"Raia?" Raiden says, but the girl either doesn't hear him or deliberately ignores him.

Raia walks over to Tallulah, who is slumped against the wall and screaming in agony. Purple steam rises from the demon's body. When Raia reaches her, she comes to a halt and draws the flame sword from her chest.

Tallulah screeches, her teeth sharpening into fangs and her crimson eyes gleaming.

"She's . . . fine." Nathan stares wide-eyed at Raia. Sunshine appears beside him, clutching her injured right arm.

But she clearly wasn't earlier, Raiden thinks, frowning. I even thought she had passed out. Is it her healing power?

"You should be dead already," Tallulah whispers as she looks up at Raia. Blood stains her dress and floods the ground beneath her small body. "I guess I should have listened to Loki. But I never expected to die in your hands. I just wanted to . . . save you." She smiles ruefully, and Raia's hands freeze.

"Save us? In what way?" Raia snaps, her voice sharp and cold. "By corrupting our souls? I know what you're up to, Blood Demon. That's why you gave us those nightmares."

"You don't understand, kid. It's the only way to keep humans safe from the . . . Death."

"No, you don't understand it," Raia snarls, her face darkening. "I don't want to disappear, demon. Despite how much I despise this world, I want to keep coming back."

Raia seals the power of her Blessing, and a long metal blade appears within the purple flame blade of her sword, returning it to its standard form.

Tallulah's eyes flicker to the sharp weapon, which now resembles a regular longsword with a purple flame encircling the blade. "But we'll give you immortality -"

Raia lifts the sword and thrusts it into Tallulah's chest, cutting her off. Tallulah catches her breath in a startled gasp of pain and looks down at the purple flames scorching her flesh once more. Raia pulls out the sword, eliciting another gasp from her.

"How do you feel about immortality right now?" Raia dares, her glacial grey eyes piercing the Blood Demon's crimson ones.

"Wait, Raia," Raiden interrupts before Raia can stab the demon again.

Raia gives him a puzzled look, then raises her brow impatiently. She lowers her sword and turns to face him.

"What? Is there something you want from this demon?" she asks, a firm tone in her voice.

Raiden nods at her before stepping forward. He stops in front of Tallulah, his shadow swallowing her small figure. Tallulah looks up at him, a hint of irritation on her face. No, she was mad, her crimson eyes flashing furiously. She was wearing the same expression she had recently when they faced. If she still had any strength left in her, she might have already attacked him.

She definitely knows him based on her reaction and words. And she certainly does not expect to meet him.

She doesn't expect to see him alive.

But why? And how does she know him?

"You know me," Raiden declares, keeping his voice steady.

Tallulah clenches her teeth, her frown deepening into a scowl. "Of course, I'll never forget that stupid face of yours!"

Raiden can feel the gazes of his comrades on him. He is grateful that they haven't interrupted him with any questions.

"Who am I, and how did you know about me?" Raiden asks, his heart pounding. "What am I?"

The Blood Demon stares at him blankly, her gaze never leaving his. Then she snorts.

"Oh, wow. So you don't even know who I am? You dare to forget what you bastard did?" Tallulah pauses to catch her breath, panting heavily as if she had been running. "Since you seem to be telling the truth, I won't tell you anything. Stay being a poor clueless boy."

Raiden's muscles tense as his body locks up with rage. He clenches his fists so tightly that a sharp pain shoots through his palms. He grabs her shoulders and digs his nails into her flesh.

"Tell me, damn it!" Raiden yells, desperation and anger in his voice. "Tell me what you know, demon or I'll –"

"Or you'll what, kill me?" Tallulah interjects, equally enraged. "Kill me, then. I'm already dying anyway. Whatever you say or do, I'm not going to tell you anything; suffer from being lost and clueless, you damn bastard!"

Raiden casts a glance at Raia. She meets his gaze and shakes her head, telling him that the demon will not change her mind and cooperate with him. His stomach sinks. He lets go of the demon and stands upright, a look of disappointment crossing his face.

