Chapter 12

In the Zodiacs' headquarters' prison

"Hey, Giganto. Can't you use your magic?" asks Hermins.

"You've been so noisy, Hermins! I told you I don't have enough energy. I need to eat some humans before I can use my magic again," replies Giganto.

"Then you should be able to use your magic if you have enough energy, right? Why can't I use my magic, too? Hey, Jean! Can you use your magic?" asks Hermins.

"I can't use my powers, either," replies Jean.

"Weird! Jean and I are not tired," says Hermins.

"I'm starting to understand this shield's ability. It's possible that it can only shackle someone whose maximum power is below the user. I guess my power is greater than the Zodiacs' Chief's," says Giganto.

Click!

Creak...

There's the sound of a door opening.

Step... Step...

The sound of footsteps approaches the three of them.

"Hi. My name is Gunther. I'm in the interrogation department! You could say I'm your nightmare!"

Gunther takes a chair and sit in front of the three demons while holding a book.

"Alright. Tell me your names. Starting with the biggest one," says Gunther as he took a pen from his shirt pocket.

"Tch! Why would we obey a weak human like you?!" says Hermins.

"Alright, then. A foul-mouthed demon named Hermins, a big silent demon named Giganto, and a demon... Hmm... You look more like a human than a demon. Why did you join those stupid demons, Jean?" mocks Gunther.

"If it wasn't for this shield, I'd have finished you off!" says Hermins.

"You sure are cocky, for a weak demon. Weak creatures usually like to talk big. Alright, now I want to ask you a question," says Gunther.

Gunther puts his book and pen on the table and asks the three demons. "What's your purpose in wreaking havoc at school?"

The three of them ignore Gunther's question.

"Well, I'll pick one of you to answer the question correctly," says Gunther.

"Even if we die, we won't tell you!! You're going to die, you weakling!!" snaps Hermins.

"Okay. It's decided. Looks like the one with the most to say is the Potty Mouth. Alright. I'll ask you one more time. What's your purpose in wreaking havoc at school? Are you looking for something important to you?" asks Gunther with a more serious face.

"It's useless! We won't talk!" snaps Hermins.

"Well, there's no other choice. Arrows of the Truth!! Let me tell you how these arrows work. If a person is shot by this arrow, then they will feel tremendous pain like an electric shock of 10.000 volts for 2 seconds. Now answer my question. What's your goal?"

Gunther aims his crossbow at Hermins.

"No way!!" shouts Hermins.

Swish...

Thump!

Zap!

"Arrgghhh!! Damn it!! Aaargghh!!" Hermins immediately falls to the ground.

"Well, now answer my question. Ah yes. This is just for your information. As long as the arrow is still stuck in your body, every question of mine that you don't answer will make the arrow hurts 5x more than the first time you were hit by it," says Gunther.

"Ah- Ah- Huh- Huh. I told you! Even if I die, I won't answer!" snaps Hermins.

Zap!

Hermins is hit by so much electricity that she faints.

"Hermins! Are you okay?" asks Jean.

"She's not dead, just passed out. Well who's next?" asks Gunther.

"Me! Our goal is to collect pieces of the Soul Stone," replies Giganto.

"Good. That's better. So, what do you want to do with all the pieces that you've collected?"

Soul Stone is a stone that can make a person much stronger and can also heal creatures that are terminally ill and near death. Soul Stones can also summon spirits in the Hell Prison.

Giganto doesn't answer him.

"Why are you silent? That's fine. Arrows of the Truth!" Gunther aims his arrow at Giganto.

Suddenly, Gunther's phone rang.

Ring... Ring...

Gunther reaches into his shirt pocket for the phone. "Huh? Chief? Why is he calling me? Hello. What's up, Chief?"

"Gunther, come here for a moment. I have something to ask you," says Maximus.

"Alright. I'll be right there," replies Gunther.

Gunther hangs up the phone. "You two wait here for five minutes. I'll be back. You'd better be ready when I get back."

Gunther goes to see Maximus.

