A few seconds passed. Silence.
Then…
"Infinity… I like it."
Ophis's voice was almost devoid of tone, yet this time… there was a faint trace of emotion — a subtle spark of interest, barely perceptible.
Rian's smile widened — genuine, gentle, and carrying a quiet sense of relief.
"I'm glad you like it, Ophis-chan," Rian said softly, his tone calm — like that of an older brother who had finally managed to comfort his quiet, distant little sister.
A moment later, an idea crossed his mind. Keeping his palm resting atop the small girl's head, he leaned forward slightly and pointed at himself with his thumb.
With a warm smile, Rian spoke softly, "Ah, right… since Ophis-chan is out here for some fresh air, how about coming with me? Let's take a little walk… and maybe grab something sweet."
His tone was light and gentle — like that of an older brother coaxing a gloomy little sister to cheer up.
Without pausing for too long, Rian quickly added, "And since you're not human… there shouldn't be any problem with me taking you there, right?"
He looked at Ophis's face — still expressionless, yet her gaze was softer than before. She didn't reject the idea; she simply stayed silent, as if… considering it.
"…Alright. Sweet food…" Ophis replied, calm and hollow.
A bright smile spread across Rian's face at her simple answer.
He slowly rose to his feet, standing straight and composed — like someone who had just received a rare permission from a mysterious entity.
His right hand extended gently, still within the reach of Infinity, and with a soft motion, Rian took Ophis's small hand and held it.
Without another word, he began to walk, leading Ophis out of the quiet, shadowed alley.
Beneath the same night sky — amidst the dim glow of streetlights and the living shadows of the city — two beings of Infinity walked side by side: one human, and one the Dragon God herself.
***
Their leisurely walk took a few minutes from the narrow alley where they had first met, passing by several small shops along the way.
Now, under the dimming night sky and the fading glow of city lights, Rian and Ophis arrived before an old, neglected building.
An empty warehouse — dark, cold, and most notably — radiating a thick, suffocating aura of malevolence.
The air was cold and carried the scent of blood, sending chills down the spine. To Rian, the sensation felt familiar, reminiscent of the underground prison beneath Salazar's castle in the Resident Evil world.
"Hm… looks like this demon deserves to die," Rian murmured flatly. Behind his black sunglasses, his gaze turned icy. "Heh… perfect as a test subject for this handsome man."
For a moment, his eyes drifted toward Ophis, who stood calmly beside him, holding a large box of donuts with colorful toppings — a sharp contrast to the grim setting around them.
Rian raised an eyebrow slightly. Cute, he thought. She looks really adorable like that.
Rian glanced around and spotted a stack of wooden crates in the corner — something that could serve as makeshift tables and chairs. Without hesitation, he gently guided Ophis in that direction.
Once they arrived, Rian bent down slightly in front of her and spoke kindly, his tone warm once again.
"Ophis-chan, wait here for a bit, alright? Go ahead and eat the donuts — they're all yours."
He placed a small bag filled with chocolate bars on another crate nearby. "And this too. You can eat as much as you like… pick the sweetest ones if you want."
After looking at her for a moment, Rian slowly straightened up, turning his gaze toward the warehouse. The night wind blew softly, carrying with it the strengthening scent of blood.
Rian raised his right hand, forming a hand seal with steady precision. A faint stream of energy radiated from his fingertips as he recited a calm yet powerful chant:
"Emerge from the darkness, blacker than darkness."
"Purify that which is impure."
In an instant, the sky above them darkened — and began to drip with shadowy matter, thick and liquid-like, as if the darkness itself had taken form.
The dark material fell in a circular pattern, spreading outward and forming a dome-shaped barrier that surrounded the old warehouse.
A perfect isolation field was created — cutting the place off from the outside world, both visually and spiritually.
"Oh?" Rian murmured, slightly impressed by the result. "Worked on the first try? Seems my talent in spatial manipulation… isn't bad at all."
His smile widened, and without wasting any time, he stepped into the warehouse now cloaked by the Curtain of darkness.
Meanwhile, outside the barrier, Ophis simply stared at the Curtain with little expression. In her hand, a strawberry-topped donut was slowly being chewed.
