The wind howled across the dark canyon.
Black lightning tore through the sky like cracks in reality, illuminating the terrifying landscape that separated Heaven from Hell.
Seraphina slowly rose to her feet.
Her wings spread wide behind her, glowing with holy light that pushed back the darkness around her.
Across from her stood the demon.
Tall.
Calm.
Dangerous.
His crimson wings stretched behind him like a shadow that could swallow the sky. Dark flames moved slowly around his body, as if the darkness itself obeyed him.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.
They simply stared at each other.
Angel and demon.
Enemies since the beginning of time.
Yet neither of them attacked first.
The demon tilted his head slightly, studying her.
"Well," he said slowly, his voice calm but filled with amusement. "This is unexpected."
Seraphina remained silent.
Her golden eyes watched him carefully.
He didn't look like the monsters Heaven had described.
There was no madness in his eyes.
No wild rage.
Instead, there was something far more unsettling.
Confidence.
The demon took a slow step forward.
Seraphina immediately raised her hand.
Golden light gathered around her palm, forming a glowing blade of pure energy.
"Stop."
Her voice was sharp and commanding.
The demon paused.
Then he chuckled.
"A bold angel."
His glowing red eyes scanned her wings.
"Most angels would be shaking right now."
Seraphina didn't lower her weapon.
"You're standing at the border of Heaven," she replied coldly. "Take one more step and I'll send you back to Hell."
The demon's smile widened.
"You're the one standing at the gates of Hell, angel."
Another step.
The dark energy around him grew stronger.
Seraphina's blade of light brightened.
For a moment, the canyon was filled with two opposite forces.
Blinding light.
Burning darkness.
The demon stopped just a few steps away from her.
Close enough for her to see the faint scars across his face.
Close enough to notice the calm expression in his eyes.
"Interesting," he murmured.
"What?"
"You're not afraid."
Seraphina frowned.
"Why would I be?"
"You're alone," he said simply.
"Surrounded by Hell."
He leaned slightly closer.
"And standing in front of me."
Seraphina held his gaze without hesitation.
"Should I be afraid?"
The demon studied her for a long moment.
Then he laughed softly.
"No."
The word came unexpectedly.
Seraphina blinked.
"No?"
"No."
His wings folded slightly behind him.
"You're too stubborn to be afraid."
Seraphina's grip tightened around her weapon.
"I didn't come here to talk."
The demon raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"Then why did you come?"
For the first time, Seraphina hesitated.
That question… she didn't have a simple answer.
Curiosity?
Doubt?
Or something deeper?
The demon noticed her silence.
"Let me guess," he said slowly.
"You wanted to see if demons are really monsters."
Seraphina's eyes widened slightly.
The demon smiled again.
"I can read it on your face."
He turned his head slightly and looked up at the dark sky.
"You angels are always so curious."
Seraphina took a step forward.
"Answer my question."
The demon glanced back at her.
"What question?"
"Are demons really the monsters Heaven says you are?"
For a moment, the demon didn't respond.
The wind moved through the canyon, carrying the distant echoes of thunder.
Then the demon laughed.
A deep, dark laugh.
"Oh, that's rich."
Seraphina frowned.
"What's funny?"
The demon pointed toward the sky above them.
"You angels burn entire kingdoms in the name of purity."
Then he pointed toward the ground beneath them.
"And you call us monsters?"
Seraphina froze.
"What are you talking about?"
The demon stepped closer again.
"Didn't they tell you?"
His red eyes glowed faintly.
"Heaven isn't as innocent as you believe."
Seraphina felt a strange tension in her chest.
"You're lying."
"Am I?"
Before she could respond—
BOOOOOOM.
A massive explosion echoed across the canyon.
The ground shook violently.
Seraphina stumbled slightly as the sky above them suddenly split open with blinding light.
Several figures appeared in the air.
Angels.
Dozens of them.
Golden armor.
Holy weapons.
Their wings spread across the sky like a shining army.
Seraphina's eyes widened.
"They found me…"
The demon clicked his tongue.
"Well… that didn't take long."
One of the angels stepped forward in the air.
Michael.
His eyes were filled with fury.
"Seraphina!"
The entire canyon trembled with the power of the angels above.
Michael pointed his sword toward the demon.
"Step away from the angel immediately!"
The demon sighed.
"Here we go."
Seraphina quickly looked at him.
"Run."
The demon raised an eyebrow.
"Run?"
"There are dozens of them," she said urgently. "They'll kill you."
The demon looked up at the angels.
Then he looked back at her.
And smiled.
"You're worried about me?"
Seraphina frowned.
"Don't misunderstand."
Michael's voice thundered across the canyon.
"Seraphina! Move away from the demon!"
Several angels raised their weapons.
Blinding holy energy gathered in the sky.
The demon slowly unfolded his massive crimson wings again.
Dark flames exploded around him.
"Oh," he said quietly.
"I don't think that's going to happen."
Seraphina's eyes widened.
"What are you doing?"
The demon looked directly at the army of angels above them.
His smile became sharper.
More dangerous.
Then he spoke a single sentence that made Seraphina's heart skip.
"I've always wanted to see how strong Heaven's soldiers really are."
The sky exploded with light.
Angels attacked.
The demon launched into the air with terrifying speed.
Dark flames collided with holy light.
The canyon erupted into chaos.
Seraphina watched in shock as the demon fought against multiple angels at once.
And he wasn't losing.
Not even close.
Her heart pounded.
"Who… is he?"
Above her, Michael shouted again.
"Seraphina! Stay back!"
But it was too late.
Because the demon suddenly turned his head mid-battle.
And looked directly at her.
Then he shouted one sentence across the battlefield.
"Hey, angel!"
Seraphina looked up.
Their eyes met again through the storm of light and darkness.
The demon grinned.
"You wanted to know if demons are monsters, right?"
Another explosion shook the sky.
Then he said something that made Seraphina freeze completely.
"Stick around."
His wings expanded violently as dark power burst out of his body.
"I'll show you what a real demon looks like.