the DEVIL [JJK+KTH]

|67| The Chrysalis of the Dead

Chapter 67: The Chrysalis of the Dead.

__________________________________________

Uhhh right. Hi.

Longest fucking chapter I've written in a while like this is a whopping 14.6k phew I've got no control.

Dont mind me the entirety of this chapter happens in the same time frame and I didnt want to cut it since my updates are inconsistent.

Okay clutch your purses and wigs everyone cause this is gonna be one HELL of a ride—

CONTENT WARNING:
•Blood.
•Mutilation.
•Body disfigurement
•Violence
•Gore and gore depictions.
•Mentions of crucifixation
•Lots of blood actually.
•Mentions of sexual abuse.
•Cannibalism.
•Death by stampede
•Mentions of organs/dislodged parts of body
•Mentions of sexual harassment.
•Choking/asphyxiation
•Noncon elements [towards the very end. It skirts off the category for what it's labeled, but just briefly]
•Mentions of vore.

I would recommend for those who're uncomfortable to skip but then again some of the key elements of this book are revealed here— so I can only ask you to tread with caution!!!!

Recommended music:
•Queen of the damned- Secession studios
•Fate of the Clock maker- Eternal Eclipse
• Heart of Darkness- Secession studios
•Axis - Tom Player
•Wait for it- Audiomachine
•Funeral March - 2wei
•Daughter of Hatred -Ted Reedy
•Imminent Ruination- Ryan Amon
•Confrontation - Neal Acree

(Play the last 3 songs for the finale of this chapter from mod way)

Happy Reading.

___________________________________________

Time had passed.

An hour or two perhaps... minutes away from the breaking of dawn, but even then there seemed no life that beckoned the sun.

The air was stagnant, with harrowing stench of blood and no leaf moved. No bird chirped. No mortal left behind within the accursed heart of the city drew breath.

And seemingly, the world too had come to a standstill.

The closer the Dawn was, the farther time seemed to stretch.

An ominous shadow had befell the mortal soil.

A sun-less dawn as the Earth bled, the spillage of the innocents seeping deep into the ground wherein the unfamiliar rejoiced, it's infernal shackles clanging at its gates to be set free upon the surface to satiate its hunger.

A land barren. A land of death.

A land that was swallowed by the Infinity Hells.

And deep within the folds of this enslaved land, the beacon of light walked through.

Yinan looked up, doing a quick headcount to rest the anxiety in her heart.

Segi had gone missing... not long before the fountains of the Heaven bled with the death of another Divine.

She was wary– of all the years she knew Segi, he was someone who was akin to twisted tricks. Not powerful enough to overthrow another Divine single-handedly, but deceiving enough if he had to be.

Suspicion hung in the air, their unity wasn't the strongest with doubt in their hearts and Yinan worried.

It was bad as it was, as they crept into the tunnel of Murky goo between buried human infrastructure. Broken boulders and steel pipes, embedded with the remains of countless human who failed to escape in time had morphed beyond recognition, to aid as a fuel to the hell spawns.

Yinan kept her calm for she knew it was too easy to lose their steadfast minds in the Miasma that she dared not to stray on her own.

Her Warriors were strong, she had faith— but not many can measure up to the gates of Hell.

She looked ahead, where the raven-haired Demon guided them through the tunnels. He was followed closely by Kiwoo, who insisted on keeping near watch on the creature so that their guide does not deceive them into tragedy.

Yinan understands Kiwoo's appeal, for she too did not trust the Demon, yet she cannot bring herself to object him knowing he has by far lead them safely and away from paths that were patrolled by other Hellspawns.

And even so, as something sinister brewed through these walls of flesh, the bleeding presence of their Guardian had everyone teetering on the edge.

Yinan had not once spoken to Namjoon after his exchange with the Demon on the surface.

She could have.... would have... if not for the storm she had seen on his face.

Yinan although centuries old, was still young when measured to ancient beings like the Guardian.

She had not seen him in his prime of time, where he once carried her title— the scriptures that sung praises of his virtue and victories.

His kindness.

His ruthlessness.

She now understands it a bit, when she couldn't comprehend how Namjoon of all could be titled ruthless. It felt wrong when she learnt about it as a fledgling— but now... it made sense.

She still worries and slows her pace, to match with the Guardian who walked at their rear.

"Yinan." Comes forth the stern, deep voice– and the Silver Angel seizes up, feeling the golden irises sear her as if knowing, what exactly she had been thinking.

"Brother..." she greets.

"You're tense."  Namjoon notices.

Yinan gulps and exhales deeply. "I am." She pauses "I worry."

"What may come, is His will. You have nothing to fear."

Yinan chews the inside of her cheek at that. She knows their father, the Almighty is watching over them. Eveything that is bound to happen, is ultimately is His will.... and yet...

"Are you okay, brother?" She asks.

The Guardian stops, as does the Warrior. She looks at him and he only faintly smiles, albeit sad.

"Thankyou for asking Yinan... I will be fine." He brushes off instead.

Yinan purses her lips, feeling a sharp pain in her chest.

"I... cannot measure much.... but I understand how you feel....." she murmurs lowering her gaze, unable to meet it. She then bows and continues to walk ahead, words left unspoken as their hearts align in the chasms of silence.

He too was dear to me once...

He too was dear to me.

The words twist and churn within her chest, but the Guardian must fare even worse.... afterall he knew Jungkook longer.

Yinan steps on the ground and something crunches under her boot, the sound no different than brittle bones.

She doesn't want to think about it.

She has no right to pity.

She has no right to despair.

She has no position to forgive at this state.

The Devil afterall had done something irredeemable, unleashing Hell on Earth.

Countless had died at the cost of the Devil's work— the peace and understanding of centuries burnt to ashes.

It wasn't clear what quite lead to this— to Jungkook losing his mind, to him dying but Yinan knew it had something to do with the mortal he accompanied.

Something that had ignited the prophecy of the bringer of chaos.

And something.... else too.

Something.... far sinister.

It didn't assure her even in the slightest.

The air grew warmer as they descended into the tunnel– their movement swift and silent on toes as they stuck to the looming shadows. A band of no more than 12, whilst the rest were left above to purge the ground of evil.

Their stealthy descent however met a pause and Yinan frowned slightly, her eyes moving to the front. She quickly made her way, to investigate their sudden pause only to find a quarrel on going.

"This is clearly a dead end!— you've tricked us!" Kiwoo whisper-yelled, looming over the shorter Demon who didn't cower away even in the slightest.

"This is the only path." The latter bites out, pointing at the Boulder that blocked their way.

"Yeah? And where is it?" Kiwoo sneers, annoyed.

"You're awfully eager are you not?" The Demon returns the emotion, with an even more chilling sneer.

"There is no time to bicker." Yinan cuts in and the two turm to face her. The Silver Angel looks at the Demon "how do we proceed further Jimin?"

The Demon stares for few good seconds before tearing his gaze away. "There is an enchantment here. It repels the lesser beings from entering."

"Why here?" Somebody whispers amongst the gathered Warriors. "What's in there?" They mumble.

Jimin steps back and takes knee, tuning out the whispers and the distant snarls of his kin.

He tugs at the hilt of Mortem in his hand, the metal cold in his palm as he outstretches them, submitting to the enchantment.

He doesn't think about what lies before the wall.

He doesn't have to think to know, the words stringing to a chant in his head.

He knows.

To all that rests,
to all that is bound
Set out the flames,
to your glory behold
Forged of flesh,
wicked and bone
Come what may,
this sinner has returned home.

"Release!" He barks and within the same breath he slashes his palm, blood flying out.

The Boulder rumbles, in response to the sacrifice and crumbles to pieces, revealing a gateway with ancient runes.

Cool air rushes out and that too felt misplaced in such furnace of a land, sending chills up the spines of the rest. A hollow whistle rings forth followed by an even deeper rumble.

Jimin looks at his bloodied palm, the cut  bleeding steadily. Averting his attention, he wipes the blood off his blade, the black metal gleaming under the faint light.

He gazes at it, the cursed blade that took him as its Master, a blade that knows of his thoughts, his intentions, his truth and lies.

And if He wills it—

Jimin drops his gaze as his cut begins to stitch up.

He then looks up, curling his fist "shall we?"  he speaks and then proceeds to step into the gateway, his frame vanishing behind the darkness.

The Silver Angels hesitate for a second before falling suit immediately lest they don't lose  sight of the Demon while Yinan stands back to watch at the crumbled Boulder.

That was no ordinary enchantment, yet it was ripped away with something as mere of a cut of a palm when it possibly needed a sacrifice of a hundred to command it to be undone.

Her gaze hardens– the Demon was indeed deceiving, his tricks too conniving and that blade of his— was no amateur weapon, infused with the Demon's essence it seemed to be bound to him.

"It measures in worth" Namjoon speaks up, noticing her gaze and summing up her thoughts.

"He's worth a hundred souls?" Yinan questions in disbelief as the Guardian steps close and walks past.

"Just as you witnessed." The Guardian responds, stepping into the shroud of darkness.

Yinan purses her lips and quietly follows.

The hollowed tunnel was large, the walls made of soil unlike flesh. The air was deathly cool keeping everyone on an edge.

