Rin staggered to his feet, blood dripping from his mouth, barely clinging to consciousness.
"Kaela... Taro... get the hell out of here," he said, voice hoarse but urgent.
"What?" Kaela blinked.
"You can't win this fight," Rin growled. "Just go!"
Taro took a step forward. "What are you talking—"
"JUST GO!" Rin snapped, cutting him off.
Kaela clenched her fists. "We're not leaving you. If we're going to die, we die together."
"Damn it... why are they always like this?" Rin thought.
But before any of them could move, they realized the leader had vanished.
Taro's eyes darted around, sweat forming on his brow. "W-When did he—"
The leader was already behind them, walking calmly toward Rin.
"Where do you think you're going?!" Taro shouted.
He and Kaela launched themselves at the man, Kaela wielding her glowing ice blade, Taro's fists blazing with fire. The leader dodged every strike without effort, weaving between their attacks like a phantom.
They stepped back, breath ragged.
Kaela turned to Rin. "How the hell did you even land a hit on him?"
"I caught him off guard... burned through all my mana just to scratch him," Rin muttered.
"All your mana?! Are you insane?!" Taro shouted.
The leader finally spoke, calm and cold. "You have two choices. Leave Rin behind, and I won't harm either of you. Or stay... and die. This is your final chance."
Taro swallowed hard. He didn't even use magic... how do we fight this guy?
Rin's head dropped. "Just go. Leave me..."
Taro looked at Kaela. "Team leader... make the call. I'll follow it."
Kaela stared at Rin, but before she could answer—
A flick. The sound of a lighter echoed through the dungeon.
Footsteps approached.
A tall, dark-skinned man with his hair tied back emerged from the shadows, a cigarette between his lips. He took a drag and exhaled slowly.
"Hey, asshole," he said. "Don't you dare lay a single hand on my students."
Taro's eyes lit up. "Kobe!"
"Teacher Kobe!" Kaela cried.
Kobe stepped forward, unfazed. "Didn't expect to see a demon like you here. Lucky I came to check things out myself."
The leader narrowed his eyes. "I don't care who you are. I'll kill you all."
Kobe removed the cigarette, holding it between his fingers. "You two, take care of Rin. I'll handle this."
He stepped right up to the demon, face to face.
"What business do you have here, demon?"
The leader glared. "Watch your tone... boy."
He punched Kobe in the face.
Kaela and Taro gasped. "Kobe!"
The smoke cleared. Kobe hadn't moved an inch.
He raised an eyebrow. "That all you got, demon?"
In the blink of an eye, Kobe struck back. His punch whistled through the air—the leader barely dodged, but Kobe's follow-up kick slammed into his side, sending him flying into a wall.
But before the dust settled, Kobe was already in front of him again.
Another strike. The demon dodged, and the wall behind him shattered.
The leader grinned. "You're strong. Strong enough... to see my magic."
His fists shimmered. They weren't just dark—they pulsed with light as well. A strange mixture of both.
Kobe narrowed his eyes. "Light and dark... you really fused the two elements that should never mix? And here I thought demons were smarter."
The leader laughed. "Never underestimate your opponent. That's the first rule of demonkind."
The swirling light and darkness fused further, creating a crimson glow that radiated power both pure and malevolent.
"This," the leader said, eyes glowing red, "is the true nature of demons. The element of sin."
Kobe's eyes widened. "W-What in the absolute hell... is this energy...?"
...
To be continued...