( note there are double sentence due to my computer problem already fixed )
The group tread carefully toward the pulsating magic circle that illuminated the icy expanse. Aki's expression remained hard, his mood sour as his eyes scanned the snowy surroundings. Each flake reminded him of a past he longed to bury—the day the Gun Devil tore his life apart, taking his brother with it.
Himeno noticed the tension in his posture, his clenched fists betraying the storm of emotions he was trying to suppress. Gently, she placed a hand on his shoulder. "You okay, Aki? You look like you're about to blow up at any second."
Aki exhaled slowly through his nose, his tone clipped. "I'm fine."
Himeno frowned but decided not to press him further. Instead, she glanced toward Kang Woo, who walked ahead, his hands tucked casually into his pockets. "Hey, Kang Woo, what's with all the ice themes? Frozen castles, snow everywhere… What's the obsession?"
Without breaking stride, Kang Woo turned his head slightly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "You wouldn't get it, but I've always liked Quincy aesthetics. Elegance and ice—it's a vibe. This place just… fits." He paused and glanced over his shoulder at Aki. "Though I didn't realize the snow would cut into your scars this deep. I thought you'd moved on."
Aki froze, his eyes narrowing as he processed Kang Woo's words. "You… knew?" His voice was tinged with disbelief.
Kang Woo smiled enigmatically, offering no further explanation. "I know more than you think."
The group exchanged uncertain glances as they reached the glowing circle. Intricate symbols etched into the icy ground pulsed with a soft, blue light, humming with energy that seemed alive.
Kang Woo turned to the group, his commanding presence radiating across the space. "Alright, everyone. You can watch from the sidelines—think of it as colosseum seats. This is going to be a spectacle."
He glanced at Makima, who had been following silently. "That includes you, Makima. Take a seat."
Makima smirked faintly, her yellow-ringed eyes sparkling with curiosity. "As you wish, my King." She moved to stand with the others.
Suddenly, with a snap of Kang Woo's fingers, the group found themselves seated on icy bleachers surrounding the circle. The transformation was instantaneous.
Kobeni glanced around, startled. "We're… seated?"
Himeno leaned back, a grin spreading across her face. "Where's the popcorn and beer?" she joked. As if on cue, a bucket of popcorn appeared beside her, along with three glasses of lemon tea.
Himeno picked up the tea, rolling her eyes playfully. "Where's the beer, Kang Woo?"
Angel Devil looked to his side, finding a bowl of ice cream. He scooped up a spoonful, muttering, "This man really is unpredictable."
Reze took a seat beside Makima, glancing at her briefly before turning her attention back to the center of the icy room. First, he turns a basement into another world, and now I'm sitting beside the Control Devil herself? she thought, her unease growing.
Makima remained focused on Kang Woo, her yellow-ringed eyes unwavering. Whatever he had planned for Aki, it was clear she wasn't going to miss a second of it.
Aki stood at the center of the glowing magic circle, his fists clenched tightly. His gaze never left Kang Woo. "What exactly are you planning?" he asked, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.
Kang Woo didn't reply immediately. Instead, he stood silently, his crimson gaze locked on the intricate symbols beneath Aki's feet. After a few moments, he finally spoke, his tone calm yet commanding. "Let me think for a while."
He then turned his attention to Aki, tilting his head slightly. "Currently, you have two devil contracts, correct? The Fox Devil and the Curse Devil?"
Aki nodded cautiously. "Yes. But aren't they useless? No devil would dare to attack you—not when even a small amount of your demonic energy is enough to terrify them."
Kang Woo chuckled softly, his smirk carrying an unsettling edge. "You're not wrong. But here's the deal: you're going to summon them. And they're going to attack me."
Aki's eyes widened. "What?"
Kang Woo ignored his reaction, raising his gaze to the empty air as if addressing unseen entities. His voice grew sharper, more authoritative. "You two—lowest devils from the uppermost Hell—you are allowed to attack me the moment Aki calls for you. However, if you don't fight with everything you've got…" His tone darkened. "…you'll be killed on the spot. Invalids of the upper Hell have no place in my presence."
