The moment Malrik's hand wrapped around Elena's arm, the temperature in the room dropped so sharply that frost began forming along the cracked windows.
Elena's breath caught in her throat.
His grip wasn't painfully tight, but there was something terrifying about it—something ancient and powerful that made her entire body tremble.
Behind her, she heard Azrael's voice.
Low.
Cold.
Filled with a fury so intense that even the shadows in the room trembled.
"Let. Her. Go."
The words were slow and deliberate, each one heavier than the last.
Malrik chuckled softly beside her.
"Elena, was it?" he murmured near her ear, ignoring Azrael completely.
Elena stiffened.
"How do you know my name?" she asked, her voice barely steady.
Malrik's golden eyes gleamed with amusement.
"The Devil's Mark tells us many things."
His gaze drifted to the glowing red symbol on her chest.
"And yours is… quite fascinating."
Azrael took a step forward.
The shadows beneath his feet surged violently like waves crashing against stone.
"Malrik," he warned.
The silver-winged demon sighed dramatically.
"You always ruin my fun."
Then he finally turned to face Azrael directly.
The tension between the two demons was suffocating.
Even the police officers trapped by Azrael's shadows had fallen completely silent, too terrified to make a sound.
Malrik tilted his head slightly.
"You look angry."
Azrael's crimson eyes glowed brighter.
"You're touching something that belongs to me."
Elena blinked in surprise.
Belongs…?
Malrik laughed loudly.
"Oh, this is rich."
His grip on Elena loosened slightly, though he still held her arm.
"A Demon Lord claiming a human as his possession."
He looked down at her with curiosity.
"Do you know how rare that is?"
Elena swallowed nervously.
"I didn't exactly plan any of this."
Malrik's smile widened.
"That's what makes it interesting."
Azrael's patience finally snapped.
The shadows exploded outward.
Dark tendrils shot across the floor like lightning, heading straight for Malrik.
But the silver-winged demon only smirked.
His golden eyes flashed.
In the next instant—
A brilliant silver barrier appeared around him.
The shadows slammed into it violently but shattered into black mist.
The force of the impact shook the entire building.
Concrete cracked beneath their feet.
Several police officers screamed in panic.
"This building's going to collapse!"
But neither demon seemed to care.
Azrael stepped forward again.
His wings spread wide, casting massive shadows across the ruined room.
"Release her."
Malrik raised an eyebrow.
"And if I don't?"
Azrael's voice dropped dangerously low.
"Then I will remove your head from your shoulders."
For a brief moment, silence filled the building.
Then Malrik burst into laughter.
"Oh, I missed this."
His wings unfolded slowly behind him.
Sharp.
Metallic.
Deadly.
"You always were the most entertaining of the Demon Lords."
Elena's heart nearly stopped.
Lords.
Plural.
Azrael wasn't the only one.
Malrik glanced down at her again.
"Don't worry, little human."
His voice was strangely calm.
"I'm not here to hurt you."
"That's not very comforting when you're holding me hostage," she muttered.
Malrik chuckled.
"Fair point."
Then he suddenly released her arm.
Elena stumbled slightly but quickly moved back toward Azrael.
The moment she reached him, his arm wrapped around her waist protectively.
The gesture was instinctive.
Possessive.
Elena felt the heat of his body through his coat, and despite the chaos around them, her racing heart calmed slightly.
Malrik noticed the movement and smirked.
"Well now."
He folded his arms.
"You really have grown attached."
Azrael ignored him.
Instead, he looked down at Elena.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head quickly.
"No."
But her voice trembled.
"I'm just… confused."
Azrael's expression softened slightly.
"I will explain later."
Malrik clapped slowly.
"How touching."
His golden eyes sparkled with amusement.
"A demon caring about a human."
He shook his head.
"The other Lords will find this hilarious."
Elena frowned.
"Other Lords?"
Malrik grinned.
"Oh yes."
He gestured toward Azrael.
"There are seven Demon Lords in existence."
Elena looked up at Azrael in shock.
"And you're one of them?"
Azrael didn't respond.
But his silence was answer enough.
Malrik continued.
"And now, thanks to that lovely mark on your chest…"
His gaze darkened slightly.
"You have become extremely valuable."
Elena felt a chill run through her spine.
"Valuable… how?"
Malrik leaned slightly closer.
"Humans rarely survive forming contracts with Demon Lords."
His smile turned dangerous.
"Which means your existence is… unique."
Azrael's shadows flared again.
"Stop talking."
Malrik sighed.
"You're no fun tonight."
Suddenly—
The glowing mark on Elena's chest pulsed again.
Bright.
Painfully bright.
She gasped as the burning sensation returned.
"Ah—!"
Azrael immediately grabbed her shoulders.
"Elena!"
The mark glowed brighter than before.
Strange red energy spread across her skin like veins of light.
Malrik's playful expression vanished instantly.
His eyes widened.
"Well… that's new."
Azrael's face hardened.
"It's activating again."
Elena gripped his arm tightly.
"It hurts…"
The energy around her intensified.
The ground beneath their feet trembled.
Outside, the police sirens suddenly stopped.
Complete silence filled the area.
Malrik slowly looked toward the sky through the broken ceiling.
His golden eyes narrowed.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Azrael followed his gaze.
And his expression immediately darkened.
Elena forced herself to look up as well.
High above the shattered roof—
A massive golden light was descending from the sky.
Bright.
Blinding.
Terrifying.
Wings made of pure light spread across the night sky.
Malrik groaned.
"Oh great."
Elena's voice shook.
"What… is that?"
Azrael's jaw tightened.
"Trouble."
The golden light grew brighter as the figure descended slowly toward the ruined building.
A calm but powerful voice echoed through the air.
"Demon Lords…"
The voice was neither angry nor loud.
But it carried divine authority.
"You have interfered with human affairs once again."
Elena felt her blood turn cold.
Azrael's shadows surged violently.
Malrik rubbed his forehead.
"This night just keeps getting worse."
The glowing figure finally landed on the broken roof.
Wings of radiant gold spread behind them.
A spear made of pure light appeared in their hand.
And their glowing eyes locked directly onto Elena.
"You."
Elena froze.
The angel pointed the spear at her.
"That human bears a Devil's Mark."
Azrael immediately stepped in front of her.
His voice was deadly calm.
"Leave."
The angel's wings flared.
"She must be purified."
Elena's heart dropped.
Purified?
Malrik sighed dramatically.
"Well…"
He cracked his neck.
"This just turned into a war."
Azrael's crimson eyes burned with dark fury.
The shadows around him grew thicker than ever before.
"Elena is under my protection."
The angel raised the glowing spear.
"Then you will fall with her."
And in the next second—
The spear of light was thrown directly at Elena.