A note from OdkrasI apologize for the dey; my ptop broke down and I only recently got it repaired, or so I think. I'll try to post regurly.

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  He didn’t know whether his pn would work against these two demons, but there was no other choice. No matter how fast they were, they couldn’t outrun something flying above their heads.

  Waiting around wasn’t an option either, so Kus ran at full speed toward the demons. When he reached a rge building, he abruptly changed course and burst through the door.

  The nearest demon carried a spear, just like the previous one. Seeing his target enter the building, it flew into a rage and soared straight toward it.

  When it reached the entrance, its wings folded in and vanished. It stared at the door for a brief moment before stepping forward.

  Pierce!

  The instant it took its first step, a sword thrust through it from behind. Still stunned, it turned its head—only to see Kus standing there. A moment ter, everything went bck.

  When Kus pulled his sword free, a bck aura coated its edge. He felt the dark energy merging with his flesh, making him stronger.

  Before, he had been slightly weaker than a demon. Now, he was stronger than one. The confidence he had lost earlier returned.

  GROOAAAARGHH!

  The roar of the second demon echoed dangerously close. Kus grabbed the fallen demon’s spear and turned around.

  Behind him, the remaining demon was flying toward him. Kus spun with force, adding momentum to the spear before hurling it forward.

  The spear whistled through the air. With barely any time to react, the demon could only shift slightly. Though it avoided a fatal blow, the spear pierced through one of its wings.

  It began to lose altitude, swaying in the air before crashing to the ground. It knelt briefly, then stood without a word, staring coldly at Kus as it drew its weapons.

  Kus was surprised.

  The demon wielded an axe in its left hand and a sword in its right.

  It was an unusual combination. Worse still, unlike Kus, this demon looked experienced.

  Kus had never truly handled a sword before. Yet ever since everything began, a thirst for blood had grown inside him. It was as if he instinctively knew how to fight.

  But instinct did not make him a master.

  He raised his sword and charged.

  Cnk!

  The demon blocked with its axe and countered with its sword. Kus hadn’t expected such a response and was too te to evade.

  The bde nearly pierced his shoulder, but the hood absorbed part of the impact, causing the sword to slide aside. Kus stumbled back before lunging forward with a thrust.

  The demon deflected the strike and swung its axe toward Kus’s head. Kus barely managed to block with both hands on his sword.

  Though he succeeded, the demon drove its knee into Kus’s stomach, sending him rolling several meters away.

  Coughing, Kus forced himself up. The demon hadn’t moved a single step since the fight began.

  Frustration welled inside him. He didn’t know how to break through that defense.

  In the future, I’ll improve my swordsmanship, he thought bitterly.

  After a brief pause, Kus charged again. But halfway there, his body seemed to sink into the ground—until he vanished.

  The demon froze, scanning the surroundings.

  It failed to notice the shadow behind it.

  Pierce!

  By the time it reacted, a silver tip protruded from its throat. Moments ter, it colpsed.

  As Kus pulled back his sword, he noticed the bck aura still coating its edge.

  Cp. Cp. Cp.

  Appuse echoed behind him.

  Kus instantly went on guard. A deep sense of danger flooded his mind.

  He hadn’t sensed anyone approaching. The man had appeared out of nowhere.

  Looking carefully, Kus saw a middle-aged man about two meters tall. Aside from his height and muscur build, nothing about him seemed unusual.

  Except for his strange smile.

  “Incredible. I’ve never seen anything like this. A human capable of killing a demon so easily—truly incredible.”

  Kus narrowed his eyes.

  “Who are you?”

  The smile widened.

  “My name is Legion. I’m the commander of that one over there.” He gestured casually toward the dead demon. “By the way, I have—”

  Whoooosh!

  Before he could finish, Kus shot forward and sshed.

  Cnk!

  Dust erupted around them. But what truly shocked Kus was this—

  The bde that had cut through everything so far was firmly caught in Legion’s bare hand.

  “It’s rude to interrupt others,” Legion said with that same smile.

  BAM!

  An invisible force struck Kus in the face, unching him ten meters back.

  It felt like being hit by a train. His vision blurred; a high-pitched ringing filled his ears.

  Suddenly, Legion vanished and reappeared beside him, crouching to observe him closely.

  “Now I see. You were blessed by an angel. Hmm… oh, I understand. Haha, I never would’ve imagined it.”

  With that, he grabbed Kus by the arm and flung him backward. Kus’s body flew over fifty meters before smming into the same wall where he had fought the first demon.

  The impact caved the wall inward. The little awareness Kus had regained vanished completely.

  The next instant, Legion stood before him again.

  “So Azrael didn’t intend to stay out of this after all. He even prepared a successor. I’m quite lucky. If I bring you to my lord, I’ll be rewarded with anything I desire.”

  As if recalling something, he gnced toward Alexa’s unconscious body.

  “That girl over there… was she blessed by an angel too? I’ve never tasted someone like you before. I’m sure no one will mind if she’s missing an arm or two.”

  With that, he began walking toward Alexa.

  Unaware that Kus had stopped breathing.

  His strength might surpass ordinary humans, but he was still human. After the impact, his heart had suddenly stopped.

  And he no longer breathed.

  Meanwhile, a dark energy began to envelop him.