The Damned Demon

Back on Earth, a terrifying vibration erupted beneath every city, town, and village, sending billions of people staggering and gasping in panic. Streets trembled violently, buildings shook ominously, and in every corner of the world, eyes widened in collective fear.

“What the hell was that?” a man shouted, clutching his wife protectively as the tremors rattled his home.

“An earthquake?” the woman whispered shakily, holding tightly onto her husband, eyes wide in dread as cracks raced across the ground beneath their feet.

But as the vibrations intensified, their confusion turned into awe-filled terror as the very earth beneath their feet began to glow—a faint yet unsettling radiant illumination, ethereal yet ominous, spreading across the land.

People stared at their feet, mouths agape, hearts pounding desperately as they watched the ground pulse gently, almost as if the planet itself was coming alive.

Unknown to the frightened masses, every Junction Tower erected across the planet had activated simultaneously, their hidden cores connecting deeply into the heart of Earth itself. Invisible to ordinary eyes, these connections surged rapidly toward the planet’s molten core, converging beneath the surface, linking and intertwining, channeling immense amounts of mana through unseen veins of power.

Finally, their collective energy surged upwards, coalescing violently into the main Nexus Tower—a towering spire now pulsing softly, ominously, with barely restrained radiant mana.

Yet, the people remained ignorant of the grim reality, pacified by the reassuring messages swiftly released by the WHA. Their reassuring voices echoed through news broadcasts and emergency alerts worldwide.

“Attention, citizens of Earth, there is no need to panic. The vibrations you are experiencing are merely the Junction Towers working as intended, reinforcing our defenses to ensure the demons never set foot upon our beloved home. You are safe. Please remain calm.”

People relaxed slowly, sighing deeply with relief, placing their fragile trust once again in the reassuring words of the WHA. They resumed their daily routines cautiously, telling themselves everything was fine—oblivious to the devastating fate awaiting them, unaware that soon the very ground beneath their feet would tear itself apart.

Meanwhile, in Mars, in the sterile, lifeless depths of the Infinity Tower, Anna stirred awake groggily. Her eyelids fluttered slowly, consciousness trickling back into her mind like drops of cold water. For a brief moment, confusion clouded her thoughts.

“Where am I…?” she whispered hoarsely, voice trembling weakly.

Her memories were fragmented, her mind blank, empty of recollection, until suddenly she felt the chilling, cold embrace of metal shackles clasped tightly around her ankles and wrists. Her heart lurched violently, fear gripping her as reality crashed brutally upon her senses.

Her eyes snapped wide open, her vision clearing swiftly, dread pooling heavily within her chest. She recognized instantly the sterile white ceiling above her, the familiar cold steel examination tables, and the terrifying array of surgical equipment gleaming ominously in the dim lighting.

“No…” she gasped weakly, panic seizing her breath. One of the many experiment labs—a place of nightmares, of endless torment and cruel suffering at the hands of monsters disguised as humans.

And just as quickly as the horror settled, her mind flooded violently with sharp, agonizing memories. Anna’s pupils dilated sharply as flashes of the battle erupted in her consciousness—her mind-controlled self, ruthlessly tearing through Arthur’s brave comrades, striking down brave Hunters, watching as Arthur, desperate and heartbroken, pleaded for her to remember him and struggling to stop her out of fear of hurting her.

She choked painfully, tears blurring her vision as guilt tore relentlessly through her heart. Arthur… I hurt him again… Her heart twisted bitterly, grief overwhelming her senses, chest tightening in anguish. She had betrayed him once more, condemning him to a fate worse than death. Only this time she didn’t even realize it.

A surge of fury filled her as she struggled violently against her restraints, her expression raw and desperate.

But her mana circuit remained sealed, her strength useless against the metal bindings that held her fast, unyielding despite her rage-fueled attempts.

Just then, the metal doors hissed open coldly. Anna froze, dread pooling deeply in her gut as footsteps echoed softly against the sterile floor. Her heart sank sharply as a figure entered the room, a old man with thinning gray hair, his pale skin marked deeply by age and cruelty, his thin lips curled upwards into a sinister grin.

It was Lenny—the wicked man who had eagerly taken over Max’s mantle of torment, his wrinkled face illuminated grotesquely by a sick, twisted excitement.

“Hehehe,” Lenny chuckled darkly, eyes gleaming maliciously as he approached Anna slowly, leaning slightly on a polished wooden walking stick, “That was quite a performance, my dear lovely demon.”

Anna’s jaw clenched painfully, her eyes wide with rage and disgust. Lenny chuckled again, ignoring her glare as he set his walking stick aside, casually picking up a grotesque medical saw from the nearby tray, examining it with cruel fascination.

