Gabriel stood alone in the ruined chapel where he had collapsed.
The moonlight slipped through the broken roof, painting the stone floor in pale silver.
His breathing was finally steady.
But the pain still lingered inside his body like burning embers.
Gabriel slowly clenched his hand.
The strange power he felt earlier was still there.
Quiet.
Waiting.
"So pain creates power…" he murmured.
Lucifer's curse had chained him to Alex.
But that same curse had created something new inside him.
Something unnatural.
Something dark.
Gabriel closed his eyes and focused on the lingering agony inside his chest.
At first, nothing happened.
Then suddenly—
The shadows around him trembled.
The darkness along the walls slowly began crawling toward him.
Gabriel opened his eyes.
The shadows were moving.
Following him.
"No way…"
He raised his hand slowly.
The shadow beneath his feet stretched forward like a living creature.
A thin black spike rose from the ground.
Gabriel stared at it in shock.
"Shadow… magic?"
But before he could test it further—
Pain struck again.
A violent burning sensation ripped through his side.
Gabriel collapsed against the wall, gripping his ribs.
"Damn it…!"
Alex was fighting again.
And judging by the pain…
It wasn't an easy battle.
Gabriel forced himself to stay conscious.
Instead of resisting the pain this time…
He embraced it.
The agony flowed through his veins like fire.
And the shadows around him grew thicker.
Darker.
Stronger.
The spike in front of him suddenly split into five.
Gabriel slowly smiled through the pain.
"So the worse the pain…"
"…the stronger the shadows become."
Lucifer had intended this curse to break him.
But Gabriel had discovered something else.
A weapon.
Meanwhile — Hell
Alex's sword clashed against a massive demon blade.
CLANG!
The shockwave cracked the ground beneath them.
Across from him stood a tall warrior with black armor made from demon bone.
One glowing red eye.
And a massive axe resting on his shoulder.
Beltran.
The War Prince of Hell.
Another heir of Lucifer.
Beltran grinned.
"You've grown stronger, little brother."
Alex wiped blood from his lip.
"You talk too much."
Beltran laughed loudly.
"You really think you can challenge us?"
His demonic aura exploded outward like a storm.
The battlefield trembled.
"You're nothing but a half-blood."
Alex tightened his grip on his sword.
His crimson eyes burned with anger.
"Say that again."
Beltran lifted his axe and pointed it toward Alex's chest.
"You heard me."
"Half."
"Blood."
The moment the words left his mouth—
Alex vanished.
BOOM!
The ground exploded as Alex appeared in front of Beltran.
His sword slashed downward like lightning.
Beltran barely blocked the attack.
CLANG!
The impact pushed him several meters back.
Beltran's grin widened.
"Good!"
He swung his axe in a massive arc.
Alex jumped back just in time.
The axe split the ground open like paper.
Beltran's voice boomed across the battlefield.
"Now THIS is a fight!"
He charged forward again.
Back on Earth
Gabriel gasped as the pain returned again.
This time stronger than before.
His shoulder burned.
His ribs cracked again.
Gabriel collapsed to one knee.
But instead of screaming…
He laughed.
The shadows behind him rose like black flames.
Ten spikes now surrounded him.
The darkness spread across the chapel walls.
Gabriel slowly stood up.
His silver eyes glowed faintly in the dark.
"So that's your battle…"
He looked down at the shadows surrounding him.
Then whispered quietly.
"Fight well, brother."
"Because every wound you take…"
The shadows twisted violently.
"…is making me stronger."
For the first time in years…
Gabriel felt hope.
The curse wasn't just suffering anymore.
It was power.
And one day…
That power would break the chains Lucifer created.
Even if he had to face the King of Hell himself.
Gabriel looked up at the moon.
His voice was calm.
Cold.
"Just wait, Lucifer."
"The pain you gave me…"
"…will be the weapon that kills you."