Elena could barely breathe.
The burning sensation on her chest spread like fire beneath her skin, pulsing with every frantic beat of her heart. The glowing red symbol continued to grow brighter, its strange patterns twisting into a shape she had never seen before.
"Azrael…" she gasped, gripping the fabric of her dress.
"It hurts."
Azrael was already beside her.
The moment he saw the fully formed mark on her skin, his expression darkened.
For a being who rarely showed emotion, the look in his eyes now was unmistakable.
Concern.
He reached forward and grabbed her wrist, pulling her slightly closer.
"Stay still."
His voice was sharp.
Elena nodded weakly, though her body trembled from the pain.
The symbol on her chest pulsed again.
And the entire building seemed to respond.
The shadows along the walls trembled.
The air thickened with strange energy.
The officers trapped in the dark tendrils began whispering nervously.
"What's happening now?"
"That mark… it's glowing."
"Is this some kind of ritual?"
Azrael ignored them.
His attention remained locked on Elena.
He placed two fingers lightly against the glowing mark.
The moment he touched it—
A surge of dark energy burst outward.
The windows shattered.
The lights exploded.
The officers screamed as the shadows tightened around them again.
Elena cried out.
The pain in her chest intensified, forcing her to collapse to her knees.
"Ah—!"
Azrael immediately pulled his hand back.
His eyes narrowed.
"…Damn it."
Elena looked up at him through blurry vision.
"What… is happening to me?"
Azrael was silent for a moment.
Then he sighed softly.
"The contract."
Her breathing became uneven.
"But… we already made the contract."
"Yes."
"Then why does it feel like my heart is on fire?!"
Azrael crouched down so they were at eye level.
His crimson gaze softened slightly.
"Because the contract has just become real."
Elena frowned weakly.
"I thought it was already real."
"It was only a temporary binding."
His eyes moved briefly to the glowing mark.
"But now…"
His voice lowered.
"You have been recognized."
"Recognized?"
"By the demon realm."
Elena's stomach dropped.
"What?"
Azrael stood again, his expression growing serious.
"This mark is a Devil's Mark."
The officers nearby exchanged terrified looks.
One whispered shakily.
"…Devil's mark?"
Azrael continued speaking as if they didn't exist.
"It means you are now officially bound to a demon."
Elena swallowed hard.
"But… I'm already bound to you."
"Yes."
His gaze sharpened.
"And that is exactly the problem."
Elena blinked.
"I don't understand."
Azrael looked toward the broken windows where police lights flashed outside.
But his eyes weren't focused on the humans.
He was looking beyond them.
Far beyond.
Into something only he could sense.
"Now the others will know."
Elena felt her chest tighten again.
"Others…?"
Azrael turned back toward her.
"Demons."
Her blood ran cold.
"There are more… like you?"
Azrael gave a small, humorless smile.
"There are thousands."
Elena's head spun.
Thousands of demons.
"And they will know about me…?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Azrael crossed his arms.
"Because humans almost never survive forming a contract with a high-ranking demon."
Elena stared at him.
"…High-ranking?"
Azrael raised an eyebrow.
"You didn't think you summoned an ordinary demon, did you?"
Before she could respond—
A loud crash echoed outside.
Everyone turned toward the shattered windows.
Something had landed on the roof of the building.
Something heavy.
Something powerful.
The officers looked up nervously.
"What was that?"
Another loud thud followed.
This time closer.
Even Azrael's expression grew serious.
He whispered quietly.
"…Already?"
Elena's heart pounded again.
"What is it?"
Azrael didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he slowly spread his wings again.
Dark shadows gathered around him.
"The mark…"
He looked at her.
"…has attracted attention faster than I expected."
The roof above them suddenly cracked.
Dust rained down.
The officers screamed.
"What the hell?!"
A deep voice echoed from above.
Cold.
Powerful.
And filled with hostility.
"Well, well…"
The ceiling exploded.
Concrete and metal crashed to the ground as a massive figure dropped into the center of the building.
The officers shouted in terror.
"Another one?!"
The figure stood slowly, brushing dust from his shoulders.
Unlike Azrael, this demon's wings were not black.
They were silver.
Sharp like blades.
His eyes glowed bright gold.
And the moment he saw Elena—
His lips curled into a cruel smile.
"Well, this is interesting."
Azrael stepped forward instantly, placing himself between the demon and Elena.
His voice turned deadly cold.
"…Malrik."
The silver-winged demon chuckled.
"So it really is you, Azrael."
His golden eyes moved toward Elena again.
"And this must be the human."
Elena felt chills run down her spine.
Malrik tilted his head curiously.
"A human with a Devil's Mark…"
He laughed softly.
"That hasn't happened in centuries."
Azrael's shadows surged violently.
"Leave."
Malrik ignored him completely.
Instead, he walked slowly toward Elena.
Every step felt like the ground shaking beneath her.
"Tell me something, little human," he said with amusement.
"Did you know the demon you made a contract with…"
His golden eyes gleamed dangerously.
"…is the Demon Lord?"
Elena's mind went blank.
Demon…
Lord?
Her heart skipped.
She slowly looked at Azrael.
But the expression on his face told her everything.
Malrik's smile widened.
"Oh."
He looked delighted.
"You didn't know."
Elena's voice trembled.
"Azrael…"
But before she could finish—
Malrik suddenly vanished.
In the next second, he appeared right behind her.
Elena gasped.
His hand grabbed her arm.
"Let's see this mark properly."
Azrael's voice exploded with fury.
"DON'T TOUCH HER!"
The entire building shook.
Dark power burst from Azrael like a violent storm.
But Malrik only laughed.
Because now…
He was holding Elena.
And his golden eyes glowed with terrifying interest.
"Well now…"
He whispered near her ear.
"This changes everything."
Azrael's wings spread wider than ever before.
And for the first time—
The Demon Lord looked truly enraged.
"Let her go."
Malrik only smiled.
"No."