Suddenly, two distinct voices rang out in unison, echoing within the icy chamber. The voices of the Fox Devil and the Curse Devil were submissive but filled with reverence. "Yes, Noble One."
Aki took a step back, his composure cracking. "Wait—you're saying we're going to spar like that?"
Kang Woo's smirk deepened, his crimson eyes gleaming faintly. "Spar? No, Aki. We're going to kill each other."
In Aki's thoughts, panic set in. I've faced Kang Woo once before. Back then, he altered my Fox Devil contract, forcing it into unshakable loyalty to me. Now, with the Curse Devil probably following the same path, can I even stand a chance against him? When I first met him at the Public Devil Hunter branch, I could tell he wasn't at full power, and even then, I didn't have a chance. He decimated me with ease, summoning the Commandment of Love to depower me completely.
Before Aki could spiral further into his thoughts, Kang Woo's voice cut through, eerily calm. "Don't worry. I won't use the Commandment or any of the black flames that scared the Fox Devil so much it started spouting nonsense about me. But you…" His smirk grew sharper. "…you're so focused on the predator in front of you, you're not noticing the other one that's already upon you."
Before Aki could react, a shadow streaked across the circle, and Divine Dog: Totality appeared out of thin air, piercing through Aki's heart with devastating precision.
Himeno dropped her popcorn, standing abruptly as she screamed, "Makima! Kang Woo's going to kill Aki! What the hell is he—" She froze mid-sentence, her gaze snapping back to Aki. "Wait… what?"
Aki stumbled, looking down at his chest where the gaping wound should have been. Instead, there was nothing. He was perfectly fine. "I… I'm fine?" he said, his voice trembling with confusion.
Kang Woo clapped his hands together once, drawing their attention. "Relax, everyone. I added a rule. Anyone who dies within the circle gets respawned immediately—as long as they remain inside it."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, their earlier horror giving way to cautious intrigue. kobeni whispered under her breath, "This is madness…" but she couldn't look away.
Makima simply smirked, crossing her arms as she leaned back slightly. "Always dramatic, my King."
Himeno clutched her chair, her breath shaky as she processed what Kang Woo had just revealed. "Respawn? This isn't a game, Kang Woo!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with lingering frustration, though the earlier panic had subsided.
Aki, still shaken, unsheathed his sword. His stance was firm, but there was no mistaking the unease in his movements. He was clearly unsettled by Kang Woo's unpredictable nature. "What's your angle, Kang Woo?" Aki asked, his voice steady but edged with suspicion.
Kang Woo tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable as he began to speak. "Once, there was a boy who wanted to play catch with his sick brother. He begged his parents, 'Let's play outside.' But the parents said no, insisting the brother was too unwell and needed to rest. Disheartened, the boy decided to leave and play by himself."
Kang Woo paused, a strange smile playing on his lips. "But then, the sick brother called out, 'I'm fine. Let's go outside.' Encouraged, they went out to a land covered in snow. The boy, being his tsundere self, began to neglect his brother, throwing snowballs at him instead. 'I don't want to play with you,' the boy said, though his actions contradicted his words."
The audience exchanged confused looks, their expressions a mix of bafflement and discomfort. Even Reze, who had been cautiously observing, leaned closer to Makima and whispered, "What… is he talking about?"
Makima, however, was smiling faintly, her yellow-ringed eyes glinting with understanding. She didn't respond to Reze, her attention locked on Kang Woo and Aki.
Aki's grip on his sword tightened, his breathing growing heavier. His expression darkened, the story clearly hitting a nerve. "You… You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" he spat, his voice trembling with suppressed rage.
Kang Woo's smirk widened, his tone still calm but now carrying a darker undertone. "Did I hit a nerve, Aki? What are you going to do about it? Send me back to where I came from? Try to kill me?" His crimson gaze met Aki's, and the air between them seemed to grow heavier.
