The Damned Demon

Grace moved swiftly and quietly down the eerily silent corridor, her youthful, voluptuous figure exuding confidence after a dose of Eternum.

Her brown eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she glanced around, alert and poised, with Amelia and Yui cautiously trailing behind her. The trio moved with wary steps, weapons raised and ready, fully expecting to engage in fierce combat against the tower’s guards.

Yet as they advanced, an unnerving sight unfolded before them. The hallway, lit by flickering emergency lights, was littered with carnage—guards lay sprawled across the floor, their bodies grotesquely torn apart, limbs scattered, flesh and blood smearing the metallic surfaces. It was a horrific scene, almost unreal in its brutality.

“Did some train run through these guys?” Grace mumbled in amusement.

Amelia’s steps faltered as she whispered shakily, disbelief heavy in her voice, “Who…who did this? The Judge sent his people, but we only saw a few of them, right? There’s no way they could have taken down hundreds of guards this quickly.”

Yui’s eyes darted nervously across the gruesome scene, her heart pounding erratically. “Maybe…it was someone very powerful,” she mumbled anxiously, her small frame trembling slightly. “Whoever it was must have already left.”

Grace suddenly froze in place, eyes narrowing sharply, senses heightened. “No,” she murmured coldly, voice steady and cautious. “The one responsible is still here.”

Grace’s abrupt stillness made Amelia and Yui instantly whirl around, their hearts nearly stopping at the sight that greeted them.

Standing at the far end of the hall was a pale, haunting figure, her eyes crackling with a dark yellow lightning—Anna, the dreaded Thundering Reaper.

Her lab dress was torn, stained with blood, her body visibly shaking as she panted heavily, looking as though she had pushed herself beyond her limits.

Amelia and Yui’s eyes instantly widened with terror, pain and anger rising sharply in their chests as they quickly raised the stolen rifles, pointing them shakily at Anna. Their hearts ached fiercely, vividly remembering the brutal death of Emiko by the hands of the woman now standing before them.

“You!” Amelia’s voice was thick with fury and anguish, her finger trembling violently on the trigger. “You killed Emiko! You have to pay for what you did!”

Yui’s delicate body shook, tears already pooling in her eyes, her rifle wavering, yet still aimed firmly at Anna. The memory was still haunting her.

Anna’s gaze softened with pain, guilt radiating from her as she stared into their hate-filled eyes.

Her breath hitched painfully, and she swallowed heavily, forcing herself to speak. “I know,” she whispered hoarsely, voice thick with emotion. “I know what I’ve done to you all, and I promise…I will accept any punishment you give. But please—please first help me find Arthur. He’s not here in this tower. Derek is holding him somewhere else, and we need to save him before it’s too late. Derek must be using him…to blackmail his father. That’s the only reason I could think of.”

Grace’s eyes narrowed further, a flicker of suspicion and concern crossing her elegant features, while Amelia and Yui gasped in stunned realization.

“Damn it,” Amelia snarled bitterly, lowering her weapon slightly. “That bastard…he’s using Asher’s own son to force him to back off?”

Yui trembled, panic filling her voice, “We have to save him quickly, or Master won’t be able to face Derek at all!”

Grace’s expression hardened in understanding, her voice low and calculating. “If Arthur isn’t in this tower, Derek must’ve anticipated this place might get compromised. That explains why we never found controls to the Nexus Tower here. Arthur must be hidden somewhere else in this so-called Eternal City.”

As Grace spoke, an aged yet calm voice echoed powerfully from behind them, causing the trio to swiftly spin around.

“We will find him together.”

Standing tall, eyes resolute, was Hiroto—the Judge. Beside him stood Rachel, relief and anxiety evident on her features, and Cecilia carefully supporting the aged, frail figure of Aira. Behind them stood another woman—a tall, bewitchingly beautiful demoness with terrifyingly enchanting crimson eyes.

“Rachel!” Amelia’s voice was suddenly thick with joy, relief flooding her expression as tears filled her eyes. She rushed forward, abandoning caution as Rachel also moved quickly, their reunion tight and emotional.

“Amelia!” Rachel whispered gratefully, squeezing her friend tightly, overwhelmed to finally see her safe after so long.

Cecilia felt moved seeing her daughter reunite with her childhood best friend. Finally, something good happened after all these heart-breaking moments.

Yet Grace’s focus sharpened quickly on the two unfamiliar women. Stepping forward cautiously, eyes narrowed, she spoke firmly, “Who…are these two?” She couldn’t help but put up her guard slightly since she was unable to see through this demoness and that meant she had to be terrifyingly strong!

Rachel and Amelia gently pulled apart, Amelia’s curious gaze now shifting towards Cecilia and the unknown demoness. Rachel sighed softly, knowing the questions burning in Amelia’s heart.

Hiroto began to speak but halted respectfully as the demoness elegantly stepped forward, placing herself confidently before the group. Her crimson eyes swept coolly over them all, her voice rich, calm, and commanding, “Allow me.”

She paused, her presence undeniably powerful, regal, intimidating yet gracefully poised. “I am Layla Drake, Asher’s mother-in-law.” She then gently gestured toward the frail, elderly figure of Aira beside Cecilia, adding calmly, “And that poor lady beside me is my son-in-law’s first wife, Aira. Someone you are all quite familiar with, I presume. She is the reason we all came together like this.”

