Kento led Sebastian into a private room, the ambient noise of the main hall becoming a distant hum as the door clicked shut behind them. The room was dimly lit with soft, ambient lighting that cast long shadows on the walls, creating an intimate atmosphere. Kento adopted a relaxed demeanor, his eyes casually scanning the room as Sebastian turned to face him.
"So, Damon," Sebastian said with a sly smile, stepping closer. "What brings someone like you to these functions?"
Kento maintained a cool expression. "Curiosity, mostly. I've heard a lot about the people who come here."
Sebastian's eyes glimmered with a mischievous light as he stepped even closer, his voice taking on a seductive edge. "Interesting, huh? Well, I have to say, you've certainly piqued my interest."
Kento smirked, leaning against a nearby table. "Is that so? What do you find interesting about me?"
Sebastian's smile widened as he subtly began to emanate a faint aura of pheromones, designed to enthrall and captivate. "You have a certain... air about you. Mysterious, alluring. Different from the usual crowd."
Kento felt the faint tug of Sebastian's influence but let it wash over him without effect. His own eyes began to glow a faint red, a telltale sign of his Outcast nature. Sebastian's confident expression shifted to wary as he sensed something was off.
"What are you?" Sebastian asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.
Kento's lips curled into a slight smile. "Let's just say I'm not easily swayed."
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Sebastian's demeanor changed abruptly. He lunged at Kento with supernatural speed, but his hands passed through Kento's body as if it were made of smoke. Kento dissolved into a swarm of maggots that scattered across the floor, writhing and crawling in every direction. Sebastian's eyes widened in shock and horror.
Kento's voice echoed around the room, mocking and ethereal. "Did you really think it would be that easy?"
Sebastian spun around, trying to pinpoint the source of the voice. The maggots began to climb up the walls, their tiny bodies merging to form grotesque shapes that seemed to leer at him. A sense of dread filled the room as the shadows deepened, and the walls seemed to close in.
"Get out of my head!" Sebastian shouted; his voice riddled with panic.
The room darkened further, the air growing colder. The maggots swarmed around Sebastian's feet, climbing up his legs, their tiny bodies feeling like ice against his skin. He swatted at them, but they seemed endless, multiplying with every swipe.
Kento's voice remained calm and mocking. "This is just the beginning. You're trapped in your own worst nightmare."
Sebastian struggled to break free, his mind ensnared by Kento's powers. He thrashed and twisted, trying to dispel the illusion, but the more he fought, the deeper he sank into its grip.
Back in reality, Kento stood over Sebastian's unconscious body, which lay sprawled on the floor. The room was silent, the faint hum of the function beyond the walls barely audible. With a calm, calculated movement, Kento pulled a dagger from his belt. He knelt beside Sebastian, his expression cold and detached, and plunged the dagger into the incubus's heart.
Sebastian's body jerked once, then lay still. Kento wiped the blade on Sebastian's shirt, cleaning off the blood, and stood up. He took a moment to compose himself, ensuring there were no traces of the struggle left behind.
With Sebastian dealt with, Kento knew it was time to check on the others. He slipped out of the room, blending back into the shadows of the hotel's corridors, his mind already focused on the next step of the mission.
Meanwhile, Jane sat at an empty table, her eyes flickering nervously as she glanced at Adrian. She knew from the intel that Adrian had a habit of preying upon alone, awkward girls, using his magic to addle their minds and take them to his room. This wouldn't work on Jane because of her natural resistance to magic, but the plan was to pretend it did, let him take her to a room, and then crush him.
Adrian, seeing Jane's feigned discomfort, smirked and made his move. He slid into the seat next to her, his presence immediately overwhelming. "Hey there," he said smoothly, his voice dripping with charm. "You look a little nervous. Is anything wrong?" he asked with an earnest smile that Jane could tell was fake. His eyes were glinting.
Jane forced a shy smile. "Um, I'm not sure. I'm not really used to places like this."
Adrian's smile widened. "Well, let me show you around then. It can be a bit... overwhelming for newcomers."
He began talking to her, his voice laced with subtle enchantments meant to cloud her mind. Jane pretended to be affected, her eyes glazing over slightly as she nodded along to his words. Adrian's hand slid onto her arm, and he leaned in closer. "Why don't we go somewhere quieter? It's hard to talk in here."
Jane nodded, doing her best to hide her disgust and fear. As they stood up, Adrian's hand slid down to her waist, guiding her through the crowd. She could feel the eyes of the other guests on them, but she kept her composure, following him to a secluded hallway.