"Hey, Giganto. What should we do? We could both die a dumb death after this," says Jean.

"Hmm... I'm thinking of a way for us to get out," says Giganto.

"Please hurry. We don't have much time. That guy has a strange power," says Jean.

"Well, it looks like there's only one way we can get out," says Giganto.

"What is it? Hurry up and do it then," urges Jean.

"I will eat Hermins. Then I'll have the power to create a Black Hole and we can both get out of this place," says Giganto.

"Huh? You're crazy! Eating your own friend?" Jean is shocked to hear Giganto say that.

"If I don't eat Hermins, then the three of us will rot to death in this place! Hermins' condition has deteriorated anyway. Do you think it's better to divulge the secrets of our entire army like that?!" says Giganto sternly.

"Ah! I don't know! It's confusing. Well, just do what you think is right," says Jean.

Giganto eats Hermins to get his energy back, so that he could use the Black Hole to leave the Zodiacs' headquarters.

Click!

Creak...

Gunther re-enters the room.

"Giganto, are you able to use your magic yet? He's back," says Jean in a low voice.

"I need three more minutes to finish digesting it," replies Giganto.

"Now, which one of you would like to answer my question?" asks Gunther.

Giganto and Jean stands in front as if blocking Hermins' presence.

"Alright. One of you, start talking. I really don't want to force anyone to talk," says Gunther.

Gunther notices something strange. "Hey, where's Potty Mouth?"

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Meanwhile, at the fireworks display

"Hey, you two. Let's get on that fast train! We have to ride all the rides here! We can't miss any of them," says Petra.

Petra, Dominggus, and Daniel go ride all the rides at the fireworks display.

"It's really amazing. I don't want it to end soon. Yes, even though Dominggus and Daniel are having fun with Marie and Diana, the students of Salvador School. I look like a fool accompanying two friends on a double date. I wish I had someone I could take to the fireworks display."

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At the Zodiacs' headquarters

Ring... Ring...

"Ivar, do you have any reports on the situation there?" asks Maximus.

"Everything is safe here for the time being, Chief," replies Ivar.

"All right. Keep us informed of developments there. Don't take rash action if you see something strange. Confirm with the other members immediately," says Maximus.

"Yes, Sir!"

Immediately after hanging up the phone, Maximus notices that the Apocalypse Shield that shackles the three demons disappear.

"Oh! My shield was destroyed!! I need to get there immediately! Domino and Domina, come with me," says Maximus.

Slam!

The door slams.

"Gunther! Are you okay?" asks Maximus.

"I'm sorry, Chief. I tried to stop them, but my attacks didn't work against that demon named Giganto. He sucked up all of them," says Gunther.

"No way! How can he use his magic while inside my Apocalypse Shield?" mutters Maximus to himself.

"Alright. Now tell the rest of the members to be careful, 'cause these three demons have managed to escape. Now, we really need to be on the lookout for them," says Maximus.

Maximus instantly remembers Darius' words from back then.

"That big demon is dangerous! It can cast magic and suck in everything near it!" says Darius.

The Zodiacs takes extra precautions and patrols to prevent chaos like yesterday. Now, the Zodiacs know that the demon named Giganto can't only create a Black Hole, but also utilize it to teleport.

Gunther checks the scene carefully. He finds something strange.

"Chief, look at this. Isn't this blood?" asks Gunther.

"Where did this blood come from? Take a sample," says Maximus.

Gunther remembers that last time he has seen only two demons in this prison.

"I think I know. Just after being summoned to your place, I came back here and I only found those two demons. I think the demon named Hermins was hidden behind them, 'cause when I came back, Giganto and Jean were standing as if covering something. It turned out that they were covering up this blood mark! Maybe the demon named Giganto has eaten Hermins, so he has the power to use his power," says Gunther.

Since Gunther is in charge of interrogation, he can deduce better than any other Zodiac members.

"That could be it. Thank you for your hard work, Gunther. I'll check the blood at the lab," says Maximus as he walks away.