A stunned silence filled the air briefly, broken only by Amelia’s incredulous voice. “Excuse me?”

Her disbelief was palpable, her eyes widening as she looked from Layla to Aira and back again. “Asher’s mother-in-law…and Aira? But she disappeared so long ago… How is she here, and why does she look like…”

Aira finally spoke, her aged voice weary but resolute, cutting through the confusion. “We don’t have time for explanations right now,” she said softly yet firmly. “We have to find my son, Arthur. But to do that, you all will need to hold off Derek’s armies gathering outside this tower. I know exactly where Arthur is being held.”

“It won’t take much for me to bleed them dry,” Layla said with a resentful, cold smile.

Grace stepped forward decisively, determination flashing in her eyes as she clapped her hands sharply. “Wait. Most of them don’t even know Derek is manipulating them. Are we really supposed to kill the good ones too just because they don’t know the truth?”

“You are suggesting we be merciful when time is running out?” Layla asked with a displeased look.

Grace sighed and shook her head, “I never said we have to be merciful. But we can bring them over to our side if we let them know the truth. This entire tower reeks of Derek’s bullshit lies. Isn’t it easy to expose him now?”

Aira and Hiroto briefly exchanged glances before Hiroto stepped forward, his voice solemn, “The Huntress is right.” He looked at Layla and added, “Even if you are a low level Soul Tyrant, Derek’s forces outside can still hold you off by using their combined strength. Our side doesn’t even have few hundreds left to fight this war for us. Most of them died trying to sabotage this tower and now only we are left.”

Layla narrowed her eyes, deeply pondering on his words before slowly nodding, “Fine. Then let’s do what you think is best if she is not objecting,” Saying so, Layla briefly glanced at Aira, knowing that Aira must also agree with this plan for her to be silent.

Anna took a deep, steadying breath, stepping forward with fierce resolve burning within her pale features. “I’ll get my suit, and I’ll do whatever it takes to save him. I promise you.”

Aira’s eyes softened warmly, gazing gently at Anna, her voice unexpectedly gentle and understanding, “Arthur is lucky to have you, Anna. Don’t let your past burden your heart. Only the future matters now.”

Anna’s eyes trembled, tears welling gently as she met Aira’s compassionate gaze, emotion thickening her voice, “I…I don’t deserve your kind words but…thank you.”

Aira smiled softly, her frail hand gently squeezing Cecilia’s shoulder for support. “The past holds mistakes for all of us, Anna. But it’s the courage to change our future that truly matters.”

Anna slowly nodded, determination rekindling fiercely within her chest, gratitude washing over her troubled heart.

Grace stepped forward once again, her voice echoing with finality, “Then let’s prepare. There’s no turning back from this fight. Either we succeed together…or we fall.”

—-

The skies above Mars swirled ominously, clouds of crimson and gray swirling like dark omens, casting a dim, unsettling gloom over the Eternal City. The looming silhouette of the Infinity Tower stood defiant, yet oddly silent, its once brilliant exterior now shadowed and bleak.

Arrayed before the tower, stretching across the wide open plaza, stood a terrifyingly vast force of Hunters. Numbering hundreds of thousands, their presence was a formidable sea of battle-hardened warriors, a seemingly endless line bristling with heavy armor, sharp weapons, and powerful artillery pointed squarely at the sealed gates.

At their front stood Gregory Hart, his posture stiff with frustration, hands clasped tightly behind his back as he gazed darkly at the silent structure before him. His bright green eyes flashed bitterly, deep lines of worry creasing his forehead, fingers absent-mindedly stroking his neatly groomed blonde beard.

“Fuck,” Gregory cursed softly under his breath, anxiety dripping from every syllable. He turned slightly toward the elegant young woman beside him—his daughter Lena, a near-perfect reflection of his features softened by feminine grace and confidence. “How am I supposed to answer Derek and my father when they find out we let the Infinity Tower get sabotaged? Shit…almost everything we learned and researched is in there.”

Lena Hart shook her head gently, a calm confidence radiating from her. Her long blonde hair cascaded smoothly down her back, shimmering faintly in the dim, eerie glow. With a reassuring smile, she lightly patted her father’s tense shoulder, her bright green eyes reflecting steely resolve.

“Don’t worry, Father,” she said with smooth certainty, her voice carrying the steady assurance Gregory desperately needed. “Why do you think Derek stationed us outside the tower in the first place? He anticipated the Judge might attempt something reckless. Besides, we both know they can’t control the Nexus Tower from within that building. They’ve trapped themselves—just sitting ducks waiting for us to cut them down. This is actually a win for us by delivering themselves to us.”

Gregory blinked, turning slowly to fully face his daughter, his expression gradually relaxing into genuine admiration and relief at her sharp analysis. A relieved chuckle escaped his lips, the tension visibly easing from his shoulders.

“Ah, you’re absolutely right, Lena,” Gregory murmured appreciatively, pride swelling faintly in his chest. “Derek must have planned for this contingency.”

Drawing himself up, Gregory turned decisively toward the assembled army. His voice rose powerfully, cutting sharply through the murmuring ranks, echoing with command and fierce determination:

“Hunters! Do not hold back! Breach the tower and finish every last one of those traitors inside! Show no mercy! They are no different than demons by taking their side!”

A thunderous roar erupted from the army in response, weapons raised aggressively as battle cries filled the air, the fierce resolve of hundreds of thousands promising a swift and merciless reckoning.

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