The convertible breezed down the coastal highway, the salty wind tossing Ace's hair as he stood, arms spread wide, in the passenger seat.
"Sun! Faster! The ocean calls!" Ace shouted, his excitement radiating like sunlight.
Sun gripped the wheel, muttering under his breath. "I should've left you in the apartment. A demon on a sugar rush... What could go wrong?"
As they pulled into the crowded beach parking lot, Ace leaped out before the car stopped moving. His bare feet hit the hot pavement, and he sprinted toward the sand, leaving Sun to lug their beach gear.
"I see how it is," Sun grumbled, hefting a cooler and umbrella.
Sun shielded his eyes from the blinding sunlight as they stepped onto the crowded beach. The smell of salt and sand mingled with the aroma of grilled food from nearby stalls. Children squealed as they raced towards the waves, and volleyball nets were staked into the sand where laughter and shouts accompanied the thudding of the ball.
Ace strolled beside him, soaking in the scenery with childlike wonder. "This is the Earth you all fight so fiercely to protect?" he mused, his tone betraying a mix of sarcasm and genuine curiosity.
"It's peaceful, isn't it?" Sun replied, sidestepping a rogue frisbee that zipped past.
"Debatable," Ace murmured, smirking as he eyed a seagull stealing a hapless beachgoer's sandwich.
Sun, dressed in light beachwear, then began shedding the weight of his world while Ace marveled at the sand between his toes.
"You're telling me this is made of crushed rocks?" Ace scooped up a handful of sand, letting the grains sift through his fingers.
Sun smirked. "Among other things. Surprised you didn't know."
Ace's lips twisted into a thoughtful pout. "No one ever bothered to explain geology in Hell. They're too busy with the screaming."
They hadn't been there long when two familiar figures approached—the pair of children from the dessert store, carrying a colourful assortments of ice pops. The elder boy, Jihoon, smiled brightly, while his younger brother, Minseok, waved enthusiastically.
"Mr. Sun! Mr. Ace! " Jihoon called out, bounding across the sand.
"Did you bring us treats, or are those just for show?" Ace asked, eyeing the ice pops.
Minseok giggled, thrusting a bright blue one into Ace's hand. "Here! You said you liked sweets!"
Sun chuckled as Ace took the offering, examining it as though it were a rare artifact before taking a careful bite. The demon's eyes widened in delight. "Interesting... frozen yet flavorful. Humans have truly mastered the art of indulgence."
As they sat together, Ace produced his ever-present notebook, flipping through its pages. He scribbled something down, his handwriting an elegant script that stood in stark contrast to his often irreverent demeanor.
"What are you writing?" Minseok asked, leaning over curiously.
"Cataloging," Ace replied, his tone almost scholarly. "This is what you call... an ice pop?"
"Yes!" Minseok beamed.
Sun shook his head in amusement. "You're surprisingly meticulous for someone so... chaotic."
Ace quirked an eyebrow, his smirk returning. "I believe in understanding my surroundings. Knowledge is power, Sun."
'Note to self: Increase patbingsu consumption. Possibly make a shrine to these kids.'
"These kids are dangerous. I'll need to watch out or I might start liking this too much."
___________________________________
A television reporter stood in front of a smoldering ruin as he reports the news.
"Good morning. We begin with breaking news on the escalating conflicts between the aetherforged factions. Yesterday's battle between the infamous Destroyer Guild and the Siren Guild left hundreds of civilians displaced and caused untold destruction."
"The Destroyer Guild, one of the top 15 guilds in the world, is believed to be behind this devastation. Among the critically injured is Sven Alaric, a powerful combatant from the guild."
The report cuts to a screen showing Sven being wheeled into a heavily guarded hospital before shifting to a scene of utter chaos: Shattered buildings, wounded civilians and emergency personnel scrambling for cover.
"Sources close to the guild confirm that Sven's injuries were caused by an unidentified entity who intervened in the battle. As of now, Sven remains unconscious, and the guild has refused further comment."
In a dark, clinical room, Sven lay motionless, connected to an array of medical devices. Ivar Askel, the Vice President of the Destroyer Guild, stood beside the bed, arms crossed, listening to the doctor.
"His vitals are stable, but there's no sign of him waking up soon. The damage inflicted on him—"
"Spare me the details. What's the prognosis? Days? Weeks?" thundered Ivan.
The doctor hesitated, shifting uncomfortably.
"It's hard to say. His condition is unlike anything we've seen before. It's as though his very essence was disrupted."
Ivar's jaw tightened, and without another word, he strode out of the room.
Ivar entered the expansive chamber, where Altheus Myrr, the guild leader, stood before a wall of glowing monitors.
Sven's out. The doctors don't know when—or if—he'll recover."
"And the anomaly?"
"Nothing definitive. Witnesses say it was a man, but no details beyond that. Whoever it was, they're not from our world."
Altheus's lips thinned, but before he could respond, a chilling presence filled the room. Shadows writhed unnaturally, and the temperature plummeted. Grendel, their true master, made his presence known.
The monstrous aura emanating from the shadows was suffocating. Though his physical form couldn't manifest on Earth, the sheer force of his projection was enough to command absolute submission.
"You dare let a mere setback hinder our progress?" Grendel's voice rumbled, a guttural growl that seemed to echo from the depths of nightmares.
Altheus and Ivar bowed deeply.
"Master, the situation—" Altheus began, but Grendel cut him off.
"The Key of Aegis," Grendel hissed.
"It must be found. No more excuses."
"We'll double our efforts," Ivar assured, his voice trembling.
"See that you do,"
Grendel snarled before fading back into the void, leaving an oppressive silence in his wake.
________________________________________
Back at the beach, the scene was much more lively. Ace had drawn a small crowd with his peculiar antics. At some point, a girl approached, her smile bright and inviting.
"You two look like you could use a little action. Up for a game?" she asked, gesturing toward the volleyball court.
Sun hesitated, but Ace was already on his feet. "A game? I'm in," he declared, cracking his knuckles.
"I'm Tartar."
Tartar giggled, but her eyes lingered on Ace for a moment too long, an almost predatory glint flashing briefly.
"Then it's settled. Let's see what you've got."
As the match began, Ace's enthusiasm turned the match into chaos, with leaps and spikes so powerful they kicked up sprays of sand. Tartar's laughter masked her keen observation of Ace—her eyes flickering briefly with a predatory gleam.
An exasperated Sun calls out
"Hey, keep it down! We're trying not to destroy the beach, remember?"
"Not my fault if the ball is so flimsy."
Sun..."..."
As the game wrapped up, Ace approached Tartar.
"You're good," he remarked, his tone deceptively casual.
Tartar smiled. "You're not bad yourself."
Their eyes met briefly, Tartar's smile faltered as she looked unsure of herself and she excused herself hurriedly.
Sun approached, frowning. "What was that about?"
"Someone to keep an eye on," Ace replied cryptically.
'A demon in disguise. Cute.'
As the day stretched on, Ace grew more animated, switching from volleyball to sandcastle critique with the children. "Your turret lacks structural integrity," he told Jihoon. "It'll collapse under an imaginary siege."
Sun laughed, shaking his head. "You really take this 'holiday' seriously."
Ace smirked. "Every moment is an experience worth dissecting."
As the group packed up, Tartar lingered by the water, her eyes directed at Ace. He merely gave her a knowing look before turning away, his disinterest a quiet dismissal. She frowned, her plan foiled for now.
On their way home, the group shared lighthearted banter, Ace humming contentedly. The tension from battles and conspiracies felt like a distant echo, but for Sun, one thing was clear—this demon's holiday was anything but ordinary.