The Underground Betting Place had descended into pure chaos.
Moments ago it had been loud with drunken laughter, clinking glasses, and the roar of gamblers placing their bets. Now it had become a slaughterhouse. The air was thick with smoke, shattered glass, and the metallic scent of blood.
Demons poured through glowing mirrors that lined the walls like cursed doorways. Their twisted limbs clawed their way into the human world, their shrieks echoing through the underground hall. People screamed as claws tore through flesh and bodies crashed against overturned tables.
Blood sprayed across the marble floor like crimson rain.
A man ran for the exit before a demon seized him from behind, its three glowing eyes burning with hunger. With a brutal jerk, the creature ripped the man apart, scattering limbs across the floor. Another demon lunged into a terrified crowd, slashing wildly as bodies collapsed in terror.
The underground hall had become a battlefield.
At the center of the carnage stood Nao and Aoi, fighting back-to-back.
Three-eyed demons surrounded them in a tightening circle, snarling and clawing at the air as they prepared to strike.
Nao's hands began to glow with summoning energy.
"Come forth!" he shouted.
A burst of light erupted beside him as Titan emerged, the massive armored giant towering over the demons. The creature roared like thunder and swung its enormous fists downward.
The impact shattered the floor.
Two demons were crushed instantly, their bodies exploding beneath Titan's fists.
Beside the giant, Beast Dog materialized, its enormous body rippling with muscle. With a savage growl it leapt forward, jaws snapping shut around a demon's head.
CRUNCH.
Bone splintered like dry wood.
The demon's body twitched violently before Beast Dog flung the corpse aside like discarded meat.
Aoi raised her hand, her eyes glowing with divine power.
"Come, Nekoma."
A burst of silver light flashed beside her as the Cat God appeared.
Nekoma moved faster than sight.
The divine cat darted forward, claws flashing through the air like blades. A demon lunged toward Aoi, but Nekoma crossed the distance instantly. Its claws sliced through the demon's chest in a single blur of motion.
Blood sprayed across the nearby mirrors.
Another demon attempted to strike Nao from behind.
Beast Dog lunged first, tearing into the creature's shoulder. Nekoma's claws followed, ripping open its throat. Titan finished the attack by smashing its skull against the ground with a thunderous blow.
The demon's howl ended instantly.
Breathing heavily, Nao and Aoi forced their way through the collapsing crowd and pushed into the backstage area.
The sight that greeted them froze them in place.
Bodies were everywhere.
Humans and demons alike lay scattered across the blood-soaked floor like broken dolls. The once luxurious gambling hall was now filled with shattered furniture, cracked mirrors, and pools of dark red spreading across the tiles.
And in the center of it all stood Takashi.
The veteran demon hunter held his long sword loosely at his side. Blood dripped slowly from the blade, forming small droplets that tapped softly against the floor.
His calm presence stood in eerie contrast to the carnage surrounding him.
His eyes swept across the hall once before locking onto Nao and Aoi.
"Break every mirror," Takashi commanded.
His voice cut through the silence like steel.
"Stop the demons from pouring in."
Nao nodded instantly.
"Titan!"
The massive summon turned and charged toward the nearest mirror. With a thunderous swing of its fist, Titan smashed the reflective surface into a thousand fragments.
Glass exploded across the room.
Nekoma leapt from wall to wall, slashing through mirrors with razor-sharp claws. Each destroyed mirror flickered violently before collapsing into lifeless shards.
Beast Dog lunged at another portal, smashing it apart with its enormous body.
One by one the gateways shattered.
For a moment, silence began to settle over the underground hall.
The demon invasion had slowed.
Nao leaned against a broken pillar, breathing heavily.
Aoi wiped blood from her cheek, her chest rising and falling as exhaustion crept in.
"We… did it," she muttered.
But they were wrong.
Behind Aoi, one mirror remained.
Hidden partially behind a collapsed wall, its surface began to ripple quietly.
None of them noticed.
The reflection twisted unnaturally.
Then a demonic hand burst from the glass.
It grabbed Aoi's arm.
"Aaaah!"
She screamed as the creature dragged her toward the mirror.
Nao spun around in horror.
"Aoi!"
Her fingers clawed desperately against the surface, but the mirror had turned liquid, swallowing her body piece by piece.
In seconds she was pulled entirely into the reflection.
Takashi reacted instantly.
Without hesitation he dashed forward and leapt directly into the mirror.
His sword sliced through the surface like water.
The reflection rippled violently as he disappeared.
Nao skidded to a halt in front of the mirror.