"Finish her," Raiden says, a heavy feeling in his chest.

Apart from being a disciple, he knows nothing about himself. But who was he before all of this? Before becoming an Elysian? This is the first time he has felt closer to discovering who he is. This Blood Demon is the first key he found to unlock the mysteries of his past. Unfortunately, she was now dying and refused to tell him anything.

Just as Raia lifts her sword to end Tallulah's life, a loud crashing sound explodes out as the antique oak door next to her collapses to the floor. A dense cloud of dust floats in the air.

"Raia!" Raiden warns as a tall man in a black cloak emerges from the swirling haze of dust.

Another Blood Demon? Raiden narrows his eyes as he looks at the newcomer. The hooded man is carrying someone over his shoulder. Upon realizing who that person is, his eyes widen in dread, and his heartbeat quickens.

"Nihar!" Raiden yells, fear flooding in like a tidal wave.

The hooded man slams a foot into Raia, and the Aragon crashes into the pews.

"Raia!" Raiden runs over to her, ignoring the throbbing pain in his chest from the wounds he suffered from Tallulah. His coat is now drenched in blood.

"An Aragon," Raia says as she pulls herself up with the help of Raiden.

Raiden's stomach twists. He turns to face the man and his eyes land on Nihar.

Is he dead?

When that thought occurs to him, a wave of rage washes over him. Before he can lunge at the new enemy, Raia clutches his arm in a vise-like grip.

"Don't be stupid," Raia snaps. "That man is strong, and we're practically at our limit. You'll only end up killing yourself."

"He killed Nihar!" Raiden snarls, unable to rein in his anger.

Raia narrows her eyes. "No. That Nihar isn't dead. Not yet."

"Nihar!" Nathan yells before Raiden can say anything. He clenches his fists so tight that his knuckles turn white, then pounces on the man.

The hooded man barely looks at him as he executes a hook kick.

With a crashing sound, Nathan is thrown onto the pews, and the wooden seats shatter from the impact. He groans as he stands.

"Are you familiar with this person?" The hooded man's deep voice echoes throughout the church. He drops Nihar to the ground and places his foot on his stomach.

"Don't!" Nathan bellows, dread taking over his features. When he lowers himself and prepares to leap forward, the hooded man raises his palm, signaling him to stop.

Nathan freezes to the spot.

"If you come any closer, this man will die," the hooded man warns. "I want him to approach you first."

"What?" Nathan and Raiden exclaim, their brows furrowed.

"I'm releasing him," says the hooded man. He prods Nihar with his foot. "Get up if you want to live."

Nihar groans. He sways to his feet as he lifts himself off the ground. He raises his head and pauses as he sees the four Aragons. His eyes sparkle, and a broad smile spreads across his face.

"Guys . . . you're alive," Nihar says as he trudges down the aisle.

When he stretches a hand to reach out to Nathan, who is standing a meter away from him, his arm blows into smithereens.

Nathan's eyes widen as Nihar's blood and flesh splatter in front of him. A jangling sound drowns out the silence as a coin falls to the floor. Nihar's other arm explodes, then his legs. Coins fall from out of thin air every time one of his limbs blows out like a bomb.

"No!" Nathan screams as Nihar collapses to the ground, a pool of blood forming around him.

Raiden scurries over and approaches them, his heart racing in his chest. His stomach lurches when he steps on the puddle of blood and chunks of flesh and bones.

"Raia, heal him! Heal him right now!" Nathan barks.

Raia runs over to them and lays a hand on Nihar's chest. Just as her palm emits a warm light, Nihar's chest explodes, splattering her with warm blood and pieces of flesh. Despite this, Raia does not move or turn away, staring with horror at the gory hole in his chest.

"No!" Nathan screams, tears streaming down his cheek.

Raiden's chest tightens inside him, tears burning his eyes.

No.

"N-Nihar. . . ." Sunshine says quietly, her eyes welling up with tears.

"What have you done!" Nathan screams and lunges at the enemy.