“Oh, you should’ve seen your little boyfriend,” he mocked gleefully, turning the saw slowly in his hands. “Begging you to stop, crying out for the woman you used to be, while you slaughtered his friends like cattle. Truly pathetic—hahaha! The son of the great Golden Prince reduced to nothing more than a desperate child getting weak for his demon lover pfft. What a joke!”

His cruel laughter rang through Anna’s mind, searing her soul with relentless torment. Her eyes shook, her breathing ragged, her heart pounding painfully with guilt and despair.

But then she wondered what Lenny meant by saying how Arthur was the son of the Golden Prince? Was that really true? It didn’t make sense.

Lenny’s laughter died down slowly into a sinister, crooked grin. His eyes glittered darkly, his pale face illuminated grotesquely beneath the harsh lab lights as he slowly approached Anna, brandishing a terrifying handheld saw.

Anna’s heart quickened desperately, fear and anger warring within her. She swallowed harshly, fighting to control her shaking voice, eyes defiant despite the terror gripping her chest.

“What… what are you planning to do to me?” Anna demanded, her voice low, raw with rage, trembling with barely-contained defiance.

Lenny’s thin, pale lips spread into a sinister smile, eyes shining gleefully. He stepped closer, his face inches from hers, his rancid breath fanning across her cheek as he whispered chillingly:

“Oh dear, don’t look so scared. Your struggle ends today. You have outlived your usefulness. Now it’s time to extract the M.A.M device embedded within your overused demon body. You won’t last much longer after getting powered by M.A.M for so long. I’m afraid this may be a bit… painful, but your pain would be beautiful,” He grinned in excitement before adding, “I only need the data inside that lovely device to build something far better. Something that will truly break and control subjects far more useful than you ever were.”

Anna’s eyes widened in horror, fear freezing her heart, icy dread running down her spine. She thrashed again helplessly, desperation flooding her veins.

She wasn’t afraid of dying. In fact she had wished she could die for longer than she could remember.

But she can’t die like this. Not without trying to set things right. Not without making sure nothing would happen to Arthur.

Lenny’s lips curled in twisted anticipation as he raised the sinister-looking flesh cutter saw, its wicked teeth gleaming coldly.

“Now, my pretty demon,” Lenny sneered maliciously, inching the spinning blade closer, savoring her fear. “Try not to scream too loud—”

*WEE-WOO!*

But suddenly, an earsplitting alarm blared sharply through every corner of the Infinity Tower. The red lights embedded into the walls flashed urgently, washing the sterile lab room in a violent, pulsating crimson glow. The piercing sound echoed relentlessly, shaking the very air itself.

Lenny jerked upright in startled frustration, the saw whirring down abruptly as he glanced irritably around the room.

“What the fuck?” he snarled angrily, eyes narrowing in confusion and annoyance. “An emergency alarm? Why now? What could possibly trigger an emergency in this stupid tower of his?”

With an irritated click of his tongue, he reluctantly set the saw back onto the metal tray with a frustrated clatter. Muttering angrily under his breath, he swiftly grabbed his walking stick, his eyes shifting coldly back toward Anna, the cruel gleam lingering in his gaze.

“Just hold onto your breath, pretty demon,” he sneered sinisterly, his pale lips twisting grotesquely. “Daddy’s going to be back soon enough.”

He turned sharply, quickly exiting the lab with hurried, agitated steps, leaving Anna alone once more, the alarms still screaming relentlessly around her.

Anna exhaled a shuddering, ragged breath, tears of terrified relief slipping down her pale cheeks. Yet she knew her respite was temporary, the fear lingering bitterly in her chest. Frantically, her eyes searched for any means to escape, desperately trying to shake free the restraints, but her mana remained sealed, her limbs still trapped helplessly.

But just as despair threatened to consume her entirely, the metal doors of the lab abruptly slid open again, startling her into silence.

Her eyes widened in shock as several familiar figures rushed hurriedly into the room. Young demons—her friends—faces filled with fierce determination, anxiety, and warmth. Leading them was a young woman she knew all too well: Cila.

Cila’s midnight-black skin shimmered gently beneath the crimson glow of the emergency lights, her rusty metallic arms creaking. Her dark red eyes locked instantly onto Anna’s figure, relief and determination mixing powerfully within her gentle yet resolved gaze.

“Cila? What are you guys doing here?” Anna gasped softly, shocked to see them all, wondering who let them out.

Cila stepped swiftly forward, reaching Anna’s side quickly, her metallic arms grasping firmly at Anna’s restraints. She smiled warmly, her expression gentle yet fiercely resolute.

“We’re here to save you, silly,” Cila said firmly, her voice steady despite the urgency radiating from her tense form. “The last thing we would allow to happen is for you to die at their hands.”

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