“Ehehehe… Where are you two going in such a hurry?” a mocking voice was heard from behind.
Aengus and Bella’s steps faltered. They stopped in a deserted alleyway and turned around to face the source of the voice.
A demonic woman stood before them, her hideous face marred by deep scars. A grotesque third eye, dark and unblinking, sat ominously on her forehead.
“So, two half-breeds, eh? Not bad. You two will do just fine as compensation for the damage you caused,” she cackled, her voice dripping with malice.
Bella remained calm despite the sight of the Archdemon blocking their path.
“She’s a witch,” Bella remarked, her tone casual. “They’re known for their curse powers and dark arts.”
Aengus, already aware thanks to his Appraisal ability, nodded, his eyes narrowing. He conjured Death Claws, dark tendrils of energy forming into sharp, menacing shapes around his hands, and unleashed his Darkness King’s Authority.
“Don’t block our way, witch. Your men got in the way first,” Bella spoke coldly, her tone authoritive.
The witch’s laughter was abruptly cut off as she coughed, gasping for breath. “Cough! W-what’s this? Power of Darkness?” she wheezed, struggling to speak.
Invisible chains of darkness wrapped around her body, binding her tightly like shackles, imprisoning her with an overwhelming force.
Aengus stood before her, his aura crushing her spirit, leaving her paralyzed in terror.
She couldn’t even breathe, let alone use her curse powers.
Bella stepped closer, her lips curling into a dangerous smile. “What were you saying just now? Can you repeat it?” she asked mockingly.
The witch’s eyes widened in fear, her arrogance completely shattered as she realized the true strength of the half-breeds before her.
She could have never believed that those inferior half-breeds could be this powerful.
“Now, tell us, have you captured those humans again that we just release or not?” Bella demanded, her voice sharp and commanding.
Aengus loosened the binding around the witch’s mouth, allowing her to speak.
“N-No… I haven’t,” the witch gasped, barely able to breathe.
“Lies!” Aengus’s voice turned cold, his All-Seeing Eyes piercing through the truth hidden within her.
Bella’s eyes darkened as she prepared to unleash her flames. “Looks like you don’t want to live. Goodbye!” she declared, her fire igniting to incinerate the witch.
“Ahhh!” The witch’s agonized howls echoed through the alleyway as the flames licked at her skin, reducing her to nothing but misery. No one would have thought it possible for an Archdemon to meet such an end, but that was exactly what was about to happen.
“Wait, Bella,” Aengus called out, stopping her just before the witch was reduced to ashes.
Bella turned to him, her expression questioning. “What are you up to Hubby?” she asked, wondering why he would spare such a vile creature.
Aengus’s lips curled, “Don’t forget, I can help you gain her bloodline curse abilities—if that’s something you’d want,” he offered.
Bella’s eyes widened, realizing his intention. “You’re right,” she said with a sly smile. “That could be very useful. I don’t mind, just make sure my face remains the same.”
She extinguished the flames, leaving the witch’s burned lifeless body.
Aengus raised his hand, beginning the fusion of Bella with the witch’s cursed bloodline. Bella groaned in pain, her body resisting the changes, and Aengus’s hand trembled slightly.
He wasn’t sure why—perhaps it was because of his growing affection for her?
But he was sure, he couldn’t bear seeing her in pain anymore.
He focused, trying to make the process as gentle as possible.
After what felt like an eternity, the fusion was complete. Bella stood before him, a new third eye on her forehead, dark yet strangely captivating. She looked stronger, more powerful, and her aura radiated with newfound energy.
Bella, feeling the surge of strength coursing through her, hugged Aengus tightly, her joy evident.
And, For the first time, Aengus wrapped his arms around her in return, placing a hand on her shoulder and back. Bella was surprised at first, but her surprise quickly gave way to happiness.
Once their emotions had settled, they rifled through the witch’s belongings, finding a spatial bracelet filled with horrific remnants—disgusting human flesh and similarly grotesque things. They removed the valuable cores, totaling several hundred thousand, and burned the rest without hesitation.
As they prepared to leave, Bella noticed Aengus’s unrest. “Do you want to go and save them?” she asked gently.
“I don’t know. I’m confused,” Aengus admitted, his mind conflicted.
Bella smiled knowingly and tugged him in the direction they had come from. “I know you, Aengus. You may act like you don’t care, but it’s the opposite. Let’s go check on them. After all, we owe them for bringing us closer.”
Her words brought a sense of clarity, and Aengus nodded, allowing her to lead the way.
—-
After some investigation, Aengus and Bella found their way to the witch’s den. It resembled more of a prison than a residence, a dark and oppressive underground hideout where human suffering thrived.
Along the way, they encountered numerous demons working for the witch. Each one tried to stop them, but their attempts were futile.
Aengus absorbed them into his Dimensional Space for breeding them as his Legion as they provided neither good abilities nor stat points—hardly worth his consumption using Gluttony.
As they descended further, they reached a grim chamber where hundreds of humans were enslaved, their conditions dire. Many were dead, while others bore signs of severe torture.
“Hey, who let you in here?” a demon guard barked, noticing the two unfamiliar figures approaching.
With a flick of his finger, Aengus attached death strings to the demon, draining its life force. Once the demon was on the brink of death, Aengus waved his hand, storing the nearly lifeless body in his Dimensional Space.
After neutralizing the remaining guards, Aengus and Bella began freeing the imprisoned humans. Some of them were the same ones they’d encountered earlier, though not all were present. It seemed the others might have hidden themselves well in the chaos.
“Let’s go, Aengus. Everything here is done,” Bella said, her eyes scanning the dimly lit hallway one last time.
“Huh! Where are you going?”
Bella muttered suddenly, seeing him going near a wall of hard concrete.
