Royal Palace – Azreal's Room
Azreal sat in silence, the dim flicker of candlelight casting his shadow long across the marble floor. Fingers interlocked, brows furrowed, he whispered, "I believe Aria has made contact with Arian already. He's guiding her… which means, the next step is finding the real culprit."
He exhaled slowly, his eyes flickering toward a painting of Aria on the wall.
"I'm sorry, Aria," he murmured. "For tasking you with such a dangerous mission…"
But just then—a subtle shift in the air.
His eyes narrowed.
Behind the window, a shadow tightened its grip on a knife. The figure remained still—silent, deadly.
Azreal sighed. "You there… don't you think it's time you revealed yourself instead of just standing there? If you were sent to kill me, shouldn't you get on with it already?"
The shadow flinched.
A young woman stepped into the moonlight, the blade glinting ominously in her grasp.
"A girl, huh?" Azreal said with a raised brow.
With no hesitation, she hurled the knife.
Azreal tilted his neck slightly—whish—the blade whizzed past.
"Is that desperation I sense?" he asked calmly.
The girl smirked. "Just testing your skills."
"Oh? And how did I do?"
She chuckled. "You pass." Her hands moved in a blur—multiple knives flew like a storm.
Azreal snatched one mid-air, spinning it effortlessly to deflect the rest. They clattered to the floor, harmless.
"Not bad," she admitted, before launching one final blade.
He leaned left to dodge—but then sensed something. His eyes widened.
Turning sharply, he saw the knife veering toward Aria's painting.
In a blink, he vanished—reappearing before the painting, catching the knife an inch from its surface.
The assassin's eyes widened. "How did he—?"
Azreal crushed the blade slowly, cracks spreading like lightning through its metal.
A monstrous aura erupted from him. The air thickened—oxygen burning out of the room.
The girl gasped, trembling. "What's going on? I… I can't breathe…"
Azreal's voice dropped. "Didn't your mother teach you not to damage your elders' property?"
He flicked the broken knife—a thunderous force followed.
The girl drew her blade—but it shattered on impact. She was flung backward into the wall, coughing.
Azreal exhaled slowly, aura dimming.
Still determined, the girl hurled a full sachet of knives.
Azreal raised his fingers, compressing superheated air into sharp currents. He snapped his fingers—each knife shattered midair.
Steam hissed from his fingertips.
The assassin backed away, heart racing, sweat dripping. She reached the wall—trapped.
Azreal threw one final knife—a blur. It grazed her cheek and embedded into the wall behind her.
A thin cut bled on her face.
Fear.
"…They never said he was this strong," she muttered. "Damn those guys… Curse them…"
Azreal approached slowly, voice calm. "What's your name?"
The girl froze. "Shot… that's my code name."
Azreal's expression softened. "Still living by your protocol, huh? Alright, Shot. I won't kill you… I want to send a message."
Shot sighed. "Thank you…"
She turned—but Azreal grabbed her wrist.
A mischievous smile curled his lips. "Not so fast. You think I'll send you back just like that? How can I deliver a proper message if you walk out unharmed?"
Shot shuddered.
"Help me…" she whispered.
Azreal closed the window. Locked the door.
"Now… we're ready for business."
A scream echoed.
---
Palace Hall
Fredrick sipped his tea, unbothered. The muffled scream reached his ears.
He sighed. "Unfortunate girl. She'll now bear the brunt of trying to kill Lord Azreal. As usual, he'll leave a message behind…"
A maid clutched her apron. "What was that noise?"
Fredrick waved her off. "Get back to work. That's not your concern. Lord Azreal is… busy."
---
Fifth Gate of Hell – Ignovar
Aria stood before the towering iron door. With a deep breath, she swung it open.
Only to find… another door.
"Seriously?" she groaned.
Arian's voice echoed in her mind. "Shhh. Someone's there."
Peering through a crack, she spotted a hooded figure holding a test tube—ashes swirling inside.
"What's he doing?"
But her foot slipped—the door creaked.
The figure turned. "Who's there?"
