Ophis and Raphael looked at Fallen Camazotz, who smirked with a haughty, arrogant expression.

His eyes glowed with an unnatural greenish light, swirling with predatory hunger as his claws grew, razor-sharp, ready to shred through flesh. His monstrous bat mouth twisted, stretching impossibly wide, long venomous fangs bared as he stared at his prey.

"Tsk, tsk… to think fate itself would hand me such a feast—my previous master, and the one who used to cower at her feet."

Both Ophis and Raphael flinched in fear, heartbeats stuttering as Camazotz's inhuman tongue flicked over his lips, savouring the scent of their panic as if it were the rarest wine.

"It's a pity, you know… truly a pity, and it cuts deeper than a blade. To think I must kill the master who once fed me, sheltered me, called me friend. How tragic… how laughably pathetic." He pressed two claws to the corner of his eye, feigning a tear, "Cry for me, will you?"

Ophis frowned, "Wipe that disgusting smirk off your face, bastard!" she growled, her nails lengthening into obsidian claws.

"Oh? Did I slip? Was my grief showing?" he sneered, eyes narrowing.

He said this with a disappointed, almost bored expression before shaking his head. "Anyway, before you try to vanish, teleport, or call for help, let me end you both. And then I'll deal with that mutinous Nergal—such insolence. And Leo… ah, Leo, your precious little hero—I'll make sure to rip out his heart and wear it as a trophy—"

BANG!

Raphael fired the gun directly at his head, the thunderous shot echoing, her hands trembling with adrenaline and horror. She glanced at Ophis. Ophis nodded grimly and gave her a silent, fierce thumbs up before stomping the ground. The earth trembled, magic rippling beneath her feet, and she launched herself toward Camazotz.

Camazotz staggered back as the bullet exited his forehead with a hiss, green-black ichor seeping from the wound. His lips curled in a wolfish grin.

"You think mortal toys can stop me? I will rip your insides out, piece by trembling piece, HUMAN!" he howled as he lunged. His claws snatched Ophis's sharp, nail-like hands in a brutal clench, crushing her grip, then slammed her hard to the ground.

"ARH!" Ophis groaned, the impact rattling her bones.

Camazotz spun and leapt toward Raphael, who froze in pure horror as the monstrous bat-demon closed in, eyes gleaming with sadistic joy. She raised her gun and fired wildly—again and again!

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Each bullet cracked through the air—some missed, but a few struck true, burying themselves in Camazotz's skull. Yet he didn't flinch. His head twisted grotesquely as bone re-knit and flesh sealed. With a wordless snarl, he dived straight at Raphael, claws gleaming, ready to tear out her throat.

At that instant, something jerked his tail back, yanking him off balance.

Raphael gasped in horror, stumbling away as Ophis seized Camazotz's spined tail in a death grip,

"If you want to touch her, you'll have to kill me first, my disobedient dog~" she hissed.

Ophis yanked hard. Camazotz screeched, twisted free, and shot into the sky. His leathery wings unfurled as he stabilised.

"You dare—WHO IS YOUR DOG, LEECH!" he roared.

Ophis smirked, daring him. "Come and prove your bite, little bat." With a burst of speed, she launched at him, blood beading from her lips. She caught it on her tongue, then spat, the blood twisting in the air, shaping into a crimson spear. She hurled it, and it pierced his chest.

She twisted the weapon, grinned, then wrenched him out of the sky, slamming him down so hard the ground fractured beneath him.

"ARHH!" Camazotz groaned furiously as he pulled the blood weapon from his flesh, glaring at Ophis, who was already moving in for another attack. This time, a sharp blade, swirling with crimson light, shot toward his neck—but in a split second, he twisted aside, evading the deadly edge.

He spun, claws lashing out, and caught her leg, slamming her down hard onto the cracked earth.

Crack!

The ground split beneath them from the force of the impact as his claws hovered, trembling, about to tear into her—when,

BANG!

A bullet struck him square in the head once again. Camazotz staggered back, snarling, then whipped around to glare at Raphael.

"Don't you dare call her 'leech'! It's you who's the leech—feeding off people's fear, hiding behind your filth, disgusting!" she spat, firing another shot with steady hands.

