"Fuck this damn door." Lucian muttered as he saw what's in front of us.
So Joseph was right. It's another really huge door that probably needs to be opened. It's just 50 meters aways from us.
"How many doors do we need to open just to get to the other side?" Akana asked.
"According to Joseph the door isn't locked and we just need to push it open." I told her.
"I can't even make a key for this door." An unknown guy right beside me said.
An unknown guy? I hurriedly left his side.
"What the? Who are you? And where is Kai?" I asked the unknown guy. It's Kai who was beside me earlier.
"I am Kai. This is the real me." He answered.
"Nope, the Kai I know is a 23 plus year old, pale, above average looking guy." I insisted.
This guy in front of me is probably in his mid 30s already, and is all muscle. I couldn't even describe his face. It just looks perpetually angry. This can't be Kai. But I can clearly see the tattoo on his right arm. So he could be telling the truth.
"This is my real body."
"But what about your human body? So you mean it's fake?"
A body without a soul will just be decimate into dust in just seconds in this world. I just used it to disguise myself and to preserve my energy. Unlike the devil and the angel I can't last long in the human world because I'm not physically that powerful compared to them. So I need to use a human body."
"You killed him?"
"He was already dead when I found him. The devil provided me with the body." he explained.
"It's his time to go anyway." The devil said.
"So it's the devil who killed him." Akana concluded.
"Humans murder human. Creatures that kill human beings will be apprehended when they return to this world. Human blood leaves stains and it also leaves an awful scent that clings to the body of their non-human murderers. It's against our rule to kill humans. I just gather souls. I don't commit murders."
"Wait, if some non-human creatures can come and go as they please, why do we still need those keys to enter your world?" Akana asked.
"We need to use the backdoor. Because of Niccolo we can't use the usual channel. The council already controls them. We would be killed right away if they found us out.
In the human world we can only use twenty five percent of our ability. It drains us of our power. That's why some of us still need to return if we want to survive long." the angel explained.
" You're still more powerful than us humans." Akana exclaimed.
"In this world yes but in the human world we're not really that strong especially if we stray from our original mission. Humans have power over us. That's why we choose to hide and run away instead of facing those mercenaries."
"We could beat them but that would put a lot of strain on us. Other non-humans don't have a chance against humans with special abilities." the devil explained.
"You never told me about this truth before." I said to the devil. She really can't be trusted.
"Why should I when I know it will put us at a disadvantage."
"But don't get too cocky now. You no longer have the home court advantage. The angel butt in.
"Speaking of advantages, what is exactly behind that gigantic door?" Akana asked.
I glanced at her and was amazed that she wasn't even perturbed at Kai's changed appearance.
"You don't even look surprised, princess." I commented.
"I expected worse." Akana admitted. "You know like they'd grow an extra head or the angel here will turn into a biblically accurate angel. Or that the devil here will turn into a manly demon with three horns and a tail. I'm actually happy they didn't morphed into monster looking creatures."
" My name is Eeli and his name is Lucian and the ghost is Margareth. Call us by our name from now on since we're already here on the other side, " the devil reminded her.
Akana was right I'm also glad they didn't morphed into some nightmare inducing form. Oh wait. I suddenly touched my face. Since I'm only half human what if I morphed into something else?
" Don't worry you still look like you. Nothing changed." The ghost said.
"But don't you wish you transformed into some muscled guy like Kai here or be very tall person like the angel here or turned into a woman like this devil here." The ghost jokingly said.
"Nah he looks fine as he is." Akana said.
I smiled at what she said. Though a few mass on my muscles wouldn't hurt or a few centimeters in additional height will be good for my confidence. Or a larger… I looked down at my crotch area.
"Stop with your thoughts Niccolo. You're not here to score some women."
"What is he thinking? " Akana curiously asked.
"Nothing serious. Let's start opening that door already." I said before the devil starts talking again.
"Okay enough chit chat we need to open that huge door. What's behind it by the way?" Akana asked as she walked toward it.
"Wait." Kai stopped her.
"What?"
"Can't you hear something?"
I listened carefully. And Kai was right. I heard something growling. Sounds like an animal. I followed the direction to where the sound is coming from.
"Oh my God what the heck is that?" my eyes widened with surprise.
A giant three headed hound dog is guarding the door. Didnt notice it at first because it was a bit dark. But as soon as this monster steps into the light and out of the shadow we can now clearly see it. A huge door with a huge guard dog.
"That monster is a cerberus." Akana said.
"We're in hell." the ghost sounded excited.