The glass shimmered, showing glimpses of a distorted world inside — an endless dark realm of twisted reflections.
Then the surface hardened again.
The portal closed.
Nao stood alone.
The shattered betting hall suddenly felt terrifyingly quiet.
His heart pounded in his chest.
Then the air around him shifted.
A low, slithering sound echoed across the broken floor.
From the fragments of a destroyed mirror, something began to emerge.
A massive snake-like demon slowly slid out of the glass.
Its body twisted unnaturally, covered in dark scales that shimmered under the dim lights. Multiple glowing eyes blinked across its elongated head.
Venom dripped from its enormous fangs.
Jadaku had arrived.
The demon hissed and lunged toward Nao with terrifying speed.
"Titan!"
The giant stepped forward instantly, raising its armored arms.
Jadaku struck like lightning.
Its venomous fangs slammed into Titan's chest.
Steam exploded from the impact.
The poison sizzled against Titan's armor, melting chunks of metal like acid.
Nao clenched his fists.
"Karyu!"
Flames burst into existence as the massive dragon appeared above him. Karyu roared and unleashed a torrent of fire toward Jadaku.
The flames engulfed the demon.
But Jadaku twisted midair with unnatural agility.
Its serpentine body coiled around Karyu's neck.
The demon tightened its grip.
Karyu roared in agony.
The pressure crushed against the dragon's throat, forcing the air from its lungs. Venom dripped from Jadaku's fangs onto Karyu's scales, burning through them.
Nao's heart dropped.
"Karyu!"
The dragon struggled helplessly.
Nao's hands trembled.
Then suddenly—
CRASH!
A red demon corpse smashed violently through the air and slammed into a mirror, shattering it into thousands of shards.
A powerful aura flooded the room.
Yuta had arrived.
His body radiated raw demonic power as he landed beside Karyu.
Without hesitation he leapt onto the dragon's back.
Yuta grabbed Jadaku's twisting body with both hands.
With a roar he tore the demon away from the dragon's neck and hurled it across the room.
The snake demon crashed against the floor before rising again with an enraged hiss.
Nao quickly raised his hands.
"Celestial Angel!"
A radiant light filled the battlefield.
A majestic angel descended into the hall, wings spreading wide as divine energy flooded the room.
The healing light washed over Titan and Karyu.
The melted armor repaired itself.
The venom burning through their bodies was purified instantly.
Jadaku lunged again.
But this time Yuta stepped forward.
The demon attacked with blinding speed, its fangs snapping toward his throat.
Yuta dodged the strike by inches.
The venom splashed across his arm, instantly burning through his skin.
But he didn't stop.
With feral fury, Yuta grabbed the demon's jaw and forced it open.
The serpent thrashed violently.
With a savage roar, Yuta ripped the demon's jaw apart.
Bone cracked.
Teeth scattered across the floor.
Then he plunged his arms into Jadaku's body and tore the demon apart from the inside.
The creature shrieked as its body split open.
Moments later, Jadaku collapsed lifelessly onto the blood-soaked floor.
Silence returned.
Yuta staggered backward.
Blood poured from his wounds.
The venom had already spread through his body.
Nao rushed to his side.
"Angel! Heal him!"
The celestial being placed a glowing hand over Yuta's chest.
The bleeding slowed.
But the angel shook its head slowly.
Yuta smiled weakly.
"It's… too late."
Nao stared at him in horror.
"No… you'll survive!"
Yuta coughed, blood spilling from his mouth.
"I'm… beyond saving, Nao."
His voice grew softer.
"I… have demon blood in my veins."
Nao froze.
With fading strength, Yuta began to speak.
"My father… was a demon."
He explained everything.
During a mission long ago, the demon had kidnapped and violated his mother. She disappeared, and everyone believed she had died.
Later, when Hiroshi and Akio killed that demon, Hiroshi discovered something horrifying.
Yuta's mother lay dead.
Beside her was an infant.
The child was devouring her corpse.
Hiroshi could have killed him.
Instead… he saved him.
He raised the child like his own son.
Fed him.
Trained him.
Protected him from the world.
And gave him a name.
Yuta.
Tears filled Nao's eyes.
Yuta reached out weakly and grabbed his arm.
His fading eyes locked onto Nao.
"Take… my revenge…"
His voice trembled.
"On Enma… for Hiroshi…"
His grip loosened.
Then his body went still.
The light faded from his eyes.
Yuta was gone.
Blood slowly pooled beneath him.
Nao knelt beside the fallen warrior, his fists trembling as grief and fury burned within his chest.
The underground hall had finally fallen silent.