"Dad… how did you defeat your first ranked devil?" a curious twelve-year-old William asked as he sat on the stairs, his hair being trimmed.
Carter hummed. "My first ranked devil… if I remember correctly, I fought one when I was still a cadet. Our team was taken down, and only I remained, along with four wounded members of my battalion."
Letting out a quiet sigh, the man glanced at the blue sky. "Back then, my senior had already humbled me enough to keep my head clear, even when that monster started absorbing my flames."
William's eyes widened. "That devil could absorb your flames?" In his mind, his father's attacks were absolute, meant to annihilate everything and leave nothing behind. The revelation shocked him.
Carter nodded gently, a faint smile forming on his lips. "That day, I learned that even your greatest weapon can become useless, or worse, be turned against you."