Aki's stance shifted, his body tense as he raised his sword slightly. "You're asking for it, Kang Woo," he growled. "You're asking so badly for me to send you straight back to Hell."
Kang Woo chuckled darkly, his voice cutting through the icy chamber like a blade. "Ah, youth—so full of arrogance and bluster. Much like you, Aki ,all those years ago… and even now."
Aki's jaw tightened, his eyes blazing with determination. He formed the fox hand sign with precise, . "KON!" he shouted.
The Fox Devil materialized in its full glory—not just the head, but its entire body, a towering, snarling behemoth. The ground trembled under its weight, and its guttural growls reverberated through the air, sending a ripple of unease through the onlookers.
But before the Fox Devil could act, Kang Woo moved. His speed was impossible to track. In an instant, he was high above, riding atop Nue, the thunderous winged serpent. Lightning crackled around them, casting eerie shadows across the icy walls. His crimson gaze locked onto the Fox Devil, and with a fluid motion, he formed another hand sign.
"Max Elephant," he said, his tone calm and commanding.
From the sky , a gargantuan mammoth descended. Max Elephant, with its massive, building-like weight, plummeted onto the Fox Devil with a deafening impact. The chamber shook violently as the mammoth's form collided with its target, sending shockwaves rippling outward. The ground beneath the magic circle cracked and splintered, only to repair itself instantly, bound by the spell's regenerative properties.
The Fox Devil let out a guttural roar, its voice strained. "My master… permission to recover. This weight… it's unbearable."
Aki gritted his teeth, his frustration evident. "I allow it," he said through clenched teeth.
The Fox Devil dissolved into a pool of liquid, retreating from the overwhelming force. The room fell into a tense silence, save for the faint hum of magic coursing through the air.
Kang Woo landed gracefully, his movements fluid as he dismissed Nue with a casual flick of his hand. He smirked, his crimson eyes gleaming faintly as he looked down at Aki. "One devil down. You've got one left. What are you going to do now, Aki?"
Aki's grip on his sword tightened. Sweat dripped from his brow, but his gaze remained steady. "I'm not done yet," he growled, his voice laced with determination.
The tension in the room was palpable. The air seemed heavier as everyone held their breath, watching the standoff with bated anticipation.
Himeno leaned forward, gripping the armrest of her seat so tightly her knuckles turned white. "This is insane," she muttered under her breath. "Aki is no match for Kang Woo, and he knows it."
Himeno turned to Makima, her voice sharp. "What's the point of all this?"
Makima's yellow-ringed eyes never left the scene. Her tone was calm, almost detached. "Just watch."
Aki straightened, his expression resolute. "Kang Woo, you said it yourself, right? Even if I die, I'll just respawn here?"
Kang Woo's smirk deepened, his tone tinged with amusement. "It's an absolute rule, as long as it stays within the circle."
Aki's voice grew louder, filled with conviction. "Curse Devil, I'm giving my all. Kill Kang Woo!"
Without warning, Aki's body detonated in a violent explosion. The force of the blast sent a shockwave through the chamber. But within seconds, Aki's form reappeared within the circle, whole and unharmed. A wicked grin spread across his face as he stood. "I came back."
Kang Woo raised an eyebrow, his amusement unshaken. His gaze shifted as the Curse Devil fully manifested itself. The grotesque entity loomed over Kang Woo, its massive form exuding a dark and malevolent energy. With a swift motion, it grabbed Kang Woo, pinning him in a crucifixion-like pose. Its sharp teeth sank into his shoulders and neck, while its crushing grip immobilized his arms.
Despite the display, Kang Woo's expression remained calm. Though the Curse Devil's force was tangible, Kang Woo appeared unaffected. It was clear he could break free anytime he desired.
