As the jokes faded, the teams continued their journey toward their destination.
Meanwhile, in Sanctum City inside the grand hall of the Exorcist Council tension filled the air. Seraphim Valeria, a regal woman with long braided silver hair and piercing amber eyes, spoke with a worried expression.
"Sir Kaien… do you think that boy we summoned to the council… could he truly be a demon?"
Sir Kaien Voss, a composed man with sharp eyes and a thoughtful demeanor, responded calmly, "He has unusual eyes… and he looks innocent enough. But… we can never be too sure."
A tall man wearing a silver cloak adorned with the seal of the Grand Holy Order, known as High Commander Aster Malrick, stood near the window. He turned to them and said, "That's exactly why I gave him Chi-no-Ha, the Blade of Crimson Sin. If he is a demon, the blade will eventually reveal it."
Seraphim Valeria narrowed her eyes. "And? Has it triggered anything?"
Aster checked the notification device embedded in his gauntlet. The moment his eyes scanned it, his face turned grim.
Kaien and Valeria leaned forward, both noticing the change in his expression.
"What does it say?" Valeria asked, tension creeping into her voice.
Aster clenched his fist. "Damn it. I should've killed him the moment I had the chance. The blade has reacted. That boy… he's among the group headed to the next city — and he's not human."
Sir Kaien grabbed the device with disbelief. "What the hell are you talking about?! Let me see."
His face fell. "Shit… shit… it's true. The signal was clear. He's… a demon."
Valeria's eyes widened. "But… he looked so harmless. He's still just a child…"
Aster's voice dropped to a whisper. "We must not let Lorth of the Ivory Cross know about this—"
Before he could finish, the hall doors exploded inward with a thunderous crash.
Lorth, wrapped in his signature battle-worn rags, stormed in. His towering presence silenced everyone in the chamber.
"HOW DARE YOU LET A DEMON TRAVEL WITH THE OTHERS?!" he roared.
Aster tried to explain, but Lorth didn't wait. He struck Aster with a devastating punch, sending him flying across the council chamber, crashing through stone columns.
Kaien stepped back, startled. "It wasn't her fault"
Lorth ignored him. He marched straight to Seraphim Valeria, gripping her by the neck and lifting her effortlessly off the ground.
"If anything happens to my daughter…" his voice shook with rage, "I will kill you myself."
Valeria struggled to breathe. "Nothing will happen… she'll be safe… please…"
Lorth growled, then released her. "Where is the communication device?"
Kaien tossed it to him.
Lorth tapped it. "Sir Valen, respond!"
No reply.
With growing anger, he crushed the device in his hand and barked, "Kaien. You're coming with me."
Two elite exorcists from the Ivory Cross stepped forward. One had a stern, battle-hardened gaze Vice Captain Rylan Torvain, Rank: A+. The other wore a relaxed smile and kept his eyes closed Lieutenant Kairo Mizune, Rank: A.
Master Rorik Draeven, an older, bearded veteran with countless battle scars, joined them silently as they followed Lorth out of the council chamber.
As Aster lay bleeding, he crawled toward Valeria.
"Are you alright?" he asked, blood dripping from his mouth.
"I'll be fine. Go get yourself treated," Valeria said, casting a minor healing spell.
He nodded and staggered off.
But before she could stand, a cold presence crept into the room.
From the shadows emerged a man in a hood — the same figure who had previously clashed with Ren and Souta.
Her eyes widened in horror.
"You… why are you here again?" she gasped, stumbling backward.
The man chuckled. His face was still hidden beneath the hood.
"You're making a big mistake, Seraphim Valeria," he said in a quiet, mocking tone.
"We'll wipe out your kind. One by one," she snarled.
He let out a bone-chilling laugh. "You think this is a game?"
Before he could continue, Aster returned with his battle axe, infused with holy light. He swung down with fury.
The hooded man dodged effortlessly and leaped onto the council's great statue.
"You humans always meddle… always interfere."
He raised a hand toward the heavens. "The god of all demons has gifted us a weapon… one that will return this world to its rightful rulers!"
Valeria's eyes widened. "A weapon…?"
She fired a burst of holy energy. The man dodged and sent the massive statue toppling.
Aster caught it, struggling under the weight.
The hooded man soared into the air, his form cloaked in demonic energy. His blood turned into a blade.
Aster raised his axe again, but miscalculated — the blade severed his arm. He screamed in agony.
The hooded figure grinned. "This is the end."
With a snap of his fingers, dark energy surged. Aster's body was sliced into pieces before it hit the ground.
Valeria stood frozen in horror.
"Why?" she whispered.
The man turned to her, still smiling. "You made us monsters… Now you'll face what you've created."
He vanished in a blur of black mist.
By the time backup arrived, it was too late.
Aster's remains were strewn across the shattered floor.
And Seraphim Valeria… was hanging upside down from the ceiling, her head skewered to a pillar of blood-forged blades.