She watched everything in silence, her eyes narrowing slightly — as if assessing Rian's ability with quiet seriousness.
A few seconds later, Ophis stepped down from the pile of wooden crates that served as her seat.
With calm, unhurried steps, she followed Rian into the warehouse… the half-eaten donut still resting in her hand.
***
Inside the warehouse, the air felt heavier — cold, clinging to the skin and seeping into the bones. The metallic scent of dried blood mixed with the damp smell of rotting wood filled the nose.
The sound of dripping water echoed faintly, bouncing off the rough, cracked concrete floor, creating a hollow resonance that lingered in the empty space.
The warehouse ceiling loomed high, supported by rusting steel beams.
Cobwebs hung thick in the dark corners, and a thin layer of dust drifted through the air, faintly illuminated by moonlight seeping through the gaps in the broken wooden boards above.
At the center of the room stood several overturned iron chairs — some bent, others broken — with dark, crusted stains marking the floor beneath them, remnants of long-dried blood.
To the right, a disordered stack of wooden crates stood against the wall; some were open, revealing torn cloth and sharp metallic tools within.
The atmosphere was utterly silent… but not the kind of silence born from peace. It was the kind that listened back.
For those sensitive to energy, this place felt like it held the echoes of screams once trapped within its walls.
An evil aura lingered — not wild, but watchful. As if unseen eyes were observing from the shadows.
And amidst it all, Rian stood calmly. Infinity flowed smoothly around his body, like an invisible mist that rejected all disturbances.
Behind him, soft footsteps echoed. Ophis entered quietly, her eyes scanning the surroundings — expressionless, unbothered, and utterly unafraid.
Rian turned toward her, one eyebrow raised. "You came in too?" he teased with a playful smile. "Hmm… don't tell me you just can't stay away from this handsome man?"
Ophis replied flatly, her tone almost emotionless, though her gaze brimmed with quiet intrigue.
"You… are interesting. I want to keep watching you."
A warm smile spread across Rian's face — a gentle contrast to the darkness enveloping the warehouse.
"Alright then," he said lightly. "I don't mind being stared at."
Zwhum!
Suddenly, several dark-colored demonic energy spheres shot out from behind a pile of wooden crates, targeting both Rian and Ophis at once.
Yet the attacks didn't hit — or rather, they collided with something unseen. Not emptiness… but an endless sequence of spatial layers enveloping Rian.
The energy spheres slowed drastically, nearly frozen in midair, as though even time itself had been halted.
"A sneak attack, huh?" Rian muttered. "I'll give you points for effort… but hiding is pointless. So come out already."
From behind the shadowed stack of crates, a figure finally emerged.
A female demon — or more accurately, a half-tiger hybrid — revealed herself. The upper half of her body resembled a human woman with long black hair, her skin partly concealed beneath a thick layer of fur.
Her lower half, however, was that of a tiger — powerful muscles rippling beneath striped fur, claws glinting in the faint light.
Her gaze locked onto Rian, filled with murderous intent… and something else — a dark, feral hunger.
The energy around them went wild, surging like a storm without direction. Rian's Six Eyes caught every detail—chaos, imbalance, and a bloodthirsty instinct drunk on raw power.
"Oh?" Rian murmured casually, raising his right hand.
In one swift motion, a revolver appeared from his Void Ring. He aimed it forward, his expression calm as ever.
"Say it... Happy Birthdaay~ and Death Day."
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Four bullets fired in rapid succession, but they bounced off the demon's body as if her skin were coated with enchanted steel.
Rian clicked his tongue softly. "Just as I thought," he said lightly, sliding the revolver back into the Void Ring. "When I get home, I'll have Alice upgrade it… or maybe I'll just ask for the railgun version."
The demon roared in fury, her savage aura exploding outward as she lunged.
In a fraction of a second, Rian vanished from where he stood. The next instant, he was already right in front of her.
His right fist, glowing with vibrant blue energy, slammed into the demon's abdomen with devastating force—a shockwave burst forth, reverberating throughout the entire warehouse.