Suddenly, Aki was inches from Kang Woo, his sword poised dangerously close to Kang Woo's eye. His voice was low and trembling with restrained fury. "Continue the story about the young boy. It seems you know about it—the only ones who know are me… and maybe Ms Makima."
Kang Woo's smirk faded slightly, his crimson gaze meeting Aki's with a hint of gravity. In his thoughts, Kang Woo reflected, Looks like Aki's finally piecing it together. The boy in the story—it was him. The snow, the games, his brother… that day when the Gun Devil killed his sick brother.
Still pinned by the Curse Devil, Kang Woo continued the story. His voice was calm, almost detached. "The boy played snowball with his sick brother for quite a while. The sick brother, breathing heavily, seemed happy despite his frailty. At one point, the boy said, 'If you catch a cold, Mom and Dad are going to get angry with me. But your hands won't feel cold if we play catch, right? Go bring the gloves.'"
Aki's breathing grew heavier, his sword trembling slightly as Kang Woo continued. "The sick brother happily ran back to the house to grab the gloves, waving goodbye to the boy as he left. But then…"
Kang Woo's tone grew darker, heavier. "Suddenly, a hail of giant bullets struck the house. BOOM! It was obliterated in an instant. The Gun Devil had arrived. Not just there, but everywhere—death in every direction."
The room grew deathly quiet, save for the hum of the magic circle. Aki's grip on his sword tightened as Kang Woo pressed on. "The boy stood frozen. He had survived, but the house… his family… gone."
Aki's jaw clenched, his rage barely contained. Kang Woo's voice grew sharper, cutting through the silence. "The boy became consumed by revenge. All his blame, all his hatred, focused on the Gun Devil. But for me? I wonder why."
Kang Woo's crimson gaze bore into Aki's, unrelenting. "Why did the boy blame the Gun Devil for everything? Wasn't there fault of his own? Why didn't he get stronger as a child to protect his family? Why didn't he stay by their side and die alongside them? Or…" Kang Woo leaned forward slightly, despite still being pinned by the Curse Devil. His voice was cold, cutting. "…why didn't he keep his brother with him a little while longer, instead of sending him back?"
Aki's grip on his sword tightened, his entire body trembling with suppressed rage. His voice cracked, filled with anguish, as he growled, "You bastard…!"
Before he could act, something caught his attention. His eyes widened as he saw a glowing dharma wheel manifesting faintly on Kang Woo's right arm.
Kang Woo's let go the dharma wheel , his lips curved into a cold smirk as he uttered, "With this treasure, I summon the Divine General Mahoraga."
The air in the chamber thickened, and the temperature seemed to plummet further. From the shadows surrounding the magic circle, a massive form began to take shape. The Divine General Mahoraga emerged, its towering figure casting an oppressive shadow over the group. It was unlike anything they had seen before. The muscular, humanoid figure had grotesque, otherworldly features: four wings protruded eerily from its empty eye sockets, and a tail-like appendage extended from the back of its head. Above it hovered an enormous, eight-handled wheel, spinning slowly and ominously. The wheel emitted a bone-chilling sound: CLANK.
The Curse Devil, still pinning Kang Woo, suddenly faltered as Mahoraga moved with terrifying precision. With a single, devastating swing of its massive blade, Mahoraga obliterated the Curse Devil Temporary . The wheel above Mahoraga's head spun once more, the haunting CLANK echoing in the icy expanse.
Himeno's voice broke the stunned silence, trembling with realization. "The White Devil… the one that rampaged at Sage Grove Center in America, and appeared at Aokigahara Forest… It's actually Kang Woo's. The White Devil belongs to him ? "
Makima's yellow-ringed eyes glinted with curiosity as she spoke, her tone measured but inquisitive. "I was suspicious that day. Kang Woo claimed he only heisted Sage Grove Center and escaped, but the devastation left behind… it was unmistakable. He didn't just steal something. He summoned the White Devil: Mahoraga. Strange name, isn't it?"