The ceiling was high, albeit slanted that continued to rise as further they walked in. It seemed like a stronghold of some kind, with the barriers that it had surrounded— but the more they walked, the walls slowly morphed from barren to sculpted designs engraved into the mud, huge window-like gaps that were shut close by stained glass; the very idea of it being a prison slowly diminishing.

It was dark as night within the space and if were not for the Silver Angel's all seeing eyes, they'd easily scatter and be lost.

A scent of incense wafts in, backed by an even stronger scent of charcoal. The walls were much defined now, faces and runes of an ancient language.

A language lost to Hell.

It didn't sit well in Yinan's stomach.

Her eyes were sharp and she could easily connect what she sees, but the more she saw, the more she recoiled.

It was clear, that the place they were lead to was a tomb.

A tomb of what... Yinan doesn't dare spell yet.

A lamp worth of light presents itself and the band of 12 naturally turn to it like moth drawn to flame, following their guide.

The Demon enters into the arch of the gateway first, feet crossing over the threshold into the warmly lit room enlightened by fire torches.

The Divine follow, standing on guard as they curiously analyze the structure of the vast room.

The ceiling was a dome structure of some sort, pin pointed at the centre and to the farthest point from the entrance was a wall full of grandeur— an altar, surrounded by torches below which lay an opaque structure of black crystal, no different than a Chrysalis of death placed right between glowing embers of coal.

The Silver Angels immediately siezed up at its ominous presence, their eyes narrowing down at the altar where the structure was set and still, the Demon that had guided them to doom had not yet glanced upon the said tomb– his eyes solely fixated on the lump that was strung up on the side, limply kneeling on the floor.

His bloodied arms outstretched, a hook securely dug into the center of his each palm and held up by chains that were hooked to the ceiling, nothing but a crude imitation of the crucifix.

The mortal's head hung low, his hair mussed up with blood and grime.

Jimin could not see his face.

But he could see the blood.

Blood that dripped down his palms, blood from his head, blood from his chest, his abdomen, his legs, the floor.

Jimin could see blood.

Could almost taste it in the air.

Jimin shakes, his fingers trembling at the sight.

His lips move, the two syllables of the mortal's name lost to his throat constricting to silence of despair.

"What's this!?" A voice shouts out, laced with fear "I cannot move!!"

Panic ensues as the Divine shuffle, caught in an immobilizing spell— restrained against their wishes.

Yinan struggled against her bindings, tugging at it harshly. The knowledge of being bound in the place they were stranded in was no different than a bird with clipped wings that came with pure fear. She dug her fingers underneath the weight of the spell, her fingers bruising with cuts as blood trickled down and only then did she catch the glistening white threads that restricted her movement. Her face drastically paled, realizing it was Divine magic— a divine spell that worked just as fine against the Divine themselves.

She whipped her head to look at the Guardian, but amidst chaos he stood still not even attempting to put out a fight. His distant eyes were fixated onto the altar, never moving from the tomb of black crystal.

Yinan struggled to understand.

"Brother!!" She called out, but the Guardian paid her no ear.

Yinan shook, under the weight of the spell that drained her away.

She did not understand.

The Guardian was the most powerful of them all— a restriction spell was not something that would stop him— it wasn't... it wouldn't... unless...

Unless.

"Brother!!" She tried again, just as the others who failed to stand upright but the Guardian did not cast a single glance.

Unless....

She ran her gaze down her siblings in a desperate effort.

It couldn't be!!

It must be a mistake!!!

Her face paled at the memory of one who specifically asked her about barriers not too long ago. Barriers. Shields. The range and the power of them.

A barrier to infinitely restrict.

It can't be!!!

"Have you had enough?" He speaks instead, his line of sight unmoving from the altar "isn't is about time you reveal yourself to the rest?"

The Divine glance at each other nervously, unsure of who their Guardian was speaking to. The intensity crackles in the air and the Silver Angels grow wary.

There is no time in the under burrows, yet it seemed to drag in silence. There's a faint sound in the air, like a distant buzz and as spoken to, one steps forth– the only one who was not bound by the spell. Long blades of grey feathered wings stretch behind like a cloak.

There's a deafening silence, nobody moves struck with disbelief.

"You knew" the Silver Angel speaks, looking up at the Guardian.

Namjoon pursed his lips, his eyebrows cinched.

"Why didn't you stop me?" The Silver Angel questions, unused to the silence that the Guardian returned with.

"Why didn't you stop yourself..." the Guardian pauses "...Kiwoo?"

The Silver Angel stares, befuddled. He huffs, "I had no choice.... you left me with no choice."

"Kiwoo!! What is the meaning of this?!?!" One Silver Angel shout out, driven by frustration.

"What are you doing?! Why have you restrained us?!! "

"Have you lost your mind?! Disable your spell right now!!!"

"Lost my mind?!" Kiwoo snaps flushing in anger "the only ones who have lost their minds is you, thinking you can eradicate the Evil!"

"Kiwoo what are you—"

"Look at yourselves... look outside— it is the judgement day.... the land has fallen! there is no light! the hellions have made their home on mortal soil— and you think you can kill him?!" Kiwoo wheezes, pointing at the tomb of black crystal "do you think you can lean on the Guardian to kill him?!"

"Look at him! Look at yourself brother!" Kiwoo yells out, his eyes flaring molten gold and Namjoon can only look at him in those pools of ill-concealed wrath.

"there is not one grain of dust in your body that wants to kill him..." the Angel bites out.

Namjoon doesn't respond to confirm nor deny.

"And yet... you stand before my way when you know you cannot kill him... not because you can't, but because your affection towards him makes you weak!!!" Kiwoo cries out, his hand on his chest squeezing his flesh "so let me do it... let me do it for you... let me carry this burden for you. I can end this, if you will trust me... I can put an end to this–"

Namjoon sighs, disappointment in his eyes "Kiwoo... you—"

"No— no.... I won't let you be tormented by it.  You are the Guardian of souls... and he... he is the Devil. He's done far more evil and he deserves no virtue from you!" 

"Kiwoo!!! Have you not talked enough?! Let go of us this instant!!" Yinan grits through her teeth.

"Do you not see?!" Kiwoo snaps at her, frustrated. His eyes wide like a wild beast " can you not see that I'm doing this for all of you?! I'm doing this so that I can end it?! I'm doing this because no matter how much you plead the Guardian he won't lift his blade against that monster but he will not hesitate against us?!!"

"Kiwoo you've gone too far!!" Yinan bites out in anger. Her mind reels back and forth in anxiety "has the miasma finally got to your head?!"

"Why don't you ask him then? Why don't you ask our brother, if what I spoke of was a lie? Ask him... tell him to confess!!!" The Divine snaps back, pointing his finger at the Guardian.

Silence stuns the air as the Silver Angels peek at their Guardian, curious of his response but much to their horror, the Guardian makes no noise– his eyes shut.

Yinan breathes heavily, against her bindings.

No voice slips past her lips, but her chest aches... seeing how conflicted their strongest pillar looked at the moment.

She ached for him.

She feared him.

She understood him.

The fate of shared blood stained on his hands, Yinan came to a realization... it was simple afterall... just so simple....

Namjoon didnt want to be the one having to kill Jungkook.

She finally understands him and yet there is nothing she could do to comfort him, her heart weeps.

"Brother..." she mumbled weakly, turning her eyes onto the traitor– who proclaimed to be their savior.

Their moment of confusion, betrayal and melancholy is however interrupted when a rustling erupts, rushing from the corners of the room.

"Aha! How loving!" A voice comes forth chuckling, echoing off the walls "the sight almost makes me emotional—"

The Silver Angels move uneasily and Namjoon simply opens his eyes, his gaze immediately turning cold, as the Murky goo begins to slither up on to stairs to the centre, directly above which laid the holllw dome.

The liquid bubbles and pops, rising high until it materializes into a solid frame of a set of limbs and a torso.

The Demon who took form grins "Oh you've returned, my dear accomplice! How have I missed you!"

"How many times do I have to tell you that I am no friend of yours Demon?!" Kiwoo clicks his tongue in disgust and Hyunho snickers in delight.

"Apologies... it was just a slip of tongue surely your wouldn't punish me for such a small miss" Hyunho grins, mockingly bowing at the Divine who only narrows his eyes at him.

"Kiwoo— you... you really– banding with a Demon of all!!" A voice spits forth, laced with venom "how far have you fallen?!"

Kiwoo looks at the Silver Angel, a being who was merely a decade older than him but wouldn't slip opportunity to act all high and mighty.

"All this while— all those mortals who died!" Another voice joins in, the only other female representative of the warriors "the Silver runes, the disappearances, the trickery!— and Jinhwa! You! Was it your doing?!"

"This is all but necessities to eradicate the true evil." He replies calmly, unaffected and the Silver Angel thrashes against her binding, resisting the spell.

"Do you have no shame?!!" The Divine shouts at the traitor. "You aided this Demon with unleashing hell on Earth Kiwoo!! You have betrayed and forsaked us all!!!"

Kiwoo lowers his gaze, his eyes solemn "Do not fret... my thoughts ultimately aligns with our Father's wishes, to purge the Sinner. I've come to end what was to happen regardless the time and day. My spell, not only restricts your movement but it shields you too— should there be a mishap, none of you will recieve the brunt of it—"

"That is not your job to decide!" Yinan grits through her teeth. She pushed her weight forward, almost stumbling "So what if the Guardian doesn't want to kill our lost brother? I am here. I am the Warrior! It is my job!"

