The Other Side. The Upside Down. The Valley of Darkness. The Abyss.

So many names. So many whispers.

Akane had heard them all.

Ever since she became a succubus, she'd dug deeper than most would dare. She’d let many go—people she could’ve easily ended—just to learn more. To understand what she had become… and what lay on the other side.

A world untouched by sunlight. A place no normal human could survive, much less comprehend.

There, kindness was a weakness. Mercy, a death sentence. Only the strong endured. The weak were devoured.

In that world, trust was a fragile illusion. The one who served you with a smile could turn on you the moment you slipped.

Akane had read the stories, listened to the whispers, and stared into the shadows that seemed to stretch endlessly. And even now, her soul trembled at what she’d learned.

And Minoru… he was about to step into that nightmare.

“…Are you serious about this?” she asked quietly, walking beside him as they headed down the school building.

Her voice was calm, but her heart wasn’t.

Mira was unconscious. The strange green veins kept spreading, but she didn’t cry out.

Chinatsu stood on guard, her eyes scanning the surroundings. A message from her sister blinked on her device: Stay hidden for now.

Akane hadn’t made up her mind. Was the enemy the succubus… or something much worse?

Minoru descended the stairs in silence, his expression unreadable.

“I used to get bullied a lot in high school,” he said quietly. “And she’d always be there. Wiping my tears, scolding the teachers, even yelling at the bullies' mothers.”

He gave a small, tired sigh.

“She’s always protected me. It’s my turn now.”

He never hesitated. Whatever had hurt his mother, it wasn’t Zariel. And to face the real cause, Minoru would have to walk into that world.

They stepped out of the main building—and stopped cold.

A familiar figure stood there.

Minami.

Her brows were furrowed, her fists clenched at her sides. Her eyes widened when she saw him—but they didn’t soften.

“I don’t care what you’re planning,” she said firmly. “You can’t take him.”

The air around her crackled. Her aura—heavy, sharp, and full of tension—sent a tremor through the ground. Even the glass nearby quivered as if struggling to hold itself together.

Zariel didn’t respond. She could feel it: Minami wasn’t just scared. She was desperate.

“This isn’t just about you or me,” finally, the Succubus said softly. “Minoru’s already made his decision. I won’t stop him. And neither can you.”

Minami turned to him, the fury in her eyes giving way to fear.

Minoru stepped forward, slowly. Gently, he cupped her cheek.

“Minami,” he said, voice low but steady, “they’ve backed me into a corner. They hurt my mum to get to me. Unless I go… she won’t be saved.”

He held her gaze.

“And you know me. Between my own safety and my family’s… you already know what I’ll choose.”

Tears welled up in her eyes.

She knew what the Other Side meant. What it did to people. Every part of her screamed not to let him go.

And yet, her senpai was about to walk straight into it.

"T-Then, I will also come-"

"You can't, neither I can. Only Minoru and his mother are allowed to cross the border." Zariel told her with utter indifference.

The very fact she was told not to return stung her pride; however, retaliation against that person meant her demise. She chose to live with a crushed pride rather than being swallowed by darkness.

Minami was feeling helpless now, holding Minoru's hand, which was on her cheek; she wept silently.

Chinatsu stepped out from the shadows and gently placed her hands on Minami’s shoulders, trying to steady her trembling frame. The girl’s breath was shallow, her eyes wide with worry.

Minoru turned toward the succubus and asked quietly, “Can I hold my mother?”

Zariel gave a casual shrug.

Without wasting a second, Minoru stepped forward. Mira’s breaths were rough, her body still limp in that unnatural state.

He knelt beside her, carefully slipping his arms beneath her and lifting her into a bridal carry. Her weight didn’t bother him—he held her as if she were made of glass.

Turning to Akane, he began, “Can you tell my family that I’ll be back as soon as—”

“That won’t be necessary,” a calm voice interrupted. It was the Pure Blood. “The time zones between the two realms are mismatched. For them, you’ll only be gone a few minutes.”

Minoru nodded in understanding. Then, meeting Akane’s gaze, he said firmly, “Take care of Minami. If I don’t find you when I return… I’ll contact you right away.”

Akane gave a slow nod. She reached out, placing a steady hand on his shoulder.

“Stay calm, Minoru. What happens next… it all rests on you.”

He looked down at his mother, his grip tightening just a little.

“I won’t allow myself to mess this up.”

Zariel stepped forward and slashed the air.

It seemed like nothing at first—just a swipe through empty space.

But then, the world split. A dark gash tore open in front of them, swirling with shadows and oozing a dense, foul energy.

The portal to the Other Side.

Akane’s breath hitched.

The miasma that spilled from the rift wasn’t just dark—it was suffocating. It felt like standing before something ancient and monstrous. The air grew tight, heavy, like being trapped in a sealed box with no way out.

She clenched her fists.

This was no ordinary journey.

This… was the edge of the abyss.

Minoru held his mother close and finally, he stepped through the portal.

And the sight that greeted him....was breathingtaking.

"This is...beautiful."

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Agh, it's been so many chapters without smut. I will soon add one. Sorry for this to become so serious.