CHAPTER 145: A RIGHTEOUS DEMON VS AN EVIL ANGEL (1/3)

"Hm? Satan?" Kael frowned.

Then, Azazel’s brows furrowed in realization. "No... You’re not him."

Azazel’s expression turned hard. "You’re a human... No, part demon. Hmm? It’s the heart?"

He took a step forward.

Before Kael could speak, a broken voice cut through the tension. "You’re... alive, brother..."

Azazel turned, and so did Kael.

Alice, no, Azareia, managed to get back her consciousness and tried to lift her head, her lips curling in a smile despite the blood pooling beneath her. "I did it... You’re free now. At last..."

Azazel froze. "Azareia...?"

His voice quivered. His body trembled in shock.

But that moment shattered instantly when he turned back toward Kael and raised his hand.

A pulse of dark energy swirled around his palm. "You... dare... to... hurt... my... sister?"

Kael didn’t wait for him to launch an attack either. He instantly made his move.

In a blur, he crossed the distance and slashed forward with one of his curved elerium daggers.

CLANG—SHHHING!

A line of scarlet light tore through the space between them. The attack was so swift that Azazel’s wrist barely escaped being severed.

He twisted mid-air and skidded back across the ground, talons dragging ruts in the stone as he landed several meters away, his eyes now lit with fury and intrigue.

"Impressive..." he muttered. "You almost cut off my arm. Judging by its strength, you must have recovered atleast 3% of Satan’s power."

He looked down at the shallow gash on his forearm. Already, black mist coiled around it and closed the wound.

His eyes turned toward Alice, who had lost consciousness at last. Her breathing was shallow. She had nothing left to give.

"Azareia, you gave everything," he murmured. "To awaken me..."

His face was a mixture of unreadable emotion.

Then, without warning, he lifted his hand, and the sky darkened, the moonlight blocked by the clouds, and lightning slithered through them. The ground trembled. A rune circle, ten meters wide, ignited beneath his feet. "And I... I will..."

Kael’s daggers pulsed in response. His voice turned into a low snarl, interrupting him. "If you intend to continue her madness, I’ll send you to the spirit realm for good."

Azazel tilted his head, chuckling. "Oh, don’t worry, mortal. That girl... she awakened me by sacrificing thousands. She brought me back... but this world... I don’t have a tiny bit of interest in it." He narrowed his eyes at Kael’s horns, wings, and aura. "However, you. You interest me more."

He raised his palm again.

"Show me how much strength you have managed to capture from Satan’s heart..."

And with that, Azazel attacked.

A quiet settled over the ruined graveyard, but only for a heartbeat.

Then, they moved.

Azazel launched forward like a comet, wings outstretched, black lightning trailing behind him.

His right arm transformed mid-flight, reshaping into a jagged, metallic blade of bone and obsidian. The sheer speed cracked the ground behind him.

Kael stood his ground, the twin elerium daggers glowing crimson, waiting in his hands to strike.

CLAAAANG!!

Energy erupted from the impact like a shockwave, ripping trees from their roots and scattering debris in a perfect circle around them.

Kael slid back a few meters, boots carving twin furrows in the dirt. Azazel, mid-air, twisted and came down with a spiraling kick, his blade-arm sweeping sideways at Kael’s neck.

Kael ducked, spun, and countered, a clean slash across Azazel’s side. Blood sprayed black and hissed as it struck the ground.

Azazel backed away, unfazed. He grinned. "You had experience in killing. I must say you killed dozens with your own hands, for someone so young."

Kael’s voice was quiet and cold. "Today, I’ll add another one to my list, too."

"Oh, I’m not so sure about that." Azazel opened his palm.

A halo of black fire surged above his head, divine yet corrupted, spinning like a burning crown. He thrust a finger forward, and the halo shot down like a guillotine.

Kael vanished in a blur.

The halo struck the ground where he had stood a second ago, splintering the land open.

Kael reappeared behind Azazel, daggers crossed, as he struck.

Azazel turned at the last second, but Kael’s blades dug into his shoulders, carving deep through flesh.

Splat!

Azazel screamed as blood misted the air. But Kael didn’t stop. He used the momentum, spun again, and stabbed both daggers deep into Azazel’s torso, right through the ribs, while dark flames erupted from the blade.

Azazel grabbed his wrists and snarled. "You... get lost..."

Suddenly, black fire burst from Azazel’s body, engulfing them both.

Kael flew back, his clothes scorched and skin seared. His chest had been slashed open, but the wound healed almost instantly as the demon heart within his body pulsated with energy.

Azazel landed heavily, coughing blood, one hand pressed against his side. Compared to Kael, Azazel’s regeneration seemed a lot slower than normal.

"Those flames... It’s the primordial fire. It’s affecting my regeneration and eating my own flames..." Azazel murmured.

"Funny, isn’t it? Someone with demonic energy is fighting for humanity, against someone who possesses divine energy, who is against humanity." Kael’s voice came again as he took one step forward, and the ground beneath his foot cracked apart from the sheer density of his energy. A sinister demonic aura expanded around him.

Azazel raised both arms. A sphere of divine energy formed between his palms. "Divine Sphere of Death."

He hurled it. "Die."

Kael didn’t dodge. Instead, he charged through it, taking him by surprise.

The sphere exploded in his chest, but he pushed on, body tearing and healing at the same time.

"Graaa"

Kael let out a roar, a guttural, inhuman cry, and slammed into Azazel with both daggers drawn. They carved a glowing X across the angel’s chest, cutting through his skin.

"Kaaa"

Azazel roared in pain and retaliated with a wave of celestial energy, but Kael’s regeneration flared again, skin knitting together as fast as it burned.

A quiet settled over the ruined graveyard, but only for a heartbeat.

Then, they moved again.

Azazel launched forward like a comet, wings outstretched, black lightning trailing behind him. His right arm transformed mid-flight, reshaping into a jagged, metallic blade of bone. The sheer speed cracked the ground behind him.

Kael stood his ground, increasing his grip on the daggers. One could see the grin of a maniac on his face as if he were enjoying it. "The fight has just begun, Azazel."