Kiwoo smiles at that, its barely sincere but does not dare lift his gaze "your truly are a fool... Yinan. You cannot bare to kill him either—" he pauses and then looks up at the ceiling, seemingly searching solace in the Almighty, but finds none.

True to the word... there is no God here.

There seemed to be no God whatsoever.

The Silver angel sighs exasperated and addresses the gathered "I came to an arrangement with this Demon here, to kill their unneeded King. There were requirements to be fulfilled, in order to access the true cause and some necessary sacrifices had to be made— still our goal remains the same. To demolish the Evil– we needed to bring the Fallen to his knees.." Kiwoo pauses, outstretching his palms "which could only be done by destroying him completely physically and mentally first. Bringing him to his true weakened state...is when we can finally land the fatal blow."

Kiwoo exhales harshly, his chest heaving "do you understand now? I'm doing this for the better... for the future generations that is to come. I'm doing this so we can undo what's set in stone! I'm doing this because it is my destiny!!"

"You do not have the courage to go against the Devil, whether it be affection or fear, but I can. I can shoulder this weight. I can do it alone." Kiwoo looks down at his siblings, with sheenly glazed eyes. He looks at them, memorizing their faces in his mind, his eyes rest on the Guardian who does not speak a word. Kiwoo bites back the burn in his throat and then tears his gaze away from the Divine being.

He walks up the stairs, towards the altar, his hand returning to the hilt of his sword, "And when I'm done, I will gladly die with him, and return to where I once came from if that has to be my punishment"

Namjoon watches. Witnesses.

As all that is set in stone, happens.

He cannot move, against his bindings that were specifically crafted to restrain him— nor can he speak, his throat constricting.

Grey wings spread wide, blocking the view of those. There's murmurs in the air, a hidden prayer bespoken by the Silver angel who towers over the tomb, housing the last piece of conscience of the King of Infinite Hells.

Namjoon witnesses it all.

His fingers shake.

There is no voice that leaves his throat— he's almost sure— but as he witnesses, a cry rips out of him— a name— a warning

Yet it doesn't stop the figure from collapsing onto the floor.

There's a lingering echo of the Guardian's cry, that almost freezes time but it doesn't nothing to revert it.

"Kiwoo!!" Yinan shouts out, as grey blades slowly drift to fall by her feet, her face full of dread.

Kiwoo looks up, dazed with pain and his eyes brimming with hatred as he catches she Demon leering down at him "what...  what have you... done to me?"  He wheezes.

Hyunho has no empathy to offer, so he grins wide and circles around the fallen Silver Angel who was desperately trying to get back on his feet.

"Say... I did not expect I'd come this far! It's surprising actually, my dear accomplice!"  Hyunho laughs at the Silver Angel's face whose eyes widened in betrayal.

"How..  how dare you?!" He spits venomously and the Demon lurches away, snickering.

"Oho how terrifying!" He laughs as he perches onto a rock-pillar, looking down at the Silver Angels. "All this talk of sincerity, virtue and duty.... how about we talk about something interesting now that we are all gathered here in the Guardian's presence?!"

"You filthy Demon. You ingrate! You have the nerve to—" one among the rest of the Silver Angels cuts in, but immediately falls dead cold silent when something zips at him but crashes right before his eyes. The Silver Angel reels back, falling flat on his back as a deep sense of fear clings at him  looking at the deathly glare directed at him.

Hyunho blinks away and looks back at Kiwoo who had managed to pull himself back on his knees, his head although hung low "true to his word... what a nuisance" he mumbles to himself, clicking his tongue realizing the potency of the barrier cast by the caster.

He then looks back at the pathetic excuse of Divine and smiles at him, "I advise you to not interrupt me again."

The Silver Angel gives no sign of confirmation and the  Demon merely shrugs looking back at the Guardian who had a steely cold gaze pinned on him.

How terrifying.

But no more terrifying than a particular red ones he knew.

Hyunho brushes the thoughts away and smiles "greetings, I have dared not imagine to survive in your presence but oh.. hah..." the Demon laughs, cocking his head "how wonderful it is, to gaze upon the strongest soldier of the Silver Gates and not be slain immediately for doing so.... I, a sinner, am truly honored"

The Guardian does not speak but Hyunho doesn't let the silence get to him, he instead huffs and slips down the pillar and walks back up to the kneeling Divine. Hyunho grabs the Silver Angel by his collar and drags him by it, throwing his rather limp body down the stairs right by his brethren's feet.

The Demon goes back and perches himself on top of the pillar once more so he can stare down at the Divine.

"What... what did you do to me?" He rasps looking up at the Demon. "We had a deal!!"

Hyunho stretches his hands, at his leisure "Yes.. yes sure. We had a deal but really, my holy accomplice— I sensed you've not been entirely straight with me."

The Silver Angel silently watches the Demon, refusing to speak.

The Demon paces back and forth "I get the hate for the evil, since we're damned to perish— but really... was that it all? Truly?"

He swiftly turns to look down at the Silver Angel and then bursts into a menacing laugh.

"All that talk of righteousness... how bold...." he clicks his tongue, smirk unfading "even I wouldn't be that bold to speak nonsense like that— tell me, there was an ulterior motive for you all the while, wasn't it? To kill the King.... you wanted him dead for your own personal greed, wasn't it?" Hyunho narrows his eyes, the red of his irises flaring. The Angel looks up, through his mussed up hair, the golden of his strikingly ablaze.

The Demon chuckles "Ah... so I was right. There was a motive. Greed was it? Or envy? Perhaps you couldn't withstand how mighty he was or was it—"

"Enough with your blabbering Demon!" Kiwoo spits venomously, the look in his eyes dangerous. "Fight me if you want—"

"Fight you?" Hyunho chuckles "why would I do that?"

He laughs but nobody appreciates the humor, Hyunho settles "ah... how serious... or was it something even more tenacious? Something that was forbidden for a being such as you? Something much more than intentions of a simpleton? Something like..."

"Shut your mouth you scum!" Kiwoo cuts in and the mere interruption riles up the Demon more to taunt.

He grins "like.. love?"

Kiwoo purses his lips, his nostrils flaring. He curls his fingers into a fist hard enough to cut skin and bleed through.

The Demon jumps up in delight "Aha! So that was it! How pathetic and miserable... truly. Who would have thought you'd go so far for something so obnoxious as such a forbidden thing?!"

The gathered Silver Angels can only stare in surprise and disbelief— there was so much unfolding before their eyes that they dared to not even blink. Some stewed in ill concealed anger, against the Demon, their own comrade and the unsightly situation whilst the other stood idle, shaken to the core— their brother, a traitor.

Hyunho however, doesn't let his smile drop even in the slightest.

"So? Who was it? It couldn't possibly be a Silver Angel or a Demon— so was it mortal? But if it had to be that and that you harbor such hate against the King, it must mean he must have killed them..... but he hasn't ever slain a mortal so—" Hyunho pauses, peeking down at the Fallen who silently shook in rage "Ah... that's it then.... a See-er huh?"

Kiwoo sucks in a sharp breath. His breath stuttering in his throat.

His eyes are wide as he stares down at the ground, finger tips digging into the mud.

He remembers.

He remembers because he's unable to erase it from his own mind.

He remembers her.

Like a curse. Like a blessing. He can never forget.

Her auburn hair always braided, leaving few flyaways. Her soft skin slightly tanned under sun giving a warm toasty glow, where her freckles splattered cheeks would flush as she'd grin drawing lines down her face and her eyes– bright, Cerulean blue. The brightest of them all.

The Angel remembered the first time he chanced upon her.

She was beautiful, but even more to that— she was kind.

And she did not fear him..

The Demon couldn't help but laugh, snapping Kiwoo out of his stupor.

The Demon snickers "how stupid! Of all you really went there hm? You lover was a See-er!"

"She was not my–!" Kiwoo blurts out, biting his tongue as he fumes, his shoulders sagging "I only... watched her... aided her..."

"How terrifying!" The Demon cajoled, narrowing his eyes "how scandalous!!!"

Kiwoo grit his teeth.

"So what? You couldn't protect her when the first Fallen razed her nation down, so you set it out as your mission to kill him hm?" Hyunho peered down at the figure "how presumptious of you"

"She had done no wrong!" Kiwoo cries out, frantically "Had killed none— she didn't deserve that fate– not when the Devil let some of the See-ers run free. If he had to finish them... he had to finish them all! But he killed her—" He reasons back, wanting to justify her.

He remembers the See-er he chanced upon meeting. The cowardly liar, who survived the Devil's wrath time and time again, enough to live to see his own blood descendant.

They lived.

They lived...

His blood boils.

Kiwoo grits his teeth. He shuts his eyes, trying to drown out the cruel whispers.

She died and he couldn't escape her.

<[FLASHBACK]>

"You've come back!!" The girl beamed, her hands firmly tucked under a basket.

The young Angel inclined his head to the side, but said nothing lest he not scare the mortal. The mortal seemed to pay no mind to their differences, much like any other rational mortal would.

"I... uh foraged some berries? Would you like to have some?" She asks, her excitement concealed poorly.

