768  Echoes of Corruption               "This girl . . ." Desira gritted her teeth and slapped Lethargia's head in frustration. "I TOLD YOU NOT TO SLEEP!"

Lethargia tumbled to the floor, emitting loud snores with her eyes wide open.

"Her face is quite scary when she's sleeping with her eyes open," Elena commented.

"Hmm . . . just get it over with," Lethargia mumbled and closed her eyes.

"What? What is she saying?" Lorelai leaned over, curious.

"I think she's giving us permission to just take the corruption within her," Vivi said.

"Then don't mind if we do." Desira faced Azazel, and her demeanor turned 360 degrees. "Lord Azazel, you can now extract the corruption from her as you please and let's leave here her and went on with our journey."

"That doesn't sound nice," Vivi commented. "

"Shut up. Who told you that demons are nice?" Desira retorted. "And besides, she's only going to be a hindrance if we bring her along with us. Who's going to drag her while she's asleep, you?"

Vivi looked away. "We can just use magic and pull her body with us."

"That sounded worse," Elena commented.

Azazel ignored their banter and approached Lethargia. He extended his hand, fingers reaching out. The atmosphere itself seemed to shiver with anticipation as the dark tendrils of corruption responded to his call. Azazel began the extraction process, his hand hovering over Lethargia's form. A palpable darkness, like an ethereal miasma, started to unfurl from Lethargia's prone figure. The corruption, a sinister force, slithered and coiled as if reluctant to leave its host.

A dark swirl of suffocating energy emerged from Lethargia, manifesting as an otherworldly vortex. It twisted and danced, an ominous ballet of power that painted the air with shadows. The very essence of corruption, once nestled within Lethargia, now took on a tangible form as it migrated toward Azazel.

As the corruption flowed into Azazel's outstretched hand, a strange and potent energy crackled in the air. It was as if the very fabric of reality was tinged with an unnatural power, sending ripples through the surroundings.

The dark energy coursed through him, infusing him with newfound strength and vitality. With each passing moment, he grew taller, regaining a majestic stature. His countenance matured a little, lines of experience etched onto his once-youthful face.

The air seemed charged with an unspoken authority as Azazel absorbed the corruption, harnessing its dark potential. The very essence of Lethargia's burden now became a source of empowerment, reshaping Azazel into a figure of formidable presence.

The once-subdued shadows that surrounded Lethargia now found a new home within Azazel. As the last vestiges of corruption were absorbed, an eerie calm settled over the scene, marking the completion of their mission here. "Lord Azazel . . . How are you feeling?" Desira asked, breaking the silence.

Azazel stretched his arms and flexed his hands. "Ah, I can see that some of my powers have returned. However, to get back to my former self, it would take not just the corruption but years of hard work as well."

Desira smiled. "That's good to hear. And don't worry, I'm here by your side all the way."

"You mean 'we,' right? I'm here too," Vivi interjected.

"You can just go home, midget. I am enough to protect Lord Azazel."

Vivi frowned and grumbled like a child. "Don't forget that you almost killed him a while ago."

Desira caught her tongue and gritted her teeth. "That was because of the corruption! It won't happen again!"

While the two were engaged in their bickering, and Azazel was still adjusting to the sudden powers he had acquired, Ren went to Lethargia and tapped her shoulder until she woke up.

"You are . . ." Lethargia groggily said, blinking her tired eyes, "Who are you again?"

Ren wasn't perturbed that she already forgot about him; he kind of expected it from her already. "I'm Ren."

"Right . . . good night , Ren . . ."

"Wait, do you have the recipes from Vanadon-Necroth's lair?" Ren hastily asked her before she could get a chance to close her eyes.

"Vanadon . . . Necroth?" Lethargia looked sleepily over the ceiling and thought for a moment. "Ah . . . I did have it."

"Did?"

"Avaris took it from me . . ." she said without care and suddenly feel asleep.

Ren didn't bother with her anymore since it was faster if he asked about Avaris from Azazel and the others.

"Avaris?" Desira said those words with disgust.

"Avaris, huh?" Vivi seconded with a sigh.

"Hmm . . ." Azazel was silent and in deep thought as well.

"What? What's wrong with this demon?" Lorelai asked, baffled.

"Ah . . . Avaris is the Warlord of Greed," said Desira. "He is as greedy as he is ugly."

"He's a trickster. He would trick you out of anything in your possession, especially if he likes something you have. He would surely get it at all costs," Vivi added.

"Speaking of that guy, he has brought a lot of trouble to us in the past," Desira said, her face warping in anger. "Now that I think about it, I want to punch his face all of a sudden."

Ren and the others looked at each other. "So he's the Warlord of Greed."

"If I remember correctly, his territory is the next stop from here," Azazel said.

"Do you want to go there next, Lord Azazel?" Desira asked. "As much as I want to bypass that infuriating guy, I would do whatever you want. Just tell the magic words."

"We're here, so we might as well go to him," Azazel said, his voice uncertain even to himself.

"Looks like another troublesome guy based on their reactions," Lorelai said.

"Wait . . ." Elena interjected. "If we're going to get this corruption from all of the warlords, would you be alright? What would happen if you get all the corruption?"

Azazel grinned widely and lightly elbowed Elena with a laugh. "What's this? Are you worried about me? Nyahaha. I didn't know that you care about me that much."

"Huh?!" Desira was shocked, and she immediately bared her fangs and sharp glares at Elena. "Is that true?! Are you my rival in love as well?! You can never really trust anyone right now!"