Reze's thoughts raced as she processed the revelation. The Soviet Union ordered me to report immediately if I ever encountered the White Devil. But now I know… it's Kang Woo's summon. This is very dangerous situation .
Mahoraga's enormous hand reached out, grabbing Aki by the neck and lifting him effortlessly into the air. The sheer strength of its grip left Aki dangling helplessly, his sword slipping from his grasp and clattering to the icy floor.
Kang Woo stepped closer, his tone icy and devoid of sympathy. "My question remains the same, Aki: why didn't you die with your family? Problem solved. No more revenge, no more guilt. You could've passed the baton to the next generation."
Mahoraga's wheel spun once more, the sound of CLANK reverberating through the chamber like a death knell. Kang Woo continued, his voice unrelenting. "This world calls it the White Devil. Its true name is Mahoraga, and it serves me. Four more spins, Aki, and you'll be permanently killed . What will you do?"
The eight-handled wheel above Mahoraga began to spin for the second time. The familiar sound of CLANK was expected—but then it faltered.
Krrk… krrkk… krkk…
The wheel stuttered, refusing to spin further. Kang Woo's eyes glinted as he observed, his mind analyzing the disruption. The magic circle I implanted… its rules bend reality itself, thanks to the power of the King of Chaos. Even Mahoraga, empowered by demonic energy, can't adapt or progress further.
Mahoraga growled lowly, its wheel glowing faintly but unmoving. Despite this limitation, its grip on Aki tightened further, rendering him unconscious. His body went limp, hovering between life and death. The magic circle's rule—no one can die within its bounds—began to waver as the delicate balance of its reality-warping nature deactivated in secret.
Kang Woo's smile grew colder. In his thoughts, he reflected, The seed of revenge has been planted. The rest is up to you, Aki Hayakawa. Let's see what you do with it.
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Aki opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by snow. The scene was eerily tranquil, untouched and pristine, with a quiet that stretched endlessly. The cold stung his skin, but it felt nostalgic—almost comforting. In the distance, a familiar figure stood, holding a baseball in one hand.
"Taiyo…" Aki's voice trembled as he recognized his younger brother.
The boy waved cheerfully. "Aki, come on! Let's play catch!"
Aki's legs moved before his mind could catch up. He sprinted toward Taiyo, his heart pounding with a mix of joy and disbelief. When he reached his brother, Taiyo grinned and tossed the ball lightly.
Aki caught it, the motion almost automatic, as if his body remembered a time long forgotten. He threw it back, the ball soaring through the crisp air.
For what felt like hours, the two played catch, their laughter echoing through the snowy expanse. Taiyo playfully missed a few catches on purpose, sticking out his tongue in mock frustration. Aki retaliated by tossing the ball higher, forcing his brother to jump for it. They teased, they laughed, they ran through the snow, each moment more vivid and real than the last.
But as the game slowed, Aki found himself breathing heavily, the emotions he'd buried for so long bubbling to the surface. Dropping the ball, he ran toward Taiyo and wrapped his arms around him tightly.
Tears streamed down Aki's face as he whispered, his voice breaking, "I hope this is real… I miss you so much…"
Taiyo, confused but smiling, hugged his brother back. "What's wrong, Aki? I'm here. I've always been here, but it's far away."
Aki frowned, pulling back slightly. "What do you mean, Taiyo?"
Far in the distance, 200 meters away, Kang Woo observed the scene, his crimson gaze flickering with faint interest. "Hmm… This is life between death, at least in Aki's landscape," he muttered under his breath.
Without warning, Makima materialized beside Kang Woo, her yellow-ringed eyes sharp as they took in the surreal scene. She stood silently for a moment before glancing at Kang Woo.
Kang Woo sighed dramatically. "I'm starting to regret giving you the Commandment of Piety. Now I can't escape from you."
Makima's lips curled into a small smile, her tone light but knowing. "Regret? You don't seem like the type."
