The Shadow Behind the God
As Mi-An stepped into Xiao Yan's room, her heart clenched painfully.
The space felt wrong.
The air was heavy—thick with a presence that did not belong to the living, nor to the heavens. It was demonic, vast, and far colder than anything she had encountered on the battlefield. The lingering aura crawled against her skin like invisible fingers, pressing into her senses and setting every instinct on edge.
Her breath caught.
"The Ansha…?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Her gaze darted around the room. The windows were still. The curtains did not move. Yet the presence was undeniable, saturating the space like a silent predator waiting to strike. Instinct took over. She slipped behind an obstruction, forcing herself to steady her breathing despite the fear tightening her chest.
Then it emerged.
A two-horned demon stepped forward from the shadows, its movements slow and deliberate. Its eyes glowed faintly as it lowered its head and inhaled deeply, nostrils flaring as it sniffed the air.
"I sensed a god's scent," it growled, voice rough and eager. "Where is he?"
Mi-An's heart pounded violently.
Not the Ansha… but they're hunting Xiao Yan.
Her fingers curled into fists as the demon advanced further into the room, its presence growing heavier with every step. The pressure in the air thickened, making her lungs burn as she fought to stay silent.
The demon paused.
"Who is there?" it hissed, head snapping sharply toward her hiding place.
Before it could strike—
A calm voice cut through the tension.
"What are you doing?"
The demon froze instantly.
Nem stepped into view, his posture relaxed, his expression unreadable. The oppressive aura shifted the moment he appeared, sharp and commanding in a way that made Mi-An's blood run cold.
The demon turned, eyes widening in horror. It dropped to its knees at once, bowing deeply until its forehead pressed to the floor.
"Lord… forgive me. I did not mean to trespass."
Nem's gaze hardened.
"You have already trespassed," he replied coldly.
He struck once.
There was no struggle. No scream. The demon's body collapsed lifelessly to the ground, its form dissolving into nothingness almost instantly.
Silence returned.
Mi-An stepped out slowly, her legs trembling despite her effort to remain composed. Her eyes fixed on Nem, disbelief and dread warring within her chest.
"Nem…?" she called cautiously.
He turned to her and smiled—a familiar expression, warm and reassuring.
"It's me," he said lightly.
Her heart pounded harder. "You're an accomplice of the Ansha?"
"The Ansha?" Nem tilted his head slightly, as though considering the question. "Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not."
Cold fury surged through her fear. "I'll tell the Saints."
His smile faded.
"You dare?"
Lightning shot toward her in a blinding arc—but she reacted instantly, destroying it with a single motion. The energy dispersed harmlessly into the air.
"You're no match for me," she said firmly, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. "I'm an immortal."
Nem laughed, the sound sharp and amused. "You really want to die?"
Before she could react, Nem unleashed a hidden weapon—fast, silent, and lethal.
A body moved between them.
Xiao Yan surged forward and took the attack head-on.
"Nem! What are you doing?!" Xiao Yan demanded, his voice filled with shock and fury.
Mi-An gasped, clutching Xiao Yan's robes as her hands shook violently. Her breath came unevenly as fear threatened to overwhelm her.
Nem's eyes gleamed with interest. "This is getting interesting."
"How can you be a demon?" Xiao Yan asked, his gaze burning with disbelief.
Nem threw his head back and laughed loudly. "What do you know?"
Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, his voice dropping into deadly calm. "You're not Nem."
The figure before them laughed again—and transformed.
The familiar face twisted, features reshaping as power surged outward. The room trembled under the weight of his true presence.
"The Ansha."
Mi-An gasped sharply, her blood running cold.
"You dare impersonate my friend!" Xiao Yan roared, fury tearing through his voice.
"So you trust him that much?" the Ansha mocked softly. "Good."
"Have you no fear?" Xiao Yan shouted.
"All my fears died a thousand years ago."
Xiao Yan's expression tightened. "You know I can't beat you," he said quietly. "Leave us."
The Ansha's gaze flicked to Mi-An. "You like her?"
"She'll kill you," he added calmly.
"Curses won't work on me," Xiao Yan replied without hesitation.
"Oh, it won't be soon."
A massive wind erupted, tearing through the room with overwhelming force.
And then—
The Ansha vanished.
Silence fell once more, heavier than before.
The shadow he left behind lingered—proof that even gods were not beyond his reach.