The young Angel makes no move until the mortal herself picks out the berries from her basket and outstretches her arm. The Divine being hesitates, for a brief second– wondering if he should mention, he has no purpose of ingesting but quickly disregards it before gladly accepting it.

"Hah... do you like it? You could have more if you want! I found plenty today!!!" She chatters away, sitting down on a shallow rock.

The Angel follows her with his sun-gold eyes, a soft smile on his lips as she continues to speak about anything and everything, filling the silence with her voice as pleasant as chimes, carrying it away into the green meadows.

Even as the day would turn from noon to the eve, the young Angel would sit— aching to hear more of the mortal's voice.

It just seemed right for the Divine being– no much older than 5 decades or less in mortal years, but far younger than a teen in the years of a Divine.

There was no other explanation.

But as the sun would dip closer to the horizon, she would grow wary and abruptly bid her goodbyes, in promise to return the following day.

She would return though, just as she promised to and the young Angel would be there without fail, waiting.

It just so happened that one time the girl didn't come.

It just so happened that one time the Young Angel instead of waiting followed the trail to her home.

It just so happened he came across what he wasnt meant to.

It just so happened.

That the young Angel felt fear for the first time.

Fear.

And there was nothing he could do to help her.

Divine had nothing to do with mortals. Not See-er's either. Not yet.

He could only watch her haggard state, as she lay slumped against the wall beaten bloody, clothes tattered.

Her hands protectively wrapped around a quivering bundle, what seemed to be another frail looking child who cried into the girl's chest, a pitiful series of 'wake up' and 'sister'.

The frail child weakly pat her face with nimble dry-scorched fingers, crying incessantly but the child immediately ceased with the whimpering when a man stepped into the room, a giant by measure but in the Young Angel's eyes, who witnessed under the secrecy of the veil could only see a monster in his place.

The towering man said nothing, but with hands bloodied to the elbows he tossed down a plate that clattered on the floor.

"Eat. If you have will to live. Or you both are next" Is all he says, a threat. A warning. Death reeks as he walks out the room, leaving the two behind.

The child says nothing, nor does the young Angel who was struck pale with horror.

He watches the child eyeing the plate with fearful eyes and with trembling fingers, the child reaches for the plate, tiny fingers sinking into the meat as fresh blood drips from it. The child merely bites back a cry, tearing the reeking flesh and picks it up, pressing it to the unconscious girl's lips, forcing her to swallow it.

The child then follows suit, biting into the flesh of their own blood.

<>

It all just so happened.

And then, the first Fallen descended.

He was too late... waiting on a promise, a simple delusion.

He remembers, it like fresh blood etched into his mind.

He remembers her soiled auburn hair, her face trampled beyond recognition, her body mutilated– limp, irreplaceable and the child, she so desperately tried to protect even as she drew her last had met an unfortunate end too, crumpled inside out.

He was too late.

The flames beat orange and blue.

He recalls.

The black sand that swallowed all.

Seramoiny.

Her.

"How merciless.... even my Lord, the King of Infinite Hells dares show mercy and yet you— how pathetic! The Silver Gates is truly nothing but a house of miserable coddled children!" The Demon cackles

Hyunho peeks an eye open and looks down at the Angel, a sinister grin slowly making its way up his lips "but then again... was it truly the King of Infinite Hells, who killed her hm???"

The Fallen looks up, there are faint tear tracks seeping down his face and the Demon laughs "was it truly him who decimated the soul of this so called See-er you so loved?"

Kiwoo need not be reminded, he was afterall the first to reach the scene of the massacre.

It was hell.

Far worse than what it was on the outside at the moment.

And it was the work of one person alone.

One.

The Fallen.

The Devil.

Kiwoo need not be reminded of the day he wept tears, holding the limp body in his arms.

The day he swore an oath to himself, eyes brimming with hate as he watched the black sand sink into the ground leaving a death-torn nation behind.

A promise, a curse to forever rot in the pits.

A promise, a curse to kill the monster himself should the Fallen ever rise.

A promise, a curse to avenge.

A promise.

Kiwoo sees her smile, faint, in his distant memory.

A curse.

He wills through to stand upright, despite whatever spell the Demon had on him. He grabs ahold of his scabbard and with sheer will power, he rushes towards the tomb where the monster was encased, laying in his silent death, in peace.

How dare he.

How dare he!!!!

Kiwoo grits his teeth, and grips onto the hilt of his sword and with a single swing he pulls out his ray of sword, that shines sharply.

Kiwoo swiftly raises the sword over his head, to land his final blow onto the crystal and the evil incarnate encased within it. There's a sharp sound of metal in the air, the blade shimmers.

And the Angel drops to his knees, hands trembling as the sword slips out from his hands.

Kiwoo coughs, the wheezing gone worse and as he draws his palm away from his mouth he spots the blood dripping down from his lips.

His eyes widen with fear.

He's not injured.

He cannot be injured.

Then where?!

Where?!?!

He snaps his head to look back at the Demon, who watched him in silence. His red irises, flared bright seemingly in an outworldly sense of hunger.

Kiwoo felt unease bloom in his chest "what did you... do to me?"

He asks, but this time it is more desperate.

He's sure it's no longer a spell.

There isn't a spell he cannot make or break at his whim. This wasn't the same as a spell—

Kiwoo feels a sense of fear lace his chest as more blood spills out of his lips.

"What did I do to you?" The Demon asks feigning innocence "Oh holy being, what has befallen you is the cause of your own doing—" The Demon grins maliciously.

Kiwoo clings onto the hilt of his sword and weakly raises it against the deceitful Demon "You seek death—!"

Hyunho sucks in a breath and glees in delight, but makes no rush to hide nor fight. He narrows his eyes and simply points a nimble finger at the Silver Angel "you... you should be worrying about yourself."

"Wha–?" The Divine begins, his words falling short as his eyes fall upon his sword— his hand begins to tremble and the hilt clatters on the floor once more, the sheen ray of light of the weapon disintegrating.

Kiwoo falls back to his knees once more, hands frantically trying to piece his sword back together but the fragments begin to scatter ever faster.

"No.. no.. no no no no— no! What is this?! What have you done?! What have you done to me?!!" He shouts, desperate to the core. His eyes wide and face drenched with sweat— the glamor of Divine thinning from the being.

"Ah... dont you know, Kiwoo? Or is that you're pretending to not know hm???" The Demon sneers. He slaps his own thigh, laughing in high pitched mockery and throws his hand apart "that's right! The Silver Gates! Has rejected you!!!"

"You have now Fallen!! Kiwoo!!!! Hahahaha A Fallen!!!! A disgrace!!!!!" The Demon continues to laugh, showing no pity nor remorse, watching in amusement as the Angel turned fallen, grovels in the mud— hands buried in his hair. His pristine fingernails dirtied.

"Say.... Kiwoo... I ask you once more, was it truly him who decimated the See-er you enamored...." the Demon drawls, cunningly.

Kiwoo stares at the mud, throat choked up with blood.

"... or was it you?"

Kiwoo snarls like a savage beast and the Demon jumps away, lightening fast compared to the Fallen's capabilities.

"How dare you... speak on her—" he begins, shaking in anger. There's a tremble in his hands thats unfamiliar to him.

The Demon narrows his eyes at the Fallen and then looks up, assessing leisurely as he arranged his thoughts "true the Devil killed her.... but was it not you... who eradicated her?"

Kiwoo was furious now "what do you mean by that?! What the hell do you mean by that you rabid mutt?!"

The Demon paced around, pressing one slender finger ti his own forehead "hmmm.... what was her her again.... the girl... I wonder..."

Seramoiny.

Kiwoo's throat burns.

The Demon snaps his fingers and with a sharp grin he looks at the Fallen "that's right! I remember now..." he pauses

"Mui !!"

That's not .. that's not— Kiwoo does not know her. That's not her name.

That's not her!

"...oh she ended up in hell. Couldn't speak. Couldn't see. She'd babble nonsensically all the time. Cry and weep like a total damsel. It was funny actually how she'd throw a pathetic show in streets of hell. Mui... mui... mui..." the Demon looks at the Fallen angel straight in his eyes "Seramoiny."

Kiwoo sucks in a sharp breath. His blood turns ice cold.

"She couldn't do one thing right. A dunce. A wench. It was such a bother to even see her grimy face. If anything that was slightly delightful was her body and even that was plummeled to filth in just few we—"

Kiwoo cries out, not wanting to hear anymore he presses his hands over his ears. His chest hurts, as does his limbs.

Hyunho laughs at the pathetic display "what, are you upset that your lover became a local whore of Hell? I promise you she was pretty famous for how many of those bastards she could take with the amount of holes she had and she enjoyed every bit of i—!"

"AGHHHHHH SHUTUP! SHUTUP!!! SHUT UP!" The Fallen cried out, face buried into the mud and hands clenching his hair.

"I had let her loose on mortal realm not too long ago, and seemingly— your righteousness deluded you enough to blind you that when you drew your sword against her in the tunnels, you couldn't even figure out it was her.... but I bet she did. Tell me, Kiwoo was she cowering and crying by your feet before you killed her out of blinded mercy?!"

He remembers.

The naked eyeless creature, who pitifully cried in a series of whimpers and moans, clutching onto his ankles.

Kiwoo remembers what he felt.

Pity.

Disgust.

