The city never truly slept.
But that night—
It felt like it was holding its breath.
Isabell did all the talking.
Damian said nothing.
Did nothing.
Just followed.
She bought food from a street vendor—simple, warm, human.
Bread. Meat. Something normal.
Something grounding.
She handed it to him.
He stared at it for a moment.
Then ate.
Mechanically.
Without taste.
Without thought.
She found them a small inn.
Nothing special.
Wooden floors.
A single bed.
A small window.
A place meant for rest.
They shared the room.
They shared the bed.
But not the same world.
Isabell lay on one side.
Quiet.
Watching.
Damian lay on the other.
Still.
But not asleep.
Minutes passed.
Then hours.
He turned.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
Then he sat up.
Silent.
Looking out the window.
The city lights flickered faintly.
Distant voices echoed.
Life continued.
Beside him—
Isabell's eyes were open.
She hadn't slept either.
Then—
Sophie spoke.
Weak.
Fading.
"…Damian…"
A pause.
"…I'm sorry."
He didn't respond.
"…but you need to get stronger…"
"…and you need your humanity back."
Silence.
"…the way you are now…"
"…only a Level 5 or higher spiritualist can restore it."
A breath.
"…and right now…"
"…the only reason you haven't killed everyone…"
"…is because of her."
Damian's eyes shifted slightly.
"…Isabell…"
Sophie continued:
"…she's different."
"…she might be contracted with something… rare."
A pause.
"…something like love."
"…she has what you never did."
"…she's your opposite."
Another pause.
"…only a few beings can interfere with causality like this…"
Suddenly—
Sophie's voice sharpened.
"Damian—!"
Too late.
The door exploded inward.
A blur of motion—
A figure appeared.
A kick—
Damian blocked—
But was sent flying.
His body slammed through the wall—
Into the next structure—
Dust and debris scattering.
He stood instantly.
No hesitation.
No thought.
He ran.
Back into the room—
Empty.
Isabell was gone.
Damian moved.
Upward.
Roof.
Wind cutting past him.
Eyes scanning—
Then—
There.
A figure.
Carrying her.
Damian vanished.
Then reappeared behind—
Closing distance fast.
Too fast.
They reached a forest outside Tiamat.
The man landed.
Another figure sat ahead.
Waiting.
Damian landed.
Slow.
Controlled.
Walking forward.
"Release the girl."
The seated man looked at him.
Calm.
Amused.
"I had her brought here…"
"…because I wanted to meet you."
A pause.
"The child marked by death."
"The bearer of the black crown."
He smiled faintly.
"Work for me."
"You'll gain power."
"Wealth."
"Freedom."
Damian's eyes didn't change.
"I don't work under anyone."
A step forward.
"Release her."
A pause.
"Or your death will be… unpleasant."
The man chuckled.
"You misunderstand."
"I don't take no for an answer."
Damian moved.
A strike—
Stopped.
Intercepted.
The man behind Isabell blocked it.
Easily.
"…Disappointing."
The seated man sighed.
"078."
"Kill him."
The fight started.
Damian moved first.
Perception manipulation spread—
Reality twisted—
Enemies blurred—
But—
It broke.
Instantly.
078 stepped forward.
Calm.
Unshaken.
His presence alone disrupted everything.
The gap was clear.
Stage 7.
Versus Damian a stage 4.
And yet—
Damian didn't stop.
They clashed.
Hand to hand.
Fast.
Precise.
Damian adapted.
Every hit.
Every motion.
Learning.
Refining.
Becoming sharper.
But he was still losing.
Pinned.
Held down.
The man—Tsuyoi—stood.
Watching.
"Now…"
"…will you reconsider?"
Damian spat at his feet.
The kick came fast.
Cracking across his face.
Tsuyoi sighed.
"…Then we change methods."
A blade appeared.
Cold.
Sharp.
Placed against Isabell's throat.
Her eyes opened slowly.
Disoriented.
Weak.
She saw Damian.
Pinned.
Broken.
"Don't kill her."
His voice—
Low.
Controlled.
"Work for me."
Silence.
"Work for me."
Still silence.
"…I tried to negotiate."
The blade moved.
"…Don't."
A whisper.
"…Please."
A pause.
"…Don't…"
Tsuyoi smiled.
And struck.
Everything went quiet.
Isabell's body went still.
Her breath faltered.
Fading.
Damian broke free.
Not through strength.
Through force.
Through will.
Through something deeper.
He reached her.
Caught her.
Held her.
For the first time—
He didn't know what to do.
His hands trembled.
His mind—
Empty.
Tears fell.
Unfamiliar.
Uncontrolled.
Rain began to fall.
Soft at first.
Then heavier.
Isabell's eyes flickered.
Barely open.
She looked at him.
Really looked.
"The first time I met you…"
Her voice was weak.
"…I thought you were cold…"
A faint breath.
"…but something inside you…"
"…was always there…"
Her hand lifted.
Touched his face.
Wiped his tears.
"I liked you…"
A pause.
"…I thought…"
"…we could've…"
Her voice broke.
"…but I guess…"
"…I go first…"
A final breath.
"…my first…"
"…real…"
Silence.
Her hand fell.
Gone.
Damian didn't move.
Then—
He screamed.
Not human.
Not controlled.
The mark ignited.
Black miasma erupted from his body.
Violent.
Unstable.
Consuming everything around him.
His eyes—
Gone.
Black.
His form twisted.
Horns of shadow.
Teeth sharpened.
Presence—
Monstrous.
Tsuyoi laughed.
"…Now this is interesting."
Then—
Tsuyoi disappeared.
No warning.
No movement seen.
Just—
Gone.
078 turned—
Too late.
Damian was already there.
The fight didn't last.
078 struck—
Missed.
Again.
Again.
Damian moved through everything.
Perfect.
Silent.
One hit.
078's body collapsed.
Still.
Silence returned.
Damian stood alone.
Breathing steady.
Miasma flowing.
He walked back.
To her.
Lifted her gently.
Placed her down.
Then—
The book of Secrets and Knowledge appeared.
Page four.
"To capture a soul…"
"…requires sacrifice."
"…300,000 lives."
Damian read.
Didn't react.
Didn't hesitate.
He looked at her.
Once.
"…Wait for me."
Black mist covered her body.
She disappeared.
Damian rose.
And vanished.
Above Tiamat -
He hovered.
Looking down he said:
"299,998".
His hand raised.
A single finger pointed downward.
A small black orb formed.
Then fell.
As it touched the ground it turned to black miasma and started spreading .
Silence followed.
Not screams.
Not chaos.
Just—
Silence.
Everyone that the black miasma had touched, Their heads were popped.
Though so much died he still needed two more sacrifices.
A vehicle entered the city.
A woman.
A child.
They stepped out.
Confused.
The Black miasma touched them.
Then—
Their heads popped and they fell.
Stillness.
Damian raised his hand.
The air shifted.
And the number became complete.
Souls rose.
Drawn upward.
Toward him.
And the city of Tiamat—
Fell completely silent.
A boy who feared death—
Now commanded it.
And for the first time—
The world would begin to fear him back.