However, as they neared the exit, Adrian's touch became more insistent, and Jane's anxiety spiked. Her breathing quickened, and she felt a surge of panic. She tried to push it down, but when Adrian's hand moved to her lower back, she snapped.
Her powers activated on their own, and before she could stop it, a forceful wave of gravity pulsed outward from her. Everyone in the vicinity, including Adrian, was suddenly pinned to the ground. Jane started screaming, her voice filled with terror and confusion. The pressure intensified, causing the walls to creak and groan under the strain.
Adrian struggled against the invisible force, his eyes wide with shock. "What the hell is this?" he gasped, trying to cast a spell to counteract the gravity, but Jane's natural resistance rendered his efforts useless.
Then, in a burst of raw power, an explosion of fire erupted from Jane, engulfing the hallway in a blinding blaze. The intense heat and flames scorched the walls and floor, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Adrian was thrown back, his clothes singed and his skin blistered from the sudden inferno.
Jane, panting heavily and with tears streaming down her face, stood amidst the chaos she had unleashed. The other guests, still pinned by the gravitational force, watched in horror as the scene unfolded.
As the fire subsided, the hallway fell into an eerie silence, save for the crackling of burnt wood and the faint groans of those who had been caught in the blast. Jane's eyes darted around, her mind racing as she tried to comprehend the magnitude of what she had done. Adrian lay motionless on the ground, his body battered and burned.
She took a shaky step back, her heart pounding in her chest. The mission had gone horribly wrong, and now she was surrounded by the aftermath of her uncontrolled power.
Meanwhile, Constantine was in the room with Lilith, their conversation flowing smoothly. He maintained his calm demeanor, letting Lilith take the lead, just as Kento had advised. Suddenly, Lilith leaned in and kissed him passionately. He tolerated it, even reciprocating, all the while preparing to summon Murasame and kill her.
But their kiss was abruptly interrupted by the sound of an explosion outside. Lilith pulled away, her eyes widening in alarm. She stood up quickly, rushing toward the door. "We'll pick this up later," she said over her shoulder.
As she turned around, though, she noticed Constantine's eyes flashing red and his appearance shifting. Recognition dawned on her face. "You," she hissed, erecting a magical barrier around herself. "It's you!"
Constantine cursed under his breath. He was ready to fight, ready to kill her, but then he heard Jane's scream echoing through the chaos outside. His heart raced as he faced a dilemma. He desperately wanted to end Lilith, but Jane was his friend and comrade. He had no idea what Kento was up to, and Jane's scream made it clear she was in serious trouble.
Suppressing his bloodlust, Constantine activated his superspeed, dodging past Lilith in a blur. She tried to follow him, hurling spells, but something strange happened. Time seemed to slow as he ran, the world around him blurring into slow motion.
He reached the source of the explosion, finding Jane sitting stunned amidst the destruction, bodies splattered around her. She was in shock, her eyes wide and unseeing. Without hesitation, Constantine picked her up, his heart pounding with concern.
"We're getting out of here," he whispered, holding her close as he sped towards the car. The world around him moved sluggishly, giving him the edge he needed to disappear, almost within a second.
As they reached the car, he gently placed Jane in the backseat, her eyes beginning to focus again. Constantine took a deep breath, his mind racing. He had to get them to safety and figure out their next move. Darryl ran to him, concerned.
"Did you crash out again?!" he asked.
"No, it was Jane. She just…exploded."
"WHAT?!" Darryl exclaimed. "What the fuck does that mean, kid?"
"It's an Element Distortion." Kento's voice said from behind them. Fire, with an explosive trait. It was probably triggered by the stress. This…this is on me. She wasn't ready for a mission like this." he said, losing his composure for the first time in front of Constantine.
"Snap out of it, Ken." Constantine said. "The bodyguards are down but I couldn't kill Lilith. We have to go."
"Why didn't you?" Kento asked, still in shock.
"The explosion cost me the element of surprise. I either had to fight her in an actual battle or run and get Jane. I chose Jane." Constantine said calmly.
"Well done, Con." Darryl praised him. "You're not a lost cause after all. Now let's get the fuck out of dodge." he said, entering the driver's seat.
Constantine put Jane in the backseat and sat beside her, putting her head on his shoulder and making sure her breathing was steady; she was out cold but seemed okay. Kento entered the car in the front seat, still shaken; Darryl took off as fast as he could.
Things were only going to get more complicated from here on.