[Chicago — The Infiltration]
In another city, particularly Chicago—
Hakimi slipped into one of the Heroes' HQ buildings. His voice was calm, but carried a warning.
> "Things are only going to get harder from here."
He slid a fake ID card into the scanner. A soft beep.
The door opened to reveal a room filled with people at their terminals, screens glowing with streams of classified data.
An information hub.
Hakimi's gaze hardened.
This was Demon's order.
He had been sent to collect intel right from the heroes' heart.
---
[Bangalore — The Calm Before the Storm]
Back in Bangalore—
Demon stood tall, unnervingly calm, finger relaxed on the trigger. The fight with the Ascenders had reached a tense stillness.
His mind burned, trying to shove the intoxicating gas out of his system.
Sophia, a senior student, stepped forward.
> "Why… why did you do it? You killed everyone in the Code. Am I right? Then tell me… why?"
Demon tilted his head, about to respond—
> "It's simple," Philip cut in. "They just wanted to. No reason. No heart. They care about nothing… not even themselves. Just look at him."
Another student spat in agreement.
> "He broke Capper's jaw. I'm not even sure Capper's alive."
Demon inhaled deeply, guarding his composure. Then—
A low laugh. Long, unhinged, drenched in madness.
> "What a tragedy. A fucking tragedy… hahaha! I can feel your souls loosening.
Sorry, kitties, I'm not dying today. You want to feel better? Come beat the hell out of me. I dare you! I'll devour your souls! Let's go beyond—until even Oni shivers in his chamber!"
---
[The Gas Takes Hold]
Suddenly—
Blood trickled from Demon's nose… then poured from his mouth.
He stumbled, knees threatening to give way.
What—what's happening…?
> "Finally… the gas is working," Delta's voice came through comms.
Lexy and the others in the military force lit up with relief. The stone has fallen.
---
[Bunny's Defiance]
Bunny's eyes widened.
> "No. No, he can't go down now. He's strong—stronger than anyone I know! He can't be this weak!"
Bella glanced at her, frowning.
> "What do you mean by that?"
Bunny didn't answer.
She stepped forward until she was only a few meters from Demon, her voice sharp and trembling with anger.
> "Hey, love… c'mon. You're better than this. You're fucking strong—so stop acting like a wet-ass pussy. Please. I'm begging you… don't prove me wrong."
---
[The Word That Changed the Air]
Demon stared at her.
Blood still poured from his lips.
Those eyes… why does she look like that? Who does she remind me of…?
His vision blurred—
A face appeared in his mind. The same eyes.
> "…Mom."
The battlefield went silent.
> "Did he just say… mom?" a student whispered.
"Looks like he does have some humanity after all," another muttered.
---
[A Mother's Voice]
Demon's heart pounded.
Memory after memory surged forward—
His mother's final words:
> "Go beyond it all. You are a king. You are a conqueror. Push further. You are my son… so I love you, no matter what."
Her voice echoed in his skull like a war drum.
He straightened, blood still on his chin.
---
[The Rise]
Calmly, he spoke—his voice low but heavy.
> "Kisama no tamashii mo seishin mo, michi o shinkan saseru.
(Your soul and your mind will shake the unknown to its core.)"
The students froze.
The president of the Heroes' Association allowed the faintest smile to form.
> "Did he just… speak Japanese?" Lexy whispered.
Bunny's lips curved into a soft, knowing chuckle.
She watched Demon rise, determination blazing in his eyes.