Kang Woo scoffed, crossing his arms. "The Commandment of Piety was meant to give you Darkness Manipulation, Hellblaze, and the mana you needed. Now that you've absorbed it completely, it truly belongs to you. Honestly, I don't even know what you're planning to do with it anymore."
Makima's smile deepened, but she said nothing.
Kang Woo turned his attention back to Aki and Taiyo, waving a hand dismissively. "Now quiet down. I need to hear this."
As Taiyo stood before Aki, his form began to waver, dissolving like smoke caught in the wind. His voice, trembling with urgency, called out, "Please find us. We're bundled together, trapped, but we can't escape. Please… find us."
Aki's breath hitched as he reached out. "Wait! Taiyo, tell me more! What's going on?!" His voice cracked, filled with desperation.
Taiyo's fading figure smiled weakly, tears glistening in his eyes. "I really miss you, older brot—"
Suddenly, the air above them tore apart with a deafening roar. A massive black flaming sword descended, its sheer presence suffocating. The Hell Gate Blade slashed through the space above Taiyo, severing invisible chains that bound him. The flames danced wildly as the sword's cut reverberated through the snow-filled landscape. Taiyo's form solidified once more, no longer dissolving. He stumbled forward, steadying himself beside Aki.
Kang Woo emerged from the void of the broken sky, his crimson eyes blazing as he approached. His footsteps were deliberate, each one crunching against the snow with weight and authority.
"I've heard stories," Kang Woo said, his tone dripping with disdain, "about minds being separated from the soul after a body's death. It's rare, a phenomenon most would dismiss as legend. But now, seeing it with my own eyes, I feel nothing but anger."
Aki's confusion deepened, his gaze shifting between Kang Woo and Taiyo. "What… are you talking about?"
Kang Woo's expression darkened as he continued. "What makes me furious isn't just the rarity of this phenomenon—it's that an invalid dares to mimic the highest-ranked. Consuming souls? Manipulating them? Acting like they're more than what they are?" His voice grew colder. "It's unacceptable."
The weight of Kang Woo's words settled heavily on Aki, who finally snapped. "What the fuck are you doing here?! Isn't this supposed to be my consciousness? Are you seriously invading my mind now, too?!"
Kang Woo tilted his head, a wicked grin forming on his lips. "Oh, Aki. How about you stop shouting and take a good look behind you?" His voice was laced with amusement. "That, right there, is your true enemy. The one you've been chasing."
Hesitant but compelled, Aki slowly turned, his heart pounding in his chest. As the snowy sky cleared, an ominous figure emerged, casting an enormous shadow over the landscape.
It was the Gun Devil.
The monstrous entity floated ominously, its grotesque form impossible to ignore. It resembled a colossal humanoid, skeletal and decayed, with massive, building-sized rifles for arms. Its body was packed with disembodied, screaming heads, their anguished cries echoing like a cursed symphony. An oversized barrel and slide jutted out grotesquely from where its face should have been. The lower half of its body was missing, replaced instead by six massive ammo belts of 7.62×51mm NATO rounds, swaying and clinking ominously as they hung from its torso.
Aki's blood ran cold as Kang Woo's voice echoed behind him. "Those screaming heads you see?" Kang Woo's tone was quiet but biting. "Those are the souls. Perhaps you'll find answers in the cries of the damned."
The tension in the air thickened as the Gun Devil raised its colossal M4 carbine-like arm, its barrel glowing ominously. A hail of bullets tore through the icy expanse with terrifying precision, aimed directly at Taiyo, as if to reclaim his mind and drag him back into its tortured collection of souls.
Aki froze, panic gripping him. "Taiyo, get down!" he shouted.
Before the bullets could reach, a sharp sound cracked through the air: BANG. The deafening noise echoed as a massive force obliterated the Gun Devil's left arm entirely. Its hail of bullets vanished into harmless sparks, dissipating before reaching Taiyo.