For a second, Ophis's eyes turned misty, haunted by old memories. Then, with a low growl, she forced herself up. She lashed out, kicking the stunned Camazotz aside with a surge of raw magic.

Thud!

He rolled and crashed onto the ground, his claws tearing grooves in the broken asphalt as he slowly rose, spitting black blood from his mouth. He smirked and nodded, as if acknowledging some hidden truth.

"Indeed… how could I forget that? Too bad you made me remember, little dove." His eyes glowed with demonic malice. Both Ophis and Raphael tensed, sensing a shift in the air.

Fallen Camazotz sniffed, nostrils flaring, then sneered at Ophis, his voice dripping with twisted affection. "Looks like you haven't changed at all, my precious master~ Still clinging to your shadows, aren't you?"

Ophis glared. Without flinching, she cut her wrist; her blood shimmered, spiraling outward until it formed a gleaming battle axe in her hand.

"Believe me… I have changed a lot," she hissed with pride. With a feral yell, she hurled the blood axe straight at Camazotz.

Camazotz didn't budge. He stood, utterly fearless, a wicked smile curving his lips.

"But I can still smell your fear, deep inside… the fear that stains your soul, the terror of your father, darling~" His words slithered through the air, "Did you forget how he tormented your family? How he broke you?"

For a heartbeat, the blood axe wavered. Camazotz caught it with just his claw tips, like it weighed nothing, staring over its edge straight into Ophis's furious eyes.

"Do you know… anger is just another mask for fear?" he taunted, a smirk twisting his monstrous face. Suddenly, another bullet from Raphael struck him in the head, her voice ringing out, desperate and clear: "Ophis, don't listen to him—!"

"And you…" Camazotz's gaze darted to Raphael, "Do you really believe you're protecting your only family? Still clinging to that hope?"

Raphael's expression faltered.

Camazotz grinned wickedly, taunting, as he blocked Ophis's renewed attacks with supernatural ease. Her fists landed full on his face, drawing black blood, but he never struck back with his hands—instead, he let his words do the damage.

"What? Did you really believe your father would ever acknowledge you? Even after all this time?"

"I don't care!" Ophis spat.

She kicked him hard, sending him rolling back, but Camazotz sprang to his feet,

"Don't care? Oh, you care deeply, my dear. That's always been your wish, hasn't it? I remember what you told me, long ago. You craved your father's approval—admit it!"

Ophis gritted her teeth, fury burning in her gaze. She lunged at him, a new spear of blood twisting into her grip with every heartbeat. She hurled spear after spear, screaming, "Yes, I did, you bastard—but not for his approval.

I wanted freedom!"

"Oh? Do you think you have freedom?" Camazotz jeered, easily blocking attacks that grew weaker and weaker with every passing moment. His body, even though battered and bloodied, now seemed to tower over her... To Ophis, he looked monstrous, far larger than before.

"Huh?" Ophis gasped, using this gap, Camazotz's eyes glowed,

"Believe me… your father will never leave you. He will haunt you—linger at the edge of your nightmares—until the end of time, just to watch you suffer, to see you tortured every single damn second! Hahaha," Camazotz's laughter echoed.

Ophis, eyes burning red, glared at him furiously. She summoned all her strength and kicked with every ounce of power left in her.

Thuck!

To Camazotz, it barely stung—a mosquito's bite. He barely blinked.

He yanked her closer, ripping off her leg in a spray of blood and agony. He flung her remaining body aside like a shattered doll, holding her severed limb aloft like a grisly trophy.

"Soon, he will destroy everything you love… every single thing, piece by pitiful piece… ahahah~"

BANG!!

"Get away from her, bastard!" Raphael roared, emptying the gun—bullet after bullet slamming into Camazotz. But he stood his ground, taking every shot with a grin, eyes fixed on her. Without lifting a claw, Camazotz let her fire until the barrel clicked empty.

"I see… you think you can hide it, don't you?" Camazotz sneered, stepping closer, "Hahaha… oh, pitiful human. You cannot hide from me... Not the truth."

