9 grades of hell

Once he was done, Ashrann was added to his collection. Summoning it, he held the hammer in his hand, feeling it pulse with raw energy, almost as if it could not wait to unleash destruction. Surprisingly light compared to how it looked, the weapon made him momentarily question its effectiveness.

To test it, he slammed Ashrann against the ground. The impact reverberated through the area, jolting him upward as cracks spidered outward, the earth splitting as though a meteor had struck the spot.

Tela, wandering lost in the garden, came rushing toward the commotion. "Oy! Have they found a way to break through the gate?" he called, panic evident in his voice. Even Oliver bounded forward, alert and on guard.

Seeing that it was just Renny, Tela sucked his teeth in exasperation, muttering insults before walking away, shaking his head. Oliver jumped around Renny, still cautious, but Renny reassured him, patting the hound's head. "It's nothing," he said, then urged him, "Go on now, run along."

After purchasing everything he needed, it was finally time to begin his contract. Unlike his grade mates, who had started theirs back in January, Renny was only beginning in August. That left him just four months to complete i, any longer, and he would be forced to repeat until next July, a troublesome possibility he was determined to avoid.

Dressed in his usual demon uniform, which somehow blended seamlessly into the setting, he made his way to Caleb's church on a Sunday morning. The moment he stepped inside, he felt the weight of the sanctuary, how profoundly holy it was, and an uncomfortable sense of awe settled over him. He silently complimented the Royals on creating such a realistic and immersive training environment.

Renny was ushered to a seat and took it quietly. Scanning the congregation, he suspected that some of the attendees had soul guards of varying tiers watching over them. He couldn't see any outright, but he guessed they were likely hiding in the Shadow Realm, keeping their presence discreet for now.

Caleb, as expected, was seated at the altar alongside the other assistant pastors. Observing him up close, Renny's first impression was of someone firmly rooted in his beliefs. The smiles he wore and the occasional responses he offered during the preacher's sermon all spoke of conviction and sincerity. All Renny could think was how troublesome this target would be to break.

When the service ended, Renny lingered, watching Caleb meet with his family, his mother and two step-siblings. His stepfather, however, was noticeably absent, which immediately caught Renny's attention; it was a small detail he might be able to use later.

As Caleb engaged with his family, Pastor Alden Graves, the man who had led the sermon, approached Renny. They exchanged greetings politely, and the pastor asked, "Are you new here? I don't believe I've seen you before. You should have stepped forward when newcomers were acknowledged."

Renny replied smoothly, "Oh, I'm not new. I just rarely attend services."

The pastor nodded, a knowing smile on his face. "Is that so? I could tell."

Renny raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

Pastor Alden leaned back slightly, his gaze steady. "I get a very weary feeling from you," he said quietly. "One that screams… danger. A feeling in the back of my mind telling me to cast you away."

Renny smirked. "Isn't that an odd thing for a pastor to say to a member of his church?"

The pastor shrugged. "Yes, it is. But I'm not even sure you're a member here. Something tells me… you might be the devil himself."

Renny smiled, dropping his head slightly. "I appreciate the flattery, Pastor. But that's not possible, is it?"

Pastor Alden fixed him with a steady look. "You tell me."

Renny fell silent.

After a moment, the pastor's tone softened. "May I have your name?"

"John," Renny replied.

"John… what?"

"Garcia. John Garcia," he said smoothly.

The pastor studied him skeptically. "Well, Mr. Garcia, if that truly is your name, know that the members of this congregation are protected by the divine, the All-Powerful. No weapon fashioned against any of them shall prosper."

Renny nodded. "Indeed."

Pastor Alden gave a small, approving smile. "I welcome you, Mr. Garcia, to my church, and I hope to see you again next Sunday."

"Sure," Renny said with a polite nod.

With that, Pastor Alden ushered him out of the building, his eyes lingering on Renny just a moment longer than usual.

On his way out, Renny found it both funny and ridiculous how Pastor Alden played his role so convincingly. The fact that this was all happening in Hell, yet he acted as if he were guiding lost souls on Earth was pure comedy to Renny. He couldn't help but smile as he walked toward the cab stand.

Just before leaving, he spotted Caleb and his family stepping out of the church. Caleb was in a heated argument with his mother, his frustration evident. Renny stopped for a moment to watch, curious. The exchange grew louder, more intense, until Pastor Alden intervened, his calm presence immediately defusing the tension.

The pastor glanced at Renny one more time, a subtle acknowledgment passing between them. Renny rolled his eyes, shaking his head at the performance, and slid into the cab. "Go," he told the driver, settling in for the next step of his contract.

***

Days passed as Renny put the plan together. Caleb's anchor wasn't money, status, or family, it was Pastor Alden. The pastor was the steady presence that kept Caleb's faith at ninety-plus percent even when the boy's home life fell apart. Whenever Caleb's mother tension flared or his stepfather grew distant, Alden stepped between them and put the pieces back. That made Alden the real target.

If Renny wanted Caleb's faith to crack, he had to remove the foundation holding it together.

So he researched. Where Alden worked, who he knew, what his past looked like, every scrap of paper, every rumor, every face in the pastor's orbit. He probed social threads, parish lists, and the pastor's public schedule. Nothing obvious surfaced to exploit. Alden had a Tier‑Three Soul Guard; a direct strike was suicide.

And yet something did catch Renny's eye: the church itself.