The creature did not struggle when he drew his blade through it, but only watched him with hollowed sockets.

Kiwoo thought it was mercy. Relief.

Or was she watching him with betrayal.

He cannot think anymore. His eyes are couded with tears and his throat is sore.

"How amusing!!! Even with your all-seeing Divine eyes, you couldn't recognize her when she could despite blinded?!?!" The Demon laughs menacingly at the expense of the Fallen Angel's desperate cries.

"It can't be.... it can't be... her... it can't be her... it's not her... it's not" The Fallen mumbles to himself, recalling every second he had spent with the See-er.

"Can't?" Hyunho repeats, breaking his delusion as his face twisting with delight. Flesh peeling open from his frame. He asks "are you sure???"

Palm outstretched, he stands on display as his flesh moves with something popping right up through his skin like small globs of goo.

The Divine restrained below are shunned to silence.

The globs of goo, plop in and out moving as if they had their own mind— and they coalesce into a brighter tinge of color

Arms adorned full of blue jewels.

Yinan bites her tongue, pausing from undoing her shackles. Shocked to the core she can only watch the globs of blue shut and open on its own pace.

It was barbaric.

There was no other word.

"See?" The Demon grins, turning to the Fallen angel "I have proof right here." He points at two of the brightest looking orbs in his left arm "these belonged to your Seramoiny. I must say... she cried so pretty when I gouged them out, even more so pretty than when I violated her–"

The cry that ripped out of the Fallen's throat was purely animalistic as he lunges at the Demon, digging his muddied nails into Hyunho's leg and drawing blood.

The Demon grunts, feeling the fingers dig deep into his calve.

"You damned trash—!" Hyunho curses out and kicks the Fallen, who stumbles behind at the impact "you dirty bastard— it's over for you too"

The Fallen Angel begins to convulse, as he sits back on his knees once more, still choking on blood. His golden irises floating on blood that trickles down his cheeks.

"You... you...." he wheezes, gritting through his teeth. There is not a hint of Divine clinging onto the Fallen angel, looking no different than a savage Demon.

Hyunho snickers, leering down at the Fallen "show your true face to your brethren!"

The Fallen Angel convulses, dark veins popping up against his skin.

"Commiting such a great sin.... tch" the Demon clicks his tongue and spills taunts "if you beg for forgiveness, maybe your Father would still pity you for killing your brother..."

Kiwoo looks up, weakly "I...  I didnt.... didn't..."

"Mmhmm true true you simply knocked that bastard out for sneaking up on you." Hyunho hummed, nodding his head. "But well, I finished the job for you just as soon you left.... hmm..." he pauses, thinking pensively "seems like it gets tallied up to your ledger either way huh— makes my work easier I guess."

"You killed Segi?!" A startled voice erupts from the gathered Divine and Hyunho turns to face them, having entirely forgotten the audience.

"Yes. " he replies, morphing skin into the same stature of the Divine Angel that lay before him. Yinan stares at the imposter wearing her brother's face who flashes her a grin full of malice.

"Consider it a favor. I'm chalking it up to his crimes though." He shrugs nonchalantly, pointing back at the Kiwoo.

"You.... you will... not 'scape this...." Kiwoo looks up through his bloodied lashes "your... death ... will be insignificant .... "

Hyunho's smile in the face of the said Divine that he wore, wears of to reveal his own true skin.

"...with nobody... to witness...."

The air stills with something sinister as the Demon morphs back into his frame.

The Demon strides over, his frame disintegrating to liquid almost too quickly and with a flash of a second, he has the Fallen angel decapitated.

Blood spurts and Kiwoo's head rolls down the stairs.

Startled gasps and cries arise.

Namjoon stares at the head of his brother. His bloodied eyes. His pale face.

His eyes aren't even closed, even in death, as the Guardian gazes upon them.

Something within him cracks, finite but the presence is known. It claws at him, like trillion other whispers that cling to him.

He doesn't have a say, he never has a say with how things go. It's all His will in the end.

He shuts his eyes, ignoring the ache in his heart.

Not yet.

It's not time.

He grips his arm, that is bound by the spell. There's no means to struggle.

This was bound to happen.

Just.... not yet.

"Well... that's that—" Hyunho cheers, turning to face the Divine with his most convincing grin.

"Now that that is cleared.... let's get to business." He claps his hand and walks up, his eyes focused to the corner he had been selectively ignoring the whole time.

It was on his nerves, pickling him and keeping him on guard every second but surprisingly nothing had happened.

"Jimin." He calls out.

Yinan's eyes widens.

In the moment of chaos she had completely forgotten about their guide— was he restrained too or— no.

Yinan looks at her left, far to which she could see the Demon crouched on the ground.

Hyunho's eye twitched, at not being acknowledged even in the slightest.

What's more ridiculous was that the damn dog had his back facing him the entire time— was he not even scared? Was he so proud that he did not even consider him as a rival?!

Hyunho's gut twisted.

He however stopped, when he noticed what the guard dog was doing and somehow it ignited Hyunho even more.

Kneeling before the mortal, who was now released from his chains and hooks, limply laid against the pillar whilst the Demon wiped away the blood from his face with a piece of rag he tore from his own clothing.

The rag was bloody, yet the Demon continued to dutifully wipe down the mortal.

Hyunho feels a strange sensation bubble up his throat "You—"

"Step any closer and I will kill you."

Hyunho stops at the threat.

The killing intention is very present, Hyunho eases off with barking out a laugh.

"Bold of you to speak to me in such a way when you're standing surrounded by my followers...." he speaks "not to speak on how.... that mortal is at my mercy."

Jimin pauses, the rag dropping to the floor.

The Demon stands upright and turns to look at Hyunho, who has to steel himself in his boots to not step behind.

The Demon before his eyes looked deranged in an unfamiliar way.

Unhinged.

Feral.

Berserk, would be right.

Barely clinging onto his conscious.

"What was that?" The Guard dog asks and Hyunho narrows his eyes. The shadows begin to fill in, gaps opening in the walls as creatures crawl out of it.

"You're not as strong to defeat a hoard of 500 with a mortal as frail as that on tow... even you wouldn't be so stupid." Hyunho chuckles, the sounds drowning out with gurgles and low snarls of the creatures, salivating over the mortal.

One of the creatures slowly draw up its hand towards the bloodied mortal and with a blink of an eye, is cleanly cut off.

The creature begins to cry out and Jimin simply averts his gaze back at Hyunho.

"How dare you... scum. Do you all have a death wish?" He growls and the circle grows bigger, with the Creatures flailing to fall behind.

"Going so far for a mortal? This realm has truly made you senseless I guess Dog." Hyunho chuckles, mocking the latter.

"And you? Aren't you equally curious? Isn't that why you have only tied him up but not killed him yet????" Jimin cocks his head, his irises bloody red.

Hyunho purses his lips.

"They say it's better to drain the blood from your prey before you butcher it.... but seeing how you have unchained my prey, I see the Infinite Hell's guard dog has finally gone soft as a fledgling from a womb."

The creatures and demons alike cackle in mockery and amusement. They screech and babble, almost incoherent words— their behaviour strange but even a amateur could spot their demeanor was tailored to the person they followed in concept of 'power'.

Which until now was Hyunho.... so when the supposed Guard dog joins their celebration, the rest slowly stop laughing, sensing the eeiry undertone of the Demon's laughter.

"Is that so? To butcher a prey— that's not yours to begin with! HAH! How loud and wrong!!"

Hyunho bristles at that.

"Is it yours then? Is that why you're—"

"WRONG!" Jimin snaps, eyes flaring red. He runs his gaze around him "You all ought to be dead just for calling him a prey.... filthy scum."

Hyunho narrows his eyes.

Jimin grits his teeth.

There is no other way.

He turns to face Taehyung who was still out cold.

He looks at the man's pale face.

There was no other way.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Taehyung.

I'll get you out. I promise.

He stands tall, his left hand pressed behind his back and his right stretched down at the mortal. He looks back up and finds a pair of sharp golden irises looking at him with raw intensity.

Jimin stares at the Guardian and seemingly, the latter had already figured out what he was about to do.

He swallows the lump in his throat and looks back at Hyunho

"Grovel before my Queen and I shall spare your filthy lives in his name"

The torches burn brighter, the flames dance in unision casting out its glow at the mortal who remained slumped against the pillar, surrounded by a pool of blood.

Shocked gasps ensue, there's a screech here and there but seeing the proclaimed guard dog of the Infinite Hells, speak of words that carried undeniable weight in them, the creatures are quick to follow. Despite having followed Hyunho out of the clutches of Hell, their trust in the Guard Dog's word, who has presented before them remains absolute.

The Silver Angels who spectate in their restraints feel a sense of dread amidst the battle of chaos and betrayal that just seemed to never end.

It was cruel to impose such a title, even if it were to be a tactic or a joke, on a mortal of all.

Such was the burden of that word.

Yet, looking at the steady gaze of the Demon and just as so they feared, it seemed nothing of a joke— rather a true revelation, something that they had not ever expected to come from the lips of Guard Dog of all.

Jimin knows that face, yet he cannot abject.

He had once vowed to never entitle the mortal with it  yet here he was—

The rest of the hell spawns are however lost to celebration.

It's the Queen.

They rejoice.

