The Devil Returns

Assayah and Kenchi were both terrified and started to shiver. Assayah looked around and said nervously, "Start the arrangements. Master Xao Chang has arrived." All ran towards their respective positions and soon music and fireworks started to echo all over the Monastery. The smoke faded and three figures appeared. Along with Ichi Nakamura and Demon Lord of Hell, Gayumb, there stood the monstrous devil, Xao Chang. He looked at Assayah and Kenchi and smiled, "How are you, my boys? I heard that you guys are having way too much fun in my absence." Assayah said nervously, "That is not true, Master. We have done all our work diligently." Xao Chang said, "So, that means I'm telling lies, isn't it?" Assayah said, "I didn't mean that. People have no job but to fill ears with nonsense. We are as diligent as a horse." Xao Chang laughed, "Really doesn't matter now. I have changed much after the mediation. I longer feel angry on small and nonsense matters. In fact, I am forgiving any mishaps that happened in my absence. Go and prepare food. We are very hungry. Living on air and water doesn't really gives much nutrition to the body." Kenchi smiled, "Right away, Master." Xao Chang smiled, "The Monastery looks quite fresh and different. Many things have changed since I last visited it. I will like to take a tour of the Monastery after the food." Kenchi smiled, "Sure, master. Giving you a tour of the new and majestic Monastery will be an honour for me." Xao Chang said, "I don't see Kayuba anywhere. Is he not going to welcome me?" Assayah said, "You know how he is, Master. He is currently unavailable and we are trying to find him." Xao Chang looked at Ichi and said, "Go and find Kayuba. I have something to discuss with him." Kenchi asked, "What do you want to discuss with him, Master?" Xao Chang said, "It is none of your business, Kenchi. Go and do your own job." Kenchi went away with a frown. Xao Chang looked at Assayah and asked, "So, how does it feel to live amongst the mortals? Have they changed or are still the same jolly clowns?" Assayah replied, "Mortals have discovered and invented many new things since the First War. They now have automobiles, cell phones, dishwashers, televisions and many other things that has made their lives more comfortable. Cognitive development is occurring at a gradual rate day by day and new technologies are emerging with the growth of science." Xao Chang said, "I am not asking about these bullshit. I want to know what growth they have done on moral grounds. Are they still theist or become a little more materialistic? Have they started to see the world by the eyes of self-satisfaction and greed? Have they started to break those houses of worship and build places of the Devil? Have all my prophecies came true?" Assayah replied, "Yes. Mortals are very immoral now and all they think is greed and corruption." Xao Chang smiled, "Good. Very good. Now, it will be much easier to plant seeds of anarchy and there will be destruction and chaos all around the world in no time."

All the demons were sitting at the dining table and were quietly eating their food. Assayah slowly asked, "So, for how much time will you stay in the Monastery, Sir Nakamura?" Nakamura looked at Assayah and said slowly, "I am here for a long time now. Master Chang has ordered me to go and look for the Blood Spear and bring it to him. Your incompetency has made many demons angry in the Underworld. Bacca personally recommended my name to Master Chang." Assayah said, "Oh, I see." Kenchi looked at Gayumb and asked, "What are your intentions, Lord Gayumb?" Gayumb looked at Kenchi and smiled, "Don't ask me my intentions, Kenchi. You might not like it." Kenchi smiled, "Why? Are they naughty?" Gayumb laughed, "Only if you are a sadist. Brother Chang has told me to eliminate all the obstacles that are hindering our progress. That also includes lazy lads like you." Assayah asked, "Would you like more bread, Master Xao Chang?" Xao Chang said, "No, I'm full. Let's go and see what new modifications have you guys done in my absence. Actually, for now just guide me to my room. I'm extremely tired and want to sleep very badly. We will discuss further topics later in the evening." Assayah guided Xao Chang to his room and closed the door behind him.

All went to the bar room and Assayah poured an old Asian rice wine to Ichi Nakamura and two bottles of Tennessee Whiskey to Gayumb. Ichi asked, "So, I heard that you have a lady in your life now, Assayah? How is she? Is she beautiful or just average?" Assayah said, "She is very beautiful and kind at heart. She overlooked all my faults and accepted me with full heart. She was the best woman of my life." Gayumb asked, "Was?" Assayah replied sadly, "She was killed by a motherfucker and I couldn't do anything about it. Wish it was me who had died that day." Ichi patted his shoulder and said, "I understand your pain, Assayah. I, too lost my woman years ago. Her name was Hana. She was as white as snow and her voice was melodious like a nightingale. But, those ruthless marauders didn't spare anyone. We, men fought them on the hills and those bastards sneaked inside our houses and raped our women. Hana was five months pregnant at that time. She killed herself to save her honor from those monsters. I couldn't save her nor could avenge her death. Because I was weak and mortal. But, now I can avenge her death and nobody can stop me. But, all those bastards are long dead and the fire inside my heart is still alive." Gayumb laughed, "Hapless lovers. Love is a delusional thing, brothers. It is a false hope of pleasure disguised for just lust. We don't feel love for anyone, we just feel lust. Lust for their body, lust for their money, lust for their power, lust for their lust. Only lust is there. No such thing as bloody love in this bloody selfish world." Kenchi asked, "Who broke your heart, Lord Gayumb?" Gayumb laughed, "No one. But, all I see and hear is this bullshit crap called love. I killed for love. I committed crime for love, I did this for love, I did that for love. Love! Love! Love! I don't want love. I want sex and children. I have no time for caring for anyone except only myself." He fell on the table drunk. Ichi smiled, "What will this idiot know about love? He spent his entire life in Hell. Surrounded by carnage and hate. He is filled with just selfishness and jealousy. Don't listen to him. Love is a beautiful thing. The most noble of feelings. This is the only feeling that happens unintentionally. But, don't be like me. Find character for yourself. Hana would have wanted me to find character too, but for me it was too late. But, it is not late for you. Find love again." He rose and walked outside the room. Kenchi asked, "Will you help me pick Gayumb? He is too heavy." Assayah said, "Let him be here." He walked towards the door and walked outside. Kenchi took out a glass and poured some rum. He drank it and sighed, "Nakamura is right. Everyone deserves love in their life. But, unfortunately for me that is not in my fate. But, maybe one day when I have all the power and riches, I will look for love. I will also feel the high of love and drown myself in the misery of it. I will one day love someone more than my life." He laughed and went away.