"W-What are you talking about?" Raphael's finger froze, unable to pull the trigger. In a blur, he appeared before her.

"I can smell it… your fear of loneliness," Camazotz whispered, his voice dark and soft. "You're terrified, aren't you? That your beloved Leo will die, and you'll be left behind—condemned to live with nothing but this empty, gnawing fear. Is that why you miss him so much, dear? Is that what keeps you awake at night? How adorable~"

"H-He is not going to die! We will survive this, all of us!" she shouted, desperately putting the magizen back and firing a bullet straight at his face. The flesh and bone of his head knit themselves together before her horrified eyes, his monstrous grin never fading. He didn't flinch, just watched her grow fearful,

"Not going to die?" Camazotz cackled, "Did you really think he would survive this night? My Slave 1 is hunting your precious human even now. Frankly, he's probably dead already…"

"N-No, you're lying! I just heard his voice a few minutes ago!" Raphael shouted.

"Heard him? Oh? But time moves fast, little one. It's already been minutes since then… Why not call him now?" Camazotz's grin widened.

Raphael shook her trembling head, refusing to believe.

"N-No!"

"What's wrong? Are you afraid to find out the truth? Hahaha—come on, contact him. I promise, I won't kill you until you do~" His smile spread.

"…"

Raphael's face turned white with dread. Hands shaking, she grabbed her walkie-talkie and pressed the button, voice barely more than a whisper as she called for Leo…

But there was no response... Only static.

"See… He is dead." Camazotz leaned closer, his breath cold against her ear, whispering with poisonous delight,

"He's fucking dead meat now!"

"N-No, you're lying… he's fine, it's just the signal—" Raphael's voice broke, hope crumbling.

Fallen Camazotz's eyes glowed brighter green. "Lie to yourself all you want, but this is the truth—your beloved Leo is dead!" He stared deep into Raphael's eyes, his gaze overwhelming, a psychic fog slipping into her mind, clouding her thoughts, spreading confusion and despair.

Raphael's legs grew weaker; her eyes trembled, filling with tears as the horror settled in. "N-No… No… No… No…" she broke, her voice shattering.

Camazotz smirked, his grin stretching wider, jaws snapping open in hunger—he leaned forward, about to bite her head clean off—

Suddenly, he flinched and recoiled, flying back instantly, claws raised. Something dangerous had entered the air... a force that made even him retreat.

Not only Camazotz—Ophis, whose leg had finally healed, tensed with primal dread, while Raphael, shocked out of Camazotz's mind-fear, felt a new terror spark through her.

Their heads turned in perfect unison toward the edge of the road.

There it was: darkness itself, deeper than midnight, a living void.

Every nerve screamed warning at the sight of it, yet none of them could move. They couldn't breathe—they just stared at the void as it slid silently toward them.

They didn't understand what it was, nor why it terrified them so deeply. Still, they remained frozen, transfixed by dread, as the void drew closer, engulfing the world in shadow. For a moment, everything vanished in blackness.... then, the darkness swept past them, and the light returned.

Only then did they gasp for air. Their eyes swept over the scene.... what they saw stole their breath all over again. The road, the buildings, the entire street—shattered, crushed, as if some force had wiped everything away in a single stroke.

"W-What happened?" Raphael muttered, confusion written across her face. One second, the world was normal… now everything was ruined.

Ophis grabbed Raphael's arm, wings snapping open. "We need to go—he's far stronger than we thought. We have to regroup, plan—"

But Camazotz snapped out of his momentary terror, brow furrowing as he spotted his prey trying to escape. His face twisted with rage.

"No, you won't!" he roared, leaping with terrifying speed, claws slashing down.

Chucckk!

"ARHH!" Ophis screamed as his claws tore through her wings. Both fell hard to the ground, rolling across broken concrete. Ophis tried to stand, agony burning as blood poured down her back—

Chucckk!!

"ARHHH!!"

"RAPHAEEEELLLLLL!!!!"

Ophis's eyes widened in horror as she watched—Camazotz's hand had punched clean through Raphael's stomach. He lifted her with monstrous ease, as if she were nothing more than a helpless snack.

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