azazel said with a surprised look that didn't seem very surprised.

"Well, a goddess placed a curse on me and-"

"Please ask for another thing... While I might possess powers that defy logic and even border the realm of the celestials, I can not face the power of a true celestial." Azazel explained.

"Oh, in that case, I want to raise my level as quickly as possible," Cain said with a determined face.

"That won't be a problem. Follow me..." Azazel said, placing his hand on Cain's shoulder and teleporting away.