Ascending the tower with my SSS class

Uriel and Soliel walked through a city made entirely of carved stone. Around them were people like themselves, with skin resembling marble or stone itself. Uriel also noticed that the number of people with hair on their heads was, in fact, quite small, because he had only seen one—and that was Soliel.

He couldn’t help but wonder why that was.

"I still can’t believe you stayed awake all that time. It’s been almost a week."

It wasn’t anything remarkable for Uriel, really; in fact, it felt like very little time compared to his long wait in the void. It had been nothing more than a blink to him. During that time, he discovered several things.

One of them was that he was capable of eating dirt, stones, rocks, and gems, and that would keep him energized for several days. He only knew about the last ones because Soliel told him; the former he discovered when he started to feel hungry and, for some reason, the stones and earth began to look appetizing.

"How incredible is that? All I did was barely do anything."

"For a week... I think you’re not processing how serious that is. Maybe you really are crazy."

The truth was, he had quite enjoyed that time. For some reason, this body loved being close to Soliel, which was complicated: his human side felt a certain strangeness, yet his body still reacted to physical contact with her.

She must have been quite a beauty in this place, because people wouldn’t stop staring at her as they passed by. Some even made suggestive remarks, so he simply stopped perceiving vibrations through his horns.

Some even fully activated their orbs just to look at her.

"Anyway, where exactly are we going?"

"To prepare ourselves, of course."

Which meant they were here to get weapons and equipment, most likely—which was good. Uriel would prefer to be armed if any creature decided to attack him at a time like this.

At last, the two arrived at a large structure made of stone and gems. Inside, the sound of something being destroyed echoed, like glass shattering.

At what seemed to be the entrance, there stood what would probably be considered a small child for this species.

"Hello! What do you want, sir, and the beautiful Lady Soliel?"

Soliel sent out vibrations that felt warm and maternal. Somehow, this was a side of her Uriel had never seen before.

"Little one, we’re looking for your father. Have you seen him?"

"Oh, yes! He’s a bit sad while forging my brother."

What was he doing... what? That was Uriel’s first thought upon hearing that.

"I’m sorry for your loss, but even so, tell him that Soliel has come to collect his debt."

"Oh... okay..."

The child seemed quite serious at the mention of debts. It clearly worried him, so he didn’t argue and went to fetch his father.

After a few moments, the child returned.

"Father says you may come in. Please follow me, I’ll take you to him."

Uriel entered alongside Soliel, and what he saw shocked him. In front of him, hanging and scattered everywhere—on the table, even on the floor—were piles of body parts. There were heads, feet, arms... all kinds of body parts. Yet this didn’t seem to affect either of the two people accompanying him—only him. Apparently, this was normal. Perhaps it was a morgue or a cemetery, but why would Soliel come to a place like this? Or why had the child used the word "forge"?

Finally, they reached the child’s father, who was hammering body parts, fusing them into blocks.

"Soliel, even in my moments of mourning, you do nothing but bother me."

"I am ashamed; however, the situation demands it. This town will also disappear within the next week—you know that, don’t you? So I came here so that at least you can contribute in some way to our survival."

She wasn’t ashamed in the slightest; she didn’t even try to mask that fact. But the most surprising thing was that the old man didn’t even flinch at her words, as if he had long expected this to happen. But if he didn’t care, what about the child? Would he also die?

"So the moment has finally come... ahhh... I would have liked my children to live at least a little longer."

What did he mean? Did he have more children besides these?

His gaze shifted to Uriel. It was a cold, deep look, analyzing him from head to toe.

"Maybe Soliel accepts you, but if you want me to, you’ll have to be accepted by my son."

The man lifted a massive two-handed hammer—the one he had been forging all this time. Uriel placed his hand on the handle, and suddenly, an electric current shook his entire body.

However, it grew weaker and weaker until it finally disappeared.

"Good... it seems he doesn’t dislike you. That’s good."

Uriel had no idea what he was talking about; he was still trying to process how the weapon he had just lifted was the older brother of the child who had greeted them moments ago.

"Ahhhh... may I at least say goodbye to my son, Soliel?"

"Yes, of course. This place still has some time left; you may take all the time you need."

Uriel looked at both of them.

"Hey, what the hell are you talking about?"

Soliel, of course, was the first to respond.

"Don’t you know? The weapons of our people are made from their own relatives. Normally it’s done when someone has died, but the result is better and more powerful when living people are used."

Uriel couldn’t comprehend what he was hearing.

"Why go that far? Don’t you love your son? And you, Soliel—how can you be willing for something like this to happen?"

He was horrified. Watching people die against a monster was one thing, but turning your child into a weapon was something entirely different. No matter how much time eroded him, it was a cruel act.

However, the answer didn’t come from Soliel or the father.

"Sir, it’s okay. They already explained it to me. I will become the sword that will allow Lady Soliel to save our people."

Uriel couldn’t believe he accepted it so easily.