Their heads touch the ground in complete submission, some succumbing to murmur prayers whilst other beg for forgiveness for having leered at the one person they explicitly had not to.

Yet one thing remains common.

They celebrate.

They finally have a Queen!

Jimin notices Hyunho had not yet taken knee.

"Do you wish to die?" Jimin asks, somber his tone I've sharp.

Hyunho grits his teeth, fingers curling into a fist "I simply refuse to believe the mortal is a contender for that title! He is a man at that too!"

The air turns sour, incoherent whispers at its tongue

Jimin slowly faces him, calm "You dare doubt my Master's choices?"

The creatures grow uneasy with the tension and Hyunho huffs.

"All I say is... I doubt you."

"You doubt.... me?"

"You're with the Divine." Hyunho points.

Jimins hisses "Hell would freeze over before I would betray my Master"

"Hah... hahah..." Hyunho tilts his head, his red irises flashing beneath his lashes. "Prove it then."

Jimin purses his lips, his eyes moving past the Demon before him and to the shuffling Silver.

"I supposedly found a fledgling following and I had him caught. Surely you can start with him." Hyunho gestures, stepping aside.

Jimin's eye twitches, just barely.

There were never 12 companions, he already knew this because he sensed someone following them, far behind but steady— except for when their presence disappeared he didn't expect them to be caught.

It was always 13. An ominous sign.

A sign, where one would surely betray another.

A sign, where one would be the direct cause of another's death.

A sign where Jimin knew the traitor was amongst them.

A sign, where Jimin knew— despite the death of the Silver Angel, the true betrayer being handed 30 Silver coins was him.

A sign, where he's Judas.

He pulls out Mortem and grips the hilt in his hand.

The entrance is pooled by lesser demons and creatures alike, pulling behind something dragged on the floor, arms tied, wings bruised.

Yinan's eyes widens when she spots the Divine, there's fear unlike any other in her chest.

The creatures filter out, snarling and snapping their jaws at the fledgling Silver Angel who was bruised bloody. The ginger-head slowly lifts his head, his eyes red rimmed and irises faint golden, he moans in pain.

Yinan can't even call out to him when others do, crying out—

In a frantic disposition, she tries to undo the shackle in her left arm that only remained to restrict her.

Spell or no spell, Yinan has by now figured out that Kiwoo focused entirely on the Guardian to restrict, leaving the rest of them at a much lesser spell, that could be undone if skilled.

She eyes the Hellions on to her left diverge and their supposed guide, steps out. His face dark, his irises red and fingers wound around the cursed blade.

"Are you hesitating?"  The other Demon, of a higher origin same as Jimin speaks— his tone laced with venomous taunt.

"All you have before you is a child in terms of the Silver Gates.... and you, the Guard Dog, the immediate hellion of the King of the Infinite Hells choose to hesitate before our Lord's tomb?" The Demon continues, sneering with a crooked smile.

Yinan's chest seizes when Jimin looks at the Demon. He narrows his eyes, his tone sharp "I'm simply annoyed that you dare not accept my welcome with 12 alive and well Silver Angels, as a gift. The Guardian alone on a silver platter should make do but you dare mock me with having me kill a fledgling— an injured one that too.... "

"Make do with what you have... and all that you have out of that damned restriction spell, is the fledgling." Hyunho grits through his teeth "so. Prove yourself. Guard dog."

Yinan looks at the Demon and then back at the injured sibling, who had not yet got back up to his feet. His eyes pooling with tears and lips quivering but shut tight, to not let his cry out.

Yinan feels her Divinity at chaos within.

Jeongin.

Jeongin stand up!

She pleads, she prays. She begs.

Yet she can't do naught but watch as Jimin strides towards her little brother.

Segi died. So did several other fighting to their deaths against demons on the surface.

The memory of Kiwoo being decapitated, returns to her and she crumbles within, still not having processed the fact that he too had died. Whatever his intentions were, at the end he was still their brother.

Still their blood.

Just like... just like..

Jimin looks at the gingerhead who whimpers with fearful eyes.

For everything Jimin has done, he is no Saint.

He is a Demon.

And the one by his feet is his nemesis by all means.

Yet he hesitates.

He hesitates when he recalls the first time he had seen the fledgling, his eyes bright with determination and a soft shy smile. The dusty pink on his cheeks and the soft curls of his hair. The way he had thanked the Demon, for something as mundane as a glass of water.

Jimin cannot forget as he stares down at the very same face by his feet. 

He hesitates, despite Demon, Jimin had never gone out of his way to kill an already injured prey.

He slacks his jaw, as the burning reminder of a certain mortal against the pillar strikes into him.

He has to choose.

Choose one.

And he chooses.

He inhales sharply, eyes bright and digs his heels, twisting his upper body to gut out the fledgling Silver Angel.

His arms swings forth, moving at a pace that can't be seen by the eye yet before his blade could even nick the gingerhead, there's a foot centimeters away from his eyes which he narrowly dodges jumping behind.

Jimin narrows his eyes at the short haired Silver Angel who broke free from the barrier. She looks furious, her stance protective, stepping infront of the fledgling silver angel.

"How shameless... why don't you try somebody of your own size Demon?" Yinan grits through her teeth, with a stretch of her palm she sends the fledgling flying towards the Silver Angels, where he merges within the boundaries of the restriction, now guarded.

Jimin purses his lips and straightens his back, looking up to the taller Silver Angel who had her sword drawn out.

Jimin has no greetings to exchange, he charges forth.

The Warrior of the Divine swiftly changes the fighting tactic to offense, and snaps her blade at the Demon who narrowly lunges and dodges from its way.

The Demon leaps a few steps behind, regaining control and charges once more.

Yinan is quick to counter, by leaping high when he slides down on the ground, to slash at her legs. She maneuvers herself out of his range and swings her blade at the Demon, nicking him and drawing out blood.

Jimin steps away, putting some distance. His gaze indifferent despite the cut on his cheek that was steadily bleeding.

He narrows his eyes, a sense of irritation bubbling inside him.

The Silver Angel was skilled.

"You lead us here with purpose... you were expecting this to happen, weren't you?" The Silver Angel spits, venomous.

Jimin straightens up "I have pledged my life to my Master. As long as I exist, I exist for him alone."

The Silver Angel turns to her side, one leg behind and both hands clasping the hilt of her sword "as do I for the Silver Gates."

They charge at each other and metal clangs.

Their movements are swift, swing, parry, dodge. It's a repeat.

It's a fight with purpose.

A fight with promise.

A fight where each is desiring to protect something.

Jimin grits his teeth, feeling overpowered by the Silver Angel with each blow she delivers— she's strong.

Stronger than him.

Every strike she lands from overhead, the force is doubled and the Demon finds himself staggering behind.

There's no way he could win on fair grounds.

He has already made his choice.

And he catches a glimpse of his choice— lying in his own pool of blood.

Jimin does not need to reason.

He does not need morals.

He pledged to protect.

His heart over his body.

His love over his existence.

Blood rushes to his veins and a haunting snarl leaves his lips.

Yinan gears up to the next attack, her face equally fierce. She watches the Demon keenly and yet, her all seeing eyes looses the sight of him.

Just like how she had lost sight of the Devil when she fought him on Hongdo Island.

He has disappeared. Every trace of him is gone.

A twinge of panic lurches her for a second as she rips her gaze to seek the Demon out, yet all in vain— her chest bleeds.

She looks down, the hand she's gripping her sword trembles.

A bloodied tip of black metal protrudes out of her sternum.

Yinan can only stare at the cursed metal, as blood soaks her clothes.

Her gaze slids down over her shoulder, catching ahold of the Demon behind her, his dagger deep into her back through and through her chest all the way up to its hilt.

The Demon doesn't say anything, his irises red as the flames of hell.

Yinan can only stare, horrified. Shocked. Humiliated.

The burn from the dagger is intense, it rips away her muscle and bones– despite cursed, the metal was heaven-forged, fatal. She cannot move as her core crumbles rapidly, the Divinity dissipating from the strike to her heart.

Her sword slips out of her hands and clangs on the floor.

The warmth of her body disintegrates and as the Demon lets go off his hold, the Silver Angel falls on the floor face first, heavy and cold.

The fledgling Siver Angel is to cry out first, the Angel wails.

It's desperate.

It's hopeless.

Jimin clenches his jaw, grabbing the dead Silver Angel by her hair and drags her across the floor, letting the cries of the Divine bounce off of him.

He walks up to a wall, of the tomb hall where a chute lay that leads to a place no less barren than a graveyard for the lost.

A graveyard where none without purpose can return from.

He knows, he can sense it.

He glances down at the Silver Angel's face. Her eyes are closed. Her face bloodless cold.

His eyes drift over to Mortem that was still lodged into the Silver Angel's back. He stares at it, the blood soaking around it.

He purses his lips, his face dark but his eyes infallible crimson. His gaze is intense, so much that the blade would crumble under it if it could—

If he wills. It could.

Jimin doesnt even run a passing glance at the silver Angel before tossing her limp body into the chute.

There is no sound of the body splattering, that reaches to the ears.

A land of carcasses is infinite and goes infinitely deeper.

He looks at Hyunho, the irritation on his face is infinite.

Hyunho narrows his eyes "where did you learn that move?"