Makima stepped forward, her yellow-ringed eyes gleaming with calculated focus. Her finger was raised in a mock pistol gesture, smoke wafting from its tip. "It's very rare to see you angry, my King," she remarked, her tone calm but edged with amusement. "And now you're concerned about your status?"
Kang Woo's expression darkened, his crimson gaze fixed on the disarmed Gun Devil. "It's the principle, Makima. My power—soul-consuming—isn't for these invalids to mimic. If they want to act like me, they can start by paying for a license." His voice dripped with sarcasm and venom.
Makima's lips curved into a small smile. "Narcissistic as ever, aren't you?"
Aki's frustration boiled over. "Hold on!" he snapped, his voice shaking with anger and confusion. "Why are you two invading my mind now? Wasn't Kang Woo enough? And Ms Makima, why are you even here?"
Makima shrugged, her tone matter-of-fact. "I'm just sticking to Kang Woo, as always. It's entertaining, after all."
Kang Woo glanced at her with a dry, sarcastic smirk. "And I'm just running away from Makima, as usual."
Makima chuckled softly, her amusement evident as she lowered her "pistol." "Liar. You enjoy my company far too much to run."
The Gun Devil let out an unholy screech, its remaining arm convulsing as it attempted to regenerate. The ammo belts attached to its lower torso began spinning, preparing for another onslaught.
Taiyo clung to Aki, his small hands gripping his older brother's arm tightly. "Aki, it's trying to take me back!" he cried, his voice trembling with fear.
Makima stepped forward, her hand manifesting a sword of pure darkness. She raised it, ready to strike down the abomination. However, Kang Woo stepped in, placing a firm hand on Makima's chest—a silent gesture meaning "Let Aki cook."
Kang Woo remained completely silent, offering no explanation. Makima only smiled faintly, her yellow-ringed eyes glinting with amusement as she lowered her weapon. She gave Kang Woo a glance that silently said, another experiment ?
Aki's mind raced, recalling something Angel Devil had once said: What if I'm not afraid? What if I'm fueled with rage? What if being angry enough can make me stronger?
But nothing changed. Despite his fury, he remained powerless. Aki's frustration deepened as he struggled to find a solution. His thoughts wandered to Kang Woo's earlier rants: "To obtain mana, mages in training have to undergo intense meditation. It's the most effective way to absorb mana from the air around them."
At that moment, Aki thought bitterly, At a time like this, why am I remembering that crazy maniac's bullshit? But desperation pushed him to act. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to concentrate.
Taiyo tugged at Aki's arm, his voice rising in panic. "What are you doing, Aki? It's coming toward us!"
From the sidelines, Kang Woo broke his silence, his voice calm and amused. "Don't worry. He's just beginning to believe."
Makima arched a brow, shooting Kang Woo a look that said, Really? That's your big plan?
Suddenly, the space surrounding Aki began to shift. Flames erupted around him, forming a protective circle that engulfed both him and Taiyo. The heat was intense, yet comforting, creating an unbreakable barrier that deflected the Gun Devil's onslaught.
Aki opened his eyes, staring in awe at the flames encircling him. His voice was quiet, almost disbelieving. "Is this… my negative energy power?"
Kang Woo smirked from the sidelines, his crimson eyes glowing faintly in the fiery light. "That's the start of it," he muttered, his tone laced with pride.
Taiyo, still holding tightly onto Aki, turned his gaze toward Kang Woo and Makima in the distance. "Aki, are those your friends? And that black-haired man—he has the same hair color as you. Is he your teacher?"
Aki, his face darkening with irritation, glared at Kang Woo before lifting his middle finger in his direction. "Ms. Makima is a thousand times better," he said sharply. "That guy is just a narcissistic, cold-hearted bastard."
Makima, amused by the display, elbowed Kang Woo lightly and teased, "It seems my former subordinates still prefer to stay under my control."
Kang Woo rolled his eyes, letting out a faint sigh but keeping silent.