The hooded man lets out a deep sigh. He leaps up and smashes his feet into Nathan's gut, sending him crashing against the wall.

"Nathan!" Sunshine shrieks, sprinting toward him and attempting to stop him from attacking again.

"Those who do not show mercy do not deserve it," the man says, his deep voice echoing off the walls. Then he spins around and takes Tallulah in his arms.

"Don't leave! I'm going to kill you!" Nathan growls and springs from his feet.

"Stop it!" Sunshine yells and leaps at him, wrapping an arm around him from behind.

The hooded man looks back at them, uninterested. He snaps his fingers, and a golden coin appears from nowhere. A larger one.

"Watch out!" Raiden bellows, and the coin explodes like a bomb.

A horrifying amount of energy ripples out from the coin, blasting gusts of wind around the area. Dark smoke rises from the explosion, whirling with a cloud of dust and enveloping Chaos and Tallulah.

Then, no trace of their existence can be found anywhere.

***

"Chaos," Tallulah manages to croak. "That guy."

"I know," Chaos responds. "I only realized it now that I saw him."

A cool breeze blows over them, followed by the rustling of the trees and leaves that surround them. Chaos walks through the woods with Tallulah in his arms. A creaking sound fills the silence every time he tramples on the twigs scattered over the ground.

"Chaos, find out what you can about that guy," Tallulah advises. "Learn everything you can about him. I'm confused as to how he's still alive. He hasn't even aged since the war. How come one of the Prophets is still alive? I remembered killing him a long, long time ago. And . . . he was the one who killed Lamia." She pauses for a moment to keep her temper before continuing. "But, based on what I've seen, it seems that he doesn't remember anything. But there's still something amiss. That guy is bad news."

"I'll take care of it," Chaos says.

"Humans are up to something," Tallulah whispers, no longer has the strength to make her voice even louder.

"Yeah," Chaos agrees.

"And then there's that girl . . . the one with the purple hair. She was severely injured, and I ensured that she would not survive. But she's the one who finished me off, and she doesn't appear to be dying." She pauses to catch her breath. "Watch out for her, she looks dangerous."

After a moment of silence, she speaks again. "I think I understand why Loki wants those two. They are no ordinary humans."

Her pale lips tremble, and tears well up in her eyes. "A-and . . . they destroyed Lamia's sword. Her last gift to me . . . they destroyed it. I won't be able to grant her wish now. So please do it for me, brother."

Tallulah sobs and cries, and Chaos remains silent. A weight settles on his chest when he feels her body tremble. She hasn't cried in nine hundred years since Karma awakened them as Blood Demons. None of them had shed tears . . . until today.

Tallulah is crying, and he can't ignore the certain emotion boiling over in his chest. They've always worked well together, and she's always been there for him. Over the years, he's come to view her as a sister. She actually reminds him of her sister when he was still a human.

"Chaos?" Tallulah whispers.

"Yes?"

"Please protect them, brother. Protect them and secure their souls before the Death returns." A glimmer of light shines on the pentacle mark on her left wrist, the mark of the Great Wizard.

"Of course," Chaos says, then he pauses in his tracks.

Silence.

"Chaos?" Tallulah says, her voice mingling with the cool breeze.

"Yes?" Chaos responds, his gaze fixed on her pale face.

"Would you mind saying my name?"

Chaos gazes at her for a moment before carrying out her final command.

"Tally," he utters in a soft voice.

Tallulah's lips curve slightly upward. She hasn't heard that since Lamia's death. The one who gave her that nickname. Her beloved.

"Thank you," she whispers and her eyelids droop ever so slowly. "Goodbye, Chaos."

Chaos's chest tightens when the weight in his arms dissipates as Tallulah's body disintegrates into light particles. He watches as they float through the air and fade away before his eyes.

She has vanished as if she never existed. And she'll never exist again.

Once killed, a Blood Demon's fate is eternal oblivion. Their tainted soul will disappear along with their body.

They will never be reborn.

Chaos presses his lips together, his eye turning a fiery scarlet.

I'll make them pay.