Time seemed to slow.
Elena watched in horror as the glowing spear of light tore through the air toward her. The weapon radiated divine energy so powerful that the entire building vibrated from its presence.
She couldn't move.
Her body felt frozen.
The Devil's Mark on her chest burned violently, sending sharp waves of pain through her heart.
"Elena!"
Azrael moved first.
Dark power exploded from his body like a violent storm as he stepped directly in front of her.
The spear struck.
BOOM!
A massive explosion of light and shadow burst through the ruined building. The shockwave shattered the remaining windows and blew chunks of concrete across the floor.
The police officers trapped in the shadows screamed as the blast knocked them unconscious.
Dust and debris filled the air.
For a moment, Elena couldn't see anything.
Her ears rang loudly.
Then slowly, the dust began to settle.
She looked up.
Azrael was still standing in front of her.
But his wings were spread wide now, forming a massive shield around them.
The spear of light was embedded deep within his wing.
Black feathers burned where the holy energy touched them.
Elena gasped.
"Azrael!"
He didn't move.
His crimson eyes glowed dangerously as he stared upward at the angel standing on the broken roof.
"…You dare."
The spear suddenly shattered into fragments of fading light.
Azrael pulled the broken remains from his wing and dropped them to the ground.
The wound closed almost instantly.
The angel's glowing eyes narrowed.
"So the rumors were true."
Their voice echoed calmly through the building.
"The Demon Lord Azrael has formed a contract with a human."
Azrael stepped forward slowly.
The shadows around him twisted violently.
"You will regret attacking her."
The angel lifted their glowing spear again.
"That human bears a Devil's Mark."
Their golden wings spread wide.
"She is a threat to the balance of this world."
Elena felt fear crawl down her spine.
A threat?
Azrael's voice turned icy.
"She is under my protection."
Malrik suddenly appeared beside them again, brushing dust off his coat.
"Honestly," he sighed.
"I leave for five minutes and a war starts."
The angel's glowing eyes shifted toward him.
"Malrik."
Malrik waved lazily.
"Nice to see you too, angel."
The angel raised their weapon again.
"You demons should not exist in the human world."
Malrik shrugged.
"Yet here we are."
But Azrael's focus never left the angel.
"Elena."
She looked up at him.
"Yes?"
"Stay behind me."
Something in his voice made her heart race.
It wasn't just anger.
It was the quiet promise of destruction.
--
Miles away from the chaos, the luxurious Whitmore Mansion was silent.
Adrian Whitmore stood in his private office, staring at the large television screen mounted on the wall.
Breaking news footage played repeatedly.
"Earlier tonight, multiple police units responded to a suspicious incident involving Elena Hart…"
Images of flashing police lights filled the screen.
Adrian's expression remained unreadable.
Behind him, someone laughed softly.
"You look troubled."
Adrian turned around.
Lily Hart stood by the window, sipping a glass of wine.
She looked perfectly calm.
Too calm.
Adrian crossed his arms.
"Elena was seen at the scene."
Lily shrugged.
"Of course she was."
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"You don't seem surprised."
"Should I be?"
She walked slowly toward him.
"After all, she's a criminal now."
Adrian remained silent.
Lily stopped in front of him and placed her hand gently on his chest.
"You should stop worrying about her."
Her voice was soft.
"She made her choices."
Adrian stared down at her.
"…Did she?"
Lily's smile faltered for a split second.
But it quickly returned.
"Of course."
She leaned closer.
"You saw the evidence yourself."
Adrian looked away.
The truth was…
Something about that night had never felt right.
But before he could say anything—
The lights in the mansion suddenly flickered.
Both of them looked up.
Then every light in the room went out.
Darkness filled the office.
Lily frowned.
"What was that?"
A deep voice echoed through the shadows.
"…Interesting."
Both of them froze.
A tall figure slowly stepped out of the darkness.
Black wings folded behind his back.
His golden eyes glowed faintly.
Lily's glass of wine slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor.
"W-who are you?!"
The demon smiled slightly.
"My name is Valtheris."
His gaze moved toward Adrian.
"And I believe…"
His smile widened.
"…you are connected to the human carrying a Devil's Mark."
Adrian's heart skipped.
"Elena?"
Valtheris chuckled.
"Oh yes."
His wings unfolded slowly.
"And because of that…"
His eyes gleamed dangerously.
"You have become very interesting."
---
Back at the ruined building…
The night sky had turned chaotic.
Darkness and light clashed violently above the city.
The angel launched forward like a bolt of lightning, their glowing spear aimed directly at Azrael.
Azrael met the attack head-on.
Their powers collided with a thunderous explosion.
The ground cracked beneath their feet.
Malrik stepped back, watching the battle with mild amusement.
"Well…"
He sighed.
"This escalated quickly."
Behind him, Elena struggled to stand.
Her chest still burned where the Devil's Mark glowed.
"Why are they fighting because of me?" she whispered.
Malrik glanced at her.
"Because you're no longer just human."
Another violent explosion shook the building as Azrael and the angel clashed again.
Malrik continued calmly.
"That mark makes you valuable."
Elena shook her head.
"I don't want any of this."
Malrik smiled.
"Unfortunately…"
His golden eyes darkened slightly.
"You don't get to choose anymore."
Suddenly—
The Devil's Mark on Elena's chest flared brighter than ever before.
A surge of energy burst from her body.
Malrik's expression changed instantly.
"…Wait."
The energy spread across the building like a shockwave.
Azrael and the angel both stopped fighting.
Their eyes snapped toward Elena.
The ground beneath her feet began glowing with ancient symbols.
Malrik stared in disbelief.
"That's impossible."
Elena's heart pounded violently.
"What's happening to me?!"
Azrael's voice was filled with alarm.
"Elena, stop the mark!"
"I don't know how!"
The glowing symbols on the ground expanded rapidly.
The air split open above her like a tearing curtain.
A massive dark gate slowly began forming in the sky.
Malrik's usual playful expression vanished completely.
"…No."
His voice sounded genuinely shocked.
"Elena…"
Azrael's eyes widened as he stared at the forming gate.
"You didn't just summon a demon."
The gate continued opening.
Something enormous moved within the darkness beyond it.
Something ancient.
Something terrifying.
Malrik whispered slowly.
"…You just opened the Gate of Hell."
And something inside it was about to come out.