Jimin tilts his head "You couldn't learn it even if you tried."

"Have I proved myself now?" He asks, avidly ignoring the anger in Hyunho's eyes.

There is no response.

Jimin walks back up to the pillar. "I take your silence as a yes then."

The lesser demons and creatures alike nod and grumble in agreement, praising the Demon for his feat.

Hyunho clicks his tongue and turns away.

"I am still in charge here—"

"Are you?" Jimin cuts in. "I'm ranks higher than you. I'm the Devil's right hand.... and you speak that you're in charge when I'm here?"

Hyunho shakes in anger, but is unable to deny infront of the audience.

"You have only inserted yourself for the mortal, as far as I can see ... Dog. Do not attempt fooling me into believing you for even once."

"Knowing your Infatuation with my Master, I dare not trust leaving you with our Queen-to-be...." Jimin bites back. He scoffs "and knowing how deep your Infatuation runs at the sight of new face, I only insist you to stay away from the mortal should you desire to live."

"Rich coming from someone who shares same blood as mine..." Hyunho snaps back, sneering.

They stare at each other, a silent battle but even Hyunho knows his place— he cannot win against the Demon singelhandedly.

It's something personal, a grudge, a  score that has never been settled. Hyunho's hatred grows deep for the Demon, but he is not blinded enough by it to senselessly attack the latter.

He's come so far. He cannot afford to lose at this point

Amidst the constant shouts and curses from the Divine, they do not budge. Jimin takes his rightful stance, beside the mortal he swore his life to.

"I think we're done here." He says with an air of finality, looking down at the said mortal who had not yet returned to his conscious.

Hyunho tries to retaliate, but is left to say naught when the walls begin to rumble.

Dark miasma floats in and begin to condense to black liquid, spilling onto the floors, running across the ground with a mind of its own.

A dense brooding presence begins to grow, the ceiling and the walls begin to shake and crack, pieces of mud and stone to fall off the structure, drawing deep fissures.

The Silver Angels, bound and restricted, no different than cattle shuffle back standing behind their Guardian who had not yet moved.

His eyes are open, his sun golden irises burning bright and his brows cinched tight. The intensity of his gaze rests upon the altar, unmoving.

The creatures shriek and cry out. Some skeddaling toward the chutes in the walls, whilst the others bathe in the blood of the sinners.

It's chaos.

Jimin feels dread pool into his stomach.

He watches as Hyunho struts towards the altar, his hands stretched apart. There's an echo of his laughter that Jimin only resonates with that of alarm bells in his head.

He looks at the image painted before his eyes, as the fires in the torches blaze bright with an even greater intensity.

The blood, their feet are doused in begins to bubble pulling in the lesser creatures who screech and shriek for their lives, to never resurface again.

A selection process.

Only those who are strong enough may remain.

Jimin pours in his aura, to keep the blood from touching the mortal. He grits his teeth, watching the man's pale face.

He worries, a desperate but faint cry leaving his lips.

No.

NO!

NOT YET!

PLEASE.

There is no God he can pray to.

Still, he prays.

The embers over the altar, upon which the Chrysalis of death rests begins to glow deep red with a shade as same as that of the hearth of Hell.

The air grows warm, hotter.

The embers are strikingly red whilst the torches burst blue. A harrowing presence descends into the tomb hall.

The whispers in the air have grown louder, the miasma swirling over the altar like a storm and at the eye of this storm stood Hyunho, gleeful. He spoke over the swirling miasma, his voice full of delight.

The chamber shakes in response, all drawn to a singluar moment.

"AND BOW, REALMS OF ALL!" Hyunho booms, his cloak glowing like fire in the eye of the fire storm.

"THE KING OF THE INFINITE HELLS..."

Jimin stares in fear.

"HAS"

Namjoon clutches the hilt of his sword.

"REBORN!"

A crack, followed by another.

A chunk of the black crystal breaks off. And then another.

The wind howls and the blue torches dance to its tune.

A bloodied hand full of sharp claws, strikes out of the Chrysalis.

The world stills.

The demons on the outside, stagger— a frantic energy lacing their beings. Leaving whatever that's ahead of them, they turn and hightail to the heart of the city. Their roars echoes through the city, monstrous, destructive.

Chaos.

Jimin's lips quiver.

The bloodied slimy hand grips onto the encasing and pushes another hand through the Chrysalis. More of the crystal falls off, dissipating and turning to black sand.

Jimin falls to his knees, almost mechanically.

The rest of the crystal shatters, slime and blood alike drips from the tomb. The liquid splatters on the ground, carrying debris of what seemed to be organs and flesh in a tattered mess— human hearts and eyeballs.

Hearts and eyes, no less than a measure to the windows of the soul— that were snatched from lesser beings for a means of greater purpose.

A purpose greater than life. Than death.

To feed Him.

To nurture Him.

Only the purest, for the King of the Infinite Hells.

He rises.

His face glistening smooth, his hair longer than it was– plastering his back.

His chest glimmers with the blood trickling down, his frame far much bigger, his limbs sturdier— with a weight unlike before.

His jaw stronger, his eyes now lidded that roofed the fire lillies of his irises in a pool darker than night.

His presence daunting.

And as He walks, bare, sculpted to perfection, bathed in blue and orange flames— He stands heads taller.

Hyunho falls to his knees, arms outstretched, "MY LORD!!! MY LORD!!! YOU HAVE COME BACK! MY LORD!! THIS SERVANT IS TRULY GLAD!!! THIS SERVANT REJOICES! THIS SERVANT TH—"

Hyunho breathes, chest heaving as his King walks past him and down the stairs.

"My Lord...?" Hyunho gasps, the feeling of being ignored bites him in his throat.

"Hmm..." He hums, his tone deep. "Well... what do we have here?"

He lifts his gaze, the red in his irises consuming and He smiles.

"The Guardian of the Silver Gates.... on a platter hm?" He sneers, "how have you been.... brother?"

The Guardian exhales, almost minutely "I'm as you see."

The Devil, who had morphed his face to his original stature grins with a smile full of sharp teeth "still prideful as ever...." he licks his lips, raising his hands towards the Guardian only to be stopped by a harsh current that repelled his entry and burned the skin off his palms.

He drops his hands and his blisters begin to regenerate into smooth skin.

"A spell... huh" the Devil mumbles, the blood-lust in his tone sinking into the barrier. He looks up, his eyes crazed beyond definition and the Silver Angels suck in sharply at the sight.

"This barrier will not withstand once I regain my powers... " he steps away, the black sand he had left to trail him, materializing into a loose robe around his naked frame. "And when I do... I will consume each and every one of you–" he pauses, at the Guardian "starting from you.... brother."

"It won't happen." The Guardian replies resolutely.

The Devil laughs "it's been centuries since we last fought.... and you still dare believe that I may have not long surpassed you ??" He hums, his chest reverbating in a deep rumble "your ignorance will be your death, brother.... I am not who I once used to be" he pauses, looking at the Divine

"I am the wrath of the nine wheels! The devulger of the six rings! I am the hollow. I am the King of the Infinite Hells." He declares, with a smile no less insincere than that of a fox "I am... reborn."

"You cannot defeat me.... not this time." He turns away, his robes swishing "and when you lose, I will march into the Silver Gates...." he gestures, at his leisure and tone dipped with amusement "I simply terribly ache to visit Father.... I need him to know... just how much I have missed him."

The Silver Angels dare not make the mistake of interrupting, despite the blasphemous declaration– not when, even the Guardian did not speak to such crude words.

The stake is high and they do not have an upper hand, they've already lost two of their own— losing Yinan itself was a blow to their total defense and with the Guardian, himself bound they couldn't do much.

Trying to break out of their shackles at this point was no differerent than willingly stepping into a Lion's mouth.

And the Devil who watched them, could see it.

The fear in their eyes.

He could faintly taste it.

"My Lord... my lord." A cry ensues once again and the Devil acknowledges the Hellion's presence.

"We have the chambers ready, my Lord still need to rest. There is still time to completely convert the surface to a King's taste, I will have your Grace's servants speed up the process—"  Hyunho bites his tongue and stutters when the Devil towers over him.

A hand rests on top of the Demon's head so that he's made to look up at his King.

"Who are you?"

Hyunho flushes red, shaking in the palm of his King's hand with a mixture of excitement and fear.

"This... this loyal servant's name is Hyunho... this servant.. this servant wanted to see my Lord's, glory once more– this servant prepared for this day– for my Lord's rebirth. To reign and command legions once more. This servant freed—" Hyunho chokes under the intensity of the Devil's gaze. His limbs tremble and a cold sweat slithers down his back.

The Devil narrows his eyes, glowering down at the Demon "you speak as if I do not have the power to resurrect myself."

"No— no! No. No– this servant didn't mean so! This servant–" Hyunho slams his head to the ground, in complete submission "this servant has a loose tongue! This servant apologizes for his ignorance and stupidity! Forgive this one! My Lord! Forgive—" Hyunho bites out, but can't stop from letting out a whimper when blood drips down his mouth, his lower jaw with his tongue sliced off.

The Demon gurgles on his own blood, twitching in pain and a deep sense of twisted delight.

His Lord is truly back!

His Lord, the true King of the Infinite Hells is finally back!

He sits back up on his knees, as blood continues to spill from his shredded jaw, his teeth stained red.

