The mask was an inferno of color — a blazing fusion of crimson and gold, contorted into the twisted snarl of an ancient Chinese Oni. Its golden teeth gleamed in the dim light, with two monstrous tusks curving from the sides like fangs thirsty for flesh. The aura radiating from Johanna now was suffocating, pressing against Alexander's skin like molten lead.
Alexander was once again intrigued by Johanna's new appearance. He was confident that what she was wearing was a relic of some kind. He wasn't nearly as sensitive to aura as Thalia was, but he felt it emanating from her more than ever now.
His grin widened. The thrill of discovery sent shivers down his spine
"Where did you find such a powerful toy?" he purred, his eyes gleaming with sadistic curiosity. "It's leagues beyond that oversized hammer your brother drags around."
Johanna didn't speak — she couldn't. The mask had fused to her face, sealing her voice. But her eyes, now gleaming with a faint golden hue, bore into Alexander with a weight he couldn't quite place.
Sadness? Pity?
He laughed, arms spread wide as if inviting her to strike. "Taking pity on your enemy? How unbecoming of the Hell Guard's elite. Come now! I want to feel it all — every technique, every drop of your power. Show me everything you have!"
Felix's patience was waning. Felix's fingers twitched around his machetes. If his sister weren't going to kill him, then he would. With a growl, he surged forward, blades screaming through the air — but Johanna's head snapped back before he could strike.
The atmosphere shifted.
The air thickened and distorted as if reality itself recoiled from her. The temperature soared, and within seconds, waves of blistering heat pulsed from Johanna's body. Felix, mere feet away, staggered, sweat beading on his brow. Bruno wiped his forehead, squinting against the shimmering haze.
Alexander tilted his head, eyes narrowing. This heat…
He'd felt this before — a fleeting sensation during his skirmish with Felix and Bruno. It was the feeling of standing against a furnace right as fresh firewood crackled and ignited.
Johanna's body trembled, her pupils dilating as her trance deepened. And then, slowly, she lowered her gaze to meet Alexander's. Her eyes were filled with a certain sadness Alexander couldn't comprehend. Not a moment later, the Oni mask's golden jaw snapped open, and Alexander barely caught a glimpse of the searing light within before hell itself erupted from her mouth.
His heart dropped at the realization of what was to come. However, he did not have time to react. A sea of intense fire shot out of her mask down into the chasm of earth, engulfing the entire space in flames. It all happened so fast that Alexander didn't even get to finish his sentence.
His final words were drowned out by the inferno, swallowed by the cacophony of flames. The old concrete tile melted before him, transforming into a molten pit, the ground charring black as the fire refused to relent. Smoke billowed skyward, and the nearby vendor carts ignited like kindling, their wood snapping and popping in the blaze.
Johanna didn't stop.
For a full minute, the fire poured endlessly from her mouth. Her body trembled, her shoulders heaving, but she didn't — couldn't — stop. She watched the destruction unfold with an unnatural stillness, her eyes wide with a terrible, twisted awe. A sea of flames and smoke swept the huge underground subway platform. The fire consumed everything it touched, including the metal containers, carts, and stands filled with various items and produce. Johanna reduced all things in front of her to ash in under two minutes.
The flames reflected in her irises, flickering like tiny waltzing demons.
She should have felt horror or at least guilt. But deep down, in a part of herself she rarely acknowledged, she felt something else.
Ecstasy.
The sight of destruction and the scorching of everything in her path thrilled her in ways she couldn't explain. She hated that part of herself, but it was there, clawing at her heart like an addict craving more.
Burn.
She clenched her fists.
Burn it all.
A gentle hand touched her shoulder.
"Okay, sis. I think you got him," Bruno said softly, his voice tinged with concern.
The touch yanked Johanna back to reality like a slap to the face. The crimson mask cracked and crumbled, dissolving into golden embers that fluttered away on the hot wind. She gasped, touching her bare lips as tears welled in her eyes.
The devastation spread far beyond the chasm — dozens of carts, tents, and even nearby buildings were engulfed. The smell of scorched wood and ash clung to the air. Her brothers struggled while choking.
"What have I done?" Johanna whispered, her voice trembling. "This… this isn't what I wanted. If only he'd just accepted my offer…"
Bruno pulled her into his arms, rubbing her back as she shook. "It wasn't your fault. He was a threat to the mission. Lord Heinrich's orders were clear: eliminate every insurgent."
Felix sheathed his blades with an audible click, eyeing the destruction with an unbothered expression. "Well, there's a reason we call you Lady Dragon Feuer."
Bruno shot him a glare sharp enough to cut steel, but Felix just shrugged.
Felix knew that his sister's mental state was fragile enough there was no way she would be up to the task of killing kids, even if they were so close to being adults. However, he did not share her same soft disposition. Kids or not, as soon as they stepped onto the battlefield, they were adults, the same as any combatant.
"Come on, big sis," Felix said, stretching his arms over his head. "You did your part. Let me handle the kids. Bruno can get you out of here."
Johanna wiped her eyes, steadying her breath. "No. I won't let my brothers stain their hands with innocent blood while I'm still breathing."
Bruno smiled, standing tall. "Then we follow your lead, like always."
They turned to leave — but the ground rumbled beneath them.
A hiss filled the air, followed by a rising funnel of steam that engulfed the area in a suffocating fog. The siblings froze, their muscles coiling with tension as they turned back toward the chasm.
A silhouette emerged through the mist.
Alexander stepped into view, perfectly intact. His black suit didn't have so much as a wrinkle or scorch mark. Not a single strand of his pristine blonde hair was out of place. He adjusted his tie while brushing off invisible dust.
Then he looked up, flashing a grin that dripped with malice.
"I must commend you," Alexander said with a smug look on his face. His voice echoed through the smoke. "That was a neat trick."
His eyes glowed with an unnatural golden light, and for the first time, Johanna felt something worse than fear.
She felt like prey.
[Relic Files]
Relic Name (Nickname)- Onibi Hellfire Mask
Rank (Chance of Compatibility)- Legendary Rank ( very low compatibility)
Known Abilities (Background)-This mask is an ancient Japanese treasure that allows one to call upon a sea of flames from the depths of hell itself. It is extremely powerful. However, its biggest drawback is its ability to warp and pervert the contractor's mind. Its sweet allure and dazzling flames tempt the contractor's sanity to take a back seat, which means that the user of this mask is often considered a pyromaniac.
Aura (Color)- soft red to an intense crimson.