Assayah woke up the next morning, still a little drunk. He looked around and saw that he was lying in the bathtub and the water was red. He looked at his hand which was bleeding immensely. He tried to remember what happened after he entered his room and how his hand got injured. He tried to remember hard, but all he could remember was that he fell in the bathtub and fell unconscious. He slowly walked towards the bed and bandaged his hand. He wore dry clothes and walked outside towards the bar. Gayumb was still asleep there and was snoring loudly. Assayah poured some alcohol on his wound and drank the remaining alcohol left in the bottle. He slowly walked outside and sniffed a little. Last night he catch a cold and one of his nose got blocked. He sat on the sofa in the living room and lit a hookah and smoked it. He slowly fell asleep again. He lied there for several hours till a glass of water woke him up. He opened his eyes and saw Kenchi was standing there laughing at him. Assayah asked angrily, "Can't you have one day without being a pain in the ass?" Kenchi smiled, "Wake up, bro. Master Xao Chang is expecting us at the breakfast table. I was just saving you from punishment." Assayah said, "Go and bring a towel. I will change the clothes and come." Kenchi smiled, "Actually, it's 5 in the morning. Everyone is still asleep. I just woke up for a drink when I saw you sleeping here like a sloth. So, I decided to make you a little soaked." Kenchi laughed and ran away. Assayah mumbled, "What a jerk!" He yawned and fell asleep again. He woke up when a ghost shook him up. Assayah asked, "What happened?" The ghost replied, "It is 10 in the morning. Everyone is expecting you at the breakfast table." Assayah said, "Yeah. I'm going to join in a few minutes." The ghost said, "Don't be too late. Lord Xao Chang is not like Lord Bacca." Assayah said, "You don't have to say it." He brushed and walked outside his room. He looked at everyone who were quietly sitting at their respective seats. Xao Chang was sitting in the big chair, eyes closed and chanting something. Assayah quietly sat on the chair and flipped his plate. Xao Chang opened his eyes and looked at each of them carefully and smiled, "All these years, I stayed inside the womb of Earth, mediating and thinking of new ways to defeat the elves. I was all alone, no one to talk, no one to see or anyone to hear. Success needs patience and most importantly, sacrifice. My life was hard and insufferable, yet I sustained myself and attained knowledge for the betterment of the Monastery. But, when I see and hear things like incompetency of my soldiers and weak emotions of them are controlling their minds and diverting them from their true duties, it hurts me deeply. I feel that all these years of hard work and dedication has gone to waste. There is no future for me or you or any demon present in the Monastery. That we all are just waste products that lie without any use or purpose. I'm not saying that emotions are bogus, they are very real. The fire that is burning in our hearts is fuelled by the emotions of our mind. But, just like only gasoline can burn the fire and not water, our emotions that are dedicated to our cause can only benefit the Monastery. Love, hate, envy, greed, disappointment, anxiety, nervousness all are just a delusion. What is the role of the person matters the most and not what the additional surplus he carries on his back. I might have been not present here, but don't think that I am not aware of all the events that happened in my absence. All of us are connected with the bond of blood and I know what is in your minds. So, are you willing to throw away all these useless emotions out of your mind and accept the true purpose of your lives? Are you ready for the upcoming war against those elves? Are you?"

Everyone looked at Assayah and Kenchi as they lowered their heads in shame. Xao Chang walked towards them and hugged them and smiled, "I don't want to rebuke you or make you feel ashamed. We all were humans once and so it is natural for us to feel human emotions. But, we are no longer humans right now, we are soldiers. Soldiers with a great vision and firm confidence. So, leave behind all those silly thoughts behind and walk with me towards a future where there is no humans or elves, but only demons. We will be the most powerful beings on Earth and that day, we don't have to find happiness, it will be already inside us." Kenchi and Assayah looked at each other and frowned. Xao Chang pulled them closer and said, "And remember one thing, boys. I might be less violent now, but don't dare mistake me too be lenient. I am still capable of making your all nightmares come true." He smiled and went towards his chair. Xao Chang smiled, "There is no haste, Kenchi and Assayah. No progress is without dedication and there is no dedication if you are not willful towards the cause." He looked at Gayumb and said, "Find Kayuba. Search for him everywhere and once you find him, snap his neck for me." Xao Chang smiled and started eating. Assayah and Kenchi looked at each other and sighed...