"Dont speak more than you're allowed to." The Devil warns and the Demon only hangs his head low in compliance, trembling within his bloodied robe with giddiness and a sense of satisfaction.

The Devil lifts his gaze, his chin upturned and he smells a scent so familiar, he almost salivates. He exhales, feeling a small twinge of anger burst within him.

He grit his teeth and bellows "JIMIN!!!"

The call is loud and laced with very visible wrath.

He cannot see the Demon, but the presence is valid.

"This lowly servant is here, Master." A voice comes forth and the Devil, clenches his jaw.

Feeling although disrespected, that his own personal Demon had not presented himself on his knees, awaiting his arrival but had chosen to hide away at some corner— the Devil feels the storm of fire swirl in his chest.

How dare he?!

The Devil strides in the direction of the voice and stops short when he finds the Demon kneeling on one knee, head bowed.

"This one, rejoices in Master's rebirth." The Demon speaks amicably, his tone neutral.

"You don't seem too happy to see me.... are you lying to me,  Jimin?"

The Demon looks up "this one has awaited for far too long" he says instead, making himself as meek as possible–  not one sign of aggression stitched to his demeanor "this one is.... a little melancholic."

The Devil's expression shifts at that, painting a smirk on his lips. He immidiately snatches the Demon by his throat and lifts him up, his feet dangling beneath in a struggle.

"Oh how I missed your stupid face Jimin.  You look just as delectable as I remember." The Devil chuckles, as the the Demon clutches at his hands, trying to tear away at his hold. His eyes are much fierce now.

Beautiful.

"I thought my absence mellowed you out.... how fascinating, my blade..." the Devil grinned, bringing the Demon's face close "my guard... my dog... my dear.." he whispers, licking away at the bloodied cut on the Demon's cheek, savoring his blood.

"...dear... dear... Jimin..."

The Devil glees, watching the Demon flail and struggle in his hold as he chokes him.

The Demon's face turns from red to purple, under the crushing weight of a single palm.

Jimin once more feels raw terror, that he had forced himself to forget, to lock it away in a box and throw the key into the incinerator. All of this in vain when he couldn't rid the cage in the first place.

The cage remained with him.

And now it is open.

He struggles, fighting away and only when his movements stagger, under the suffocation does the Devil let go of him dropping him on the floor like a lifeless doll.

Jimin wheezes for air, there are tears in his eyes that trickle down his cheeks.

"And is this supposed to be my meal?" The haunting voice speaks up and Jimin turns swiftly, unable to stand he's still flat on the ground and dizzy— but his eyes do not deceive him when he spots the Devil crouched before the one person, Jimin had wanted to hide from the Devil.

Dread unlike death swallows him whole.

"Ma— Master! It's not w—

"Shhhhhhhhh...." He interrupts, clutching the chin of the mortal.

He seems fragile.

Despite carefully wiped off of blood, the mortal is still bloodied from the head to the toe.

His eyes are shut close, his exhales are labored.

Peculiar.

The Devil wonders what his eyes may look like.

He could know it easily if he'd just dig his fingers in—

".... if you don't want to end up like the other one..." he silently warns the Demon, still immersed in the mortal.

A delectable sight.

The Devil can only wonder what he tastes like.

There's heat that pools inside him, that wants to consume all of the cold off the mortal's skin. It's a want. A need.

A twisted desire.

And whatever He desires, He will take it.

He doesn't have to wait nor ask, he leans in and presses his lips to the bloodied cracked ones.

Sweet.

Sweet.

Delectable.

He grabs ahold of the unconscious mortal and kisses him deep, pushing his tongue in he swirls it around the mortal's, sucking it into his own mouth.

He tastes the blood and the saliva, desiring for more like a rabid animal.

The Devil hums in delight.

He missed this.

Oh how he missed it!

The touch of flesh. The taste of blood.

He towers over the mortal and drives his tongue in deeper, as it morphs and elongates in the fragile human's throat.

He steps back and watches, how his tongue moves down the man's throat, punishingly.

He's perfect.

The mortal chokes, followed by a whimper and the scrunching of his thick brows— and the Devil pulls out his tongue, the man falling limp back in his arms.

How sweet.

He brushes the hair away from the man's face.

"Say Jimin.... what is this mortal's name you're so protective of?"

All he asks, is a question but it's something that completely shackles Jimin.

He noticed. Ofcourse he noticed.

He glances at Taehyung's unconscious face, cradled in the arms of his Master.

Jimin clenches his jaw, helpless.

He had wanted to whisk Taehyung away before his Master would rouse from his death. He wanted Taehyung away from the monster that has been reborn. He wanted... he wanted to save him.

Save him from the creature, he calls 'Master'

Save him, from the Devil.

Jimin shudders, completely helpless.

Taehyung's fate is now in his hands, all depending on how he would answer to that one question.

The one question.

His name.

And why he is so protective of the mortal.

Just one question.

Jimin feels his world collapse around him.

I'm sorry.

He begs.

He pleads, for a crime that cannot be undone.

A crime, that cannot be forgiven.

A crime, that will inevitably kill Taehyung in a more gruesome way at the expense of living a second longer.

A crime, Jimin can never wash himself off of.

He looks at Taehyung, his purity, his innocence. He looks small and fragile in the Devil's arms.

His chest aches.

His crime.... too great to compare while Taehyung's only fault ever, remains crawling back into the arms of the monster he so claimed to love.

A blighted fate.

He shuts his eyes, unable to see the mortal's face anymore.

"Kim Taehyung.... Master. And he is, our to-be-Queen." He replies, in all honesty.

"Queen... huh?" The Devil repeats, the bloodlust in his tone evident as he caresses the mortal's face with the pads of his finger tips.

A Queen.

His Queen.

The Devil grins, hunger overtaking him.

How fitting to his tastes.

________________

________________

Author's Notes:

Uhhhh..... well.... the shit has finally hit the fan. It's all downhill from here folks.

******
Author: Welcome back to the Two braincells talk show!!! And goodness, I do not know where to start from— this last episode was basically a battle of betrayals...

Author: how many of you claim to have seen this coming? Yeah? 2? 3?

Author: most suspected Namjoon, the Guardian to be traitor... and ooh that would have been something now?

Namjoon: technically, that's how it was supposed to go, but then the director changed it, wanting something more dynamic.

Author: mmhmmm... I see how the fans keep talking you're endgame, so I suppose we're going to get something like... an ultimatum– you vs the Devil maybe?

Namjoon: haha... it's being strongly hinted true.... also, the Guardian has not yet fought back against his restrictions, so you might as think he is plotting something.

Author: oh that's food for thought definitely. And don't get me started, Kiwoo, but gosh that was pretty tragic— was all that preaching of an "feelings are a sin//" a self reflection??

Kiwoo: it was, actually yeah... as said, being driven by hate became the worst death sentence.

Author: ouuu I mean I'm watching this show for the Devil so I was obviously rooting for him, but seeing why you turned out so just made me pause yknow... you kept saying meeting the girl was a promise and a curse. The See-er's were notorious for their curses and poisons, do you think maybe, she had unintentionally cursed you?

Kiwoo: even if she had, I wouldn't have minded... my purpose was to keep her memory alive— but knowing I was the one who killed her the second time, it all came back as a circle. See-er's and Divine do not get along... and because I tried, it became my punishment.

Kiwoo: also Hyunho is such a lying bitch... he double crossed me because he couldnt exactly defeat me and got away with it.

Namjoon: mhmm walking Danzo looking ahh Demon.

Kiwoo: I will give anyone a staycation at the Malibu paradise who gets him for me.

Author: hahaha mark you words.

Yinan: oh I know he will regret it.

Author: ahhhhhh nooooooo Queen!!!!!

Yinan: uh yeah... rip me. I'm dead, dying, hashtag rip me uh am I doing it right?

Author: I can't believe you got offed just like that. You were like, the only other Silver Angel I really liked and damn... you're dead!!!!!

Yinan: well.... the Director did say she will start the art of killing off the characters so... I learned the tag thing from Jungkook— from when he uh— died. You know.

Author: I'm kind of dreading for the next episodes oh my god...

Namjoon: I mean, everyone was begging for the Main protagonists to return.. ... so— well yall got him. He's a little tweaked but uh yeah—

Author:  I'm not yet sure how to process this. This new clean slate memory Jungkook seems a little... yknow just a little... bit deranged...

Yinan: mm he's definitely bad news.

Author: yeah but it's going back to normal right? I mean, Jungkook has seen Taehyung so obviously he's going to calm down and uh make u—

Yinan: this is not fucking omegaverse.  Just letting yknow. Definitely no longer safe for the soft hearted, that the Director is speculating if she should change her broadcast station.

Kiwoo: yall were begging for the Devil right? Team Devil, was it not? Well.... there ya go... you get the very original biblical version so I hope yall are happy.

Author: um....... I don't.... I don't wanna be team De—

Jungkook: come again?

Author: ACK HOLY SHI—

___________

UH.....

Yeah.

Updates will be slow and not Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday seven days a week cause these few chapters I'm tryna squeeze 3 chapter worth content in one.... I cracked the code behind my MIAs I guess....

Anyway stream Seven, queen of whore nation mwah

Thankyou for all the love and patience

Stay safe and be healthy

Love,
J