For the first time since their battle began, the fight had shifted in his favor.

The two pushed each other back, creating some distance between them.

That's when Davonte noticed something strange.

His horn was gone.

A realization struck him.

The strange feeling coursing through his body had something to do with it.

"Tell me, boy," the woman said. "Are you also able to perceive the Presence of Death in the air differently?"

Davonte glanced around his surroundings.

"Uh... I didn't know the Presence of Death even had a color."

The woman narrowed her eyes.

"I see. So even you can't see it."

Her horns suddenly grew longer.

Without another word, she charged at him.

This time, however, Davonte effortlessly dodged her attack.

He countered with a punch.

Then another.

And another.

The woman was forced onto the defensive as Davonte relentlessly pressured her.

Finally, he ended the assault with a powerful kick that sent her crashing down into the street below.

Davonte immediately followed.

Landing in front of her, he raised his palm.

"Interference."

An invisible force erupted from his hand.

The woman was pushed backward and her horns visibly shrank.

Her eyes widened in shock.

"What the hell did you just do to me?!"

Davonte began walking toward her.

"It just occurred to me that you never stop healing. Raphael taught me a move called Interruption."

He pointed at her.

"It can close your gates."

The woman's expression twisted with anger.

She bit her lip until blood dripped down her chin.

Davonte rushed forward and drove a knee into her jaw.

She crashed onto the ground.

Without hesitation, he climbed on top of her and began mercilessly punching her face.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Just as her consciousness began to fade, both she and Davonte heard a voice.

"Petronella!"

Davonte looked up.

The woman seized the opportunity and punched him away.

She immediately got to her feet and started running.

Davonte chased after her.

Then he saw another demon descending from the sky.

Two black wings stretched from the man's back.

Judging by the blood covering him, he had clearly been fighting as well.

"Petronella!" he shouted. "We need to retreat! Take my hand!"

The woman immediately grabbed it.

The two demons ascended into the air.

"Get back here, asshole!"

Davonte turned and saw Tama sprinting toward them.

To his surprise, she had been chasing Yurov the entire time.

Yurov and Petronella quickly disappeared into the night sky.

Tama finally reached Davonte.

"We need to find Yukei. Where is she?"

"I think they're still at the hotel," Davonte replied.

Without wasting another second, the two rushed back.

---

Meanwhile, back at the hotel...

Sai and Yukei remained hidden inside a dark room.

"Come on, Cleaners!" a childish voice echoed through the hallway. "Come out and play with me!"

Sai trembled.

Yukei was injured.

In her current condition, she wasn't suited for combat.

"Oh no..." Sai muttered. "This is really bad."

Yukei looked at him.

"I have a plan."

Sai blinked.

"A plan?"

She nodded.

"But you'll need to follow my lead."

"Uh... okay."

Sai took a deep breath before stepping out of hiding.

"Hey, you!"

The strange child immediately smiled.

"You wanna play? Then let's play."

Sai reached into his small enchanted bag and pulled out his broom.

"Yay! One Cleaner wants to play!"

The child raised his palm.

"Destruction."

The same invisible force Sai had sensed earlier rushed toward him.

"I need your help, Dandan."

His broom instantly transformed into a pistol.

Bang!

Sai fired.

The invisible force shattered apart.

The child froze.

Before he could react, Sai fired again.

Both bullets struck his arms.

"What...?"

The child's eyes widened.

"He shot through Destruction?"

"NOW!" Sai shouted.

Yukei exploded from hiding.

She appeared behind the child and tore a chunk of flesh from his shoulder with her teeth.

"AAAH!"

The child screamed in agony.

As he desperately tried to heal himself, Yukei's body changed.

Two horns emerged from her head.

Her severed leg regenerated.

Then she slowly raised her palm.

"Destruction."

The child's face froze.

A second later, his body was torn apart.

Blood splattered across the room.

Nothing remained.

Yukei collapsed onto the floor, breathing heavily.

Sai rushed over.

"Whoa! Yukei, your plan worked! That was awesome!"

Yukei looked up at him.

"Awesome?"

Sai fell silent.

"I just took a life, Sai."

She lowered her gaze.

"There's nothing awesome about that."

Sai opened his mouth.

Then closed it again.

He had no response.

After a moment, he simply nodded.

"Let's go find the others."

---

A short while later, the group reunited outside the hotel.

"Oh, thank goodness you're okay, Miss Yukei," Tama said.

"Tama, I'm glad you're okay too."

Yukei smiled.

"And by the looks of things, so is Davonte."

As she spoke, her body began shrinking.

Within moments, she had returned to her child form.

"Oh."

She sighed.

"Looks like I became little again."

"Oh man, she's even cuter as a child!"

Tama immediately began taking pictures.

Davonte blinked.

"Where did she even get a camera?"

"Uh... I'm okay too, if anyone cares," Sai muttered.

Suddenly, a strange voice echoed through the air.

"Oh my."

The four froze.

Yukei's face instantly turned pale.

It was as if she recognized that voice.

Slowly, everyone turned toward the sky.

A handsome angel descended from above.

Magnificent white wings spread behind him.

"It's been a while, Yukei."

His gaze shifted.

"And you too, Tama."

The atmosphere immediately became tense.

Tama crossed her arms.

A grin appeared on her face.

"Well, well."

She looked up at him.

"If it isn't everyone's favorite person..."

"Angel Julius."

END