Flames flared in his palm as he approached.
He opened the door—no one.
Footsteps faded as he disappeared into the library shelves.
From a secret passage in the wall, Aria emerged.
"Well, that was lucky."
She pushed the next door open—then gagged.
Bodies of souls. Blood. Syringes. Chains.
A demon infernal was strapped to a chair, trembling violently.
Aria stumbled out, nauseated.
"You alright?" Arian asked.
Aria nodded, shaking. "That's… disgusting."
Arian's voice was grim. "Someone's experimenting—turning souls into infernals. Artificially."
"But who—?"
FWOOSH. A circle of flames surrounded her.
A man stepped forward. "I knew someone was here. And look—it's the girl with the God's mark."
He smiled cruelly.
"Lucky me. Maybe you're the answer I've been looking for."
Aria flared her flames—cat ears forming, tails billowing behind her.
"I'm not going down without a fight!"
"Good," he grinned. "I like my prey bloodied."
Arian's voice rang in her mind. "You can't defeat him. If you get a chance—run."
"I know."
Aria's eyes glowed. Tails surged.
The figure—Xaldric—formed a flaming red bullet, dashing forward.
Clash! An explosion knocked Aria off her feet.
He caught her by the neck.
"Well, that was easier than I thought—"
Thud! Aria kicked him below the belt. He howled in pain as she ran.
In an instant, he reappeared before her.
"I won't let you escape!"
---
Dragon Manor – Drago's Room
Drago rose from bed, annoyed.
"Guard. Bring me Aria."
The guard bowed and ran.
Another man approached, bowing low. "My Lord, I heard you were found unconscious. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Don't bring it up again."
The guard returned. "She's… gone, my lord."
"What?"
He narrowed his eyes. "Where is she…? Syrix!"
She appeared instantly. "My lord?"
"Where is Aria?"
"I saw her head to Ignovar. I assumed it was on your orders…"
Dragos vanished.
---
Ignovar – Library of Flames
Aria backed away. Xaldric approached, clawed hands aflame.
"I never introduced myself," he said. "I'm Xaldric, librarian of the Fifth Gate. Pleasure, Lady Aria."
"Not for me!" she yelled.
"Don't worry… once I'm done, you'll be grateful."
Flaming claws extended. He lunged.
Aria closed her eyes. "Azreal, help—"
BANG!
A gust of wind. Xaldric was stopped.
Aria opened her eyes— "Azreal! I—wait… Lord Dragos?!"
Dragos hurled Xaldric into a wall.
He turned to her, furious. "I told you to stay in your room. What are you doing here?"
Boom! Xaldric attacked from behind—Dragos didn't even turn. He bent his head, caught Xaldric's arm, and burned it alive.
"Why did you attack me?"
Aria thought, He doesn't know about the horrors… He's not part of this…
She opened her mouth— "I'll explain—"
But Xaldric cut in, panicked. "She tried to steal the Sacred Book!"
"What?!" Aria shouted.
"I caught her and she attacked me!"
Dragos narrowed his eyes.
"Where's the book now?"
Xaldric stammered. "I-I…"
In a blink, Dragos gripped Xaldric's throat.
"The Sacred Book isn't in this library. Only the Elders and I know where it is. So how could she steal it?"
Xaldric's face twisted in fear. "Wait—"
Dragos opened his mouth.
Infernal Breath.
A roaring inferno engulfed Xaldric.
When the flames cleared… only bones remained.
Aria screamed.
Dragos turned, flames lining his face like glowing veins.
He exhaled slowly. The glow vanished.
"Show me," he said.
Aria nodded and led him to the lab.
Inside, Dragos saw the horrors—the experiments, the bodies.
His aura raged, heat rising so violently that the walls steamed.
"You okay?" Aria asked.
"…Of course."
He turned. "Let's go."
---
Final Gate of Hell
Azreal sat beside Hulk.
A guard stormed in, kneeling.
"My Lord, the Dragon Elders request an audience."
Azreal smirked. "The Dragon Elders…? Heh, it's been a while…"
---
To be continued…