"Hmm? You reek of nobility. A demon from one of the high families, I see," the man spoke with a dark grin, his voice dripping with malice as he extended his hand toward her. "Bringing your head back will be a treat for Valhalla. The fewer of your kind in this world, the better."
"Which high family are you from?" he demanded.
Saonji remained silent, her gaze cold and unmoved.
"Not going to answer, huh?" The man chuckled darkly. "Doesn't matter. Dead is dead, and that's where you're headed."
Light began to swirl around his outstretched hand, growing brighter and fiercer as it morphed into the shape of a spear. With a sudden flick of his wrist, he launched it straight at her.
Saonji barely blinked as she raised her arm, a black magic circle flaring to life before her. Instantly, the darkness coalesced into a shield that absorbed the spear of light. It shattered against the shield with a sharp crack, fragments of glowing energy scattering like broken glass.
"I see. Not going to be easy, huh?" the man muttered, narrowing his eyes. Without pause, he conjured another spear, hurling it at her. Then another. And another. Spear after spear shot through the air, but each one collided with Saonji's shield and disintegrated on impact.
Her shield didn't waver, not even a dent. It stood solid, impenetrable.
But still, the man didn't relent. He kept launching his spears in rapid succession, his face twisted in concentration, leaving him with little room to maneuver. Saonji, watching him carefully, saw her opening. He's reckless, she thought.
Why is an angel even here in this town? Saonji's mind raced. This place is supposed to be under the Sarushima Clan's protection. That meant this angel was trespassing.
The war between Valhalla and Hell might've ended, but the hatred lingered. They were still allowed—encouraged even—to kill each other when paths crossed.
Still, seeing an angel here was strange, especially with the Sarushima Clan overseeing this town. If a legion of Valhalla showed up, they'd be swarmed by demons. Either killed or captured. No way angels would be allowed to freely roam here—dead or imprisoned was the only fate for any who dared set foot in this place.
Judging by the weak, novice-level skills the angel displayed, it was obvious this was his first time in a real fight. Valhalla might have been bolstering its forces, preparing for another war with Hell, but if this was what they had to offer, they were in trouble. Their new recruits were inexperienced, lacking real combat skills—easy kills, like this one.
Saonji sighed. She wasn't in the mood to bathe in blood, especially after what had happened between her and Okumura.
"I'm only going to warn you once," she said. "Leave this town and never come back. Don't breathe a word of this to your superiors. Walk away, and I'll let you live."
"Ha?! You think I'd submit to a lowly demon like you? Keep dreaming!" the angel spat, his voice shaking with anger.
Despite his attacks doing absolutely nothing, he didn't stop. Spear after spear of light continued to fly at her, each one breaking against her impenetrable shield.
I'll have to kill him, Saonji thought.
With a flick of her wrist, dark energy began to swirl around her arm. The black mass crackled with electric fury, growing darker until it seemed to devour the very air around it. The energy ball pulsed with power, like a black hole ready to consume everything in its path. Without hesitation, she hurled it at him.
"Gaaaaaah!"
The attack landed perfectly, and the angel's wings erupted into flames, thick smoke trailing behind him as he plummeted to the ground.
"Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
In an explosion of light, the angel burst upward again, defying the damage. Even with his wings scorched and barely functioning, he flapped desperately, dragging himself back into the sky. His eyes burned with rage and humiliation as he glared down at her.
He summoned two more spears, his hands trembling with fury.
"That's useless," Saonji muttered as she effortlessly blocked his attacks once again, her shield absorbing the spears without so much as a flicker.
"I'll kill you! I'll fucking kill youuuuuuuuu!"
Saonji felt his emotions pouring out in waves. One of her abilities was sensing desire—lust, rage, whatever drove people. Especially when they were aimed at her. Right now, his hatred was thick, almost palpable. But it didn't matter. His attacks were worthless, and his desire to kill her would only end in his own demise.
"Such a vulgar thing for an angel to say," Saonji murmured, her voice calm and cold, as though she had heard far worse. Her hand twitched, dark energy beginning to swirl in her palm as she prepared to retaliate.
Before she could unleash her power, a voice broke through the tense atmosphere behind her.
"Saonji-san!"
What is Okumura Kouhei doing here? she thought, her concentration momentarily disrupted.
"A human?" the angel sneered, his gaze shifting to the newcomer. "No, this must be another demon!"
In a flash, the angel conjured another spear of light, aiming it straight at Kouhei. The bright projectile tore through the air toward him.
"Wha—?!" Kouhei gasped, his body instinctively diving to the side just in time to avoid the deadly projectile. The spear grazed past him, close enough to singe the air by his face.
"What are you doing here, Okumura Kouhei?!" Saonji snapped, her voice sharp with frustration—the first time she'd ever raised it. This was no place for him, and his presence only complicated things.
"I'm here because I didn't want you in danger, Saonji-san!" Kouhei stammered, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and adrenaline. "B-But now it looks like I'm the one in danger!"
"Die, you fucking demons!" the angel roared, his rage boiling over. His wings flared, and with another vicious movement, he conjured a hail of spears, each one blazing with radiant, deadly light, aimed straight at Kouhei.
Saonji moved without hesitation, her body a blur as she appeared in front of him, her black shield manifesting just in time to block the barrage. The spears clashed against her barrier, exploding into fragments of light that dissipated harmlessly.
"T-Thank you, Saonji-san..." Kouhei's voice was breathless, filled with gratitude, but still shaky with fear.
"Stay behind me," Saonji snapped, her voice low but firm, eyes fixed on the angel who continued to rain down spears with reckless fury. The spears clanged against her shield, a relentless assault that would have obliterated a normal human, but Saonji's defense remained impenetrable.
The problem was that with Kouhei here, she had less room to maneuver, less of a chance to find an opening. If she dropped her shield to strike, she might get hit, or worse, Kouhei might. Humans couldn't survive a direct hit from a spear of light. Demons couldn't either, but at least they had a way to cling to life. Humans like Kouhei wouldn't stand a chance. She had to protect him.