Raven looked out at the city once more. The sun was fully up now, the sky a bright blue. A new day.
But not for the old world.
he turned from the window, staring at his small apartment. The place where he slept. The place where he existed without a life.
"I can't go back to the convenience store," he said—sudden realization. "Or the underground fight. Or that life."
"No," Azaelith appeared in front of the bed, sitting in a relaxed posture. "That life ended when you accepted the contract."
"So what now?"
Azaelith's smile widened—predatory, excited.
"Now? We survive. We become stronger. And maybe," her red eyes glinted, "we'll find out why demon contracts suddenly formed in this city. Why Spirit Tamer protections failed. Why malicious spirits became more aggressive."
Raven stared at her. "There's something bigger going on."
"Always." Azaelith stood, her translucent figure moving through the table without resistance. "But that's a concern for later. Now…"
She vanished—returning to a voice in Raven's head.
"You need sleep now. Your body is still adjusting. The contract drains your energy. Rest. Tomorrow, we begin training."
Raven stared at the bed. Fatigue suddenly hit—like all the adrenaline had vanished at once, leaving behind pure exhaustion.
he collapsed onto the mattress, not having time to remove his shoes.
His bloodshot eyes slowly closed.
And in the last second before he lost consciousness, he heard Azaelith's voice—softer this time, almost caring.
"Welcome to the other side, Raven Altair."
"Welcome to the darkness."
[Spirit Tamer Organization HQ - Central District, 15 km from Raven's apartment]
Kirana Vex stared at the holographic display in the briefing room. Data from the rooftop was displayed—energy signature, burn pattern analysis, residual demonic traces.
Behind her, the Director of the Tamer Organization stood—an elderly man with white hair, facial scars from dozens of battles. His name was Aldric Cross, a Tier-5 Tamer, a 40-year veteran.
"Assessment?" Aldric asked, his voice deep and authoritative.
Kirana didn't look up, focusing on the display. "Demon contract. Confirmed. Type unclear. Energy signature doesn't match any known demon types in our database."
"Contractor?"
"Still unknown. But based on the residual human energy mixed with demonic energy," she zoomed in on a specific data point, "the contractor is likely still alive. And a new contract will be formed—at most two hours from now."
Aldric stepped forward, staring at the display with sharp eyes despite his age. "New hybrid.Dangerous."
"Very." Kirana finally turned around. "Permission for full hunt deployment?"
Aldric paused for a moment, considering.
"Granted," he finally said. "Assemble a team. Tier-3 and Tier-4. I want the hybrid found within 48 hours."
"And if they resist?"
Aldric's eyes were cold as steel.
"Terminate. No exceptions."
Kirana nodded. "Understood."
She turned to leave, but Aldric added:
"Kirana."
She stopped.
"Be careful. Demon contracts may be new, but don't underestimate them. The most dangerous hybrids are the new ones—they're desperate, unpredictable, and have nothing to lose."
Kirana smiled faintly—no warmth.
"That's what makes them easy to kill, sir."
She left the room.
Aldric stared at the display once more—the swirling energy patterns, the demon symbol burning in the data.
"Hopefully," he muttered softly.
But at the edge of his mind—in the place where veteran instincts always whisper—
There was a feeling.
A feeling that this one was different.
[Raven's Apartment - The Next Morning]
Raven woke with a gasp.
A dream—or a memory? It wasn't clear. The faces of the victims. Fire. Azaelith's voice. Red eyes staring out of the darkness.
he sat up quickly, breathing fast but controlled. Morning light filtered through the gap in the curtains—it was already noon.
He looked down at his hands—they were the same as last night. Almost. His nails seemed slightly sharper, the veins beneath his skin darker, more pronounced. He straightened, then moved toward the bathroom, drawn by an unspoken urge. The mirror awaited him.
Red eyes stared back at him.
Real.
All of it was real.
"Good morning, partner."
Azaelith's voice echoed in his head—cheerful, far too cheerful for something that lived inside his mind.
Raven didn't answer. He only kept staring at his reflection.
The person in the mirror wasn't him. Or at least, not the man he used to be.
It was who he was now.
And there was no turning back.
His hand moved to his back, fingers brushing the marking there—still warm, still pulsing, as if it had a heartbeat of its own.
"What have I done?" he whispered.
"What you must do," Azaelith replied calmly. "Survive."
Raven lifted his gaze once more, meeting those red eyes in the mirror.
Slowly, a faint smile curved his lips.
Not a happy smile.
A resigned one—the smile of someone who had accepted his fate.
"There's no turning back," he murmured.
"No," Azaelith confirmed.
"Then…"
Raven turned away from the mirror and walked into the main room.
"…I'll embrace it."
Inside his head, Azaelith laughed—satisfied, thrilled.
"That's my contractor."
Raven stopped by the window, staring out at the bustling city below—a world going about its day, blissfully unaware of the darkness coiled beneath its surface.