Escaping... Again

"And as for this one," it sneered, gesturing at Ray's seemingly frozen body.

"A strong soul, indeed. Perhaps too strong. But no matter. A contract will ensure his loyalty… or his destruction."

Cassandra watched, her curiosity piqued as the demon extended a clawed hand toward Ray.

The air grew heavier, oppressive, as glowing sigils began to form in the space between them.

"Your soul," the demon commanded, its voice resonating with dark power. "Bound to me. Forever."

But then, something unexpected happened. The sigils began to flicker, their glow dimming, and the demon's claw trembled as if resisting an unseen force. Its grin faltered, replaced by a look of confusion—

and then fear.

"This… this is impossible," the demon hissed, recoiling slightly.

Cassandra's smug expression crumbledand once again she spotted that same look in Ray's eyes

The expression of everything happening as per the plan.

"What's wrong?" she demanded.

The demon's eyes narrowed, and it snarled. "He is already bound. By Asmodeus himself. A direct contract. This one… is untouchable."

Silence filled the room, thick with tension, before a low chuckle broke it. The sound coming from-

Ray.

His head tilted slightly, his grin sharp and predatory. "Took you long enough to figure it out."

[Curse 'Sovereign of the abyss' has resisted minor demonic bindings ]

Both Cassandra and the demon froze, their shock palpable as Ray straightened, shaking off the paralysis like it was nothing more than an inconvenience. The air around him shifted, dark energy radiating from his body in waves.

[Title effect : Fallen's Mark activated! ]

"You really thought I'd walk into this without a backup plan?" Ray asked, his tone casual but laced with menace.

The demon took a step back, its towering presence suddenly diminished. "You… you were never paralyzed?"

Ray's grin widened. "Let's just say your little tricks don't work on someone marked by Asmodeus himself. Speaking of which…"

A dark sigil blazed to life on Ray's right eye, his Fallen Mark flaring with an ominous glow. The aura that erupted from him was suffocating, crashing over the room like a tidal wave.

Cassandra staggered, her legs buckling beneath her as sheer terror gripped her. The overwhelming force pinned her to the ground, her newfound levels meaningless in the face of Ray's power.

"What… what are you?" she choked out, her voice barely audible.

Ray stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with cold fury. "The one you shouldn't have messed with."

The demon roared, its fear giving way to desperation as it lunged at Ray. But the moment it entered his aura, it froze, its form flickering and cracking under the weight of his power.

Ray's voice dropped, low and commanding.

"Kneel."

And they did. Both Cassandra and the demon fell to their knees, helpless before the force of Ray's presence. The demon trembled, its once-confident facade shattering.

Ray crouched in front of Cassandra, his expression a mix of amusement and disdain. "You really thought you could sell me out for a couple of levels? Rookie mistake."

She couldn't respond, her lips quivering as tears of pure fear and humiliation streamed down her face.

Ray's eyes flicked to the demon, its trembling form a pale shadow of the monstrosity it had been mere moments ago. He rose to his full height, an aura of unyielding dominance radiating from him.

"Your kind never learns," he muttered, almost to himself, as he extended a hand. The celestial orb in his grasp flared, the divine energy within it crackling violently.

[Crystalline orb of resonance (??)

Description:??

Effects:

-??]

It was the orb which now stored intense amount of Seraphine's divine energy. Its light burned like a miniature sun, pushing back the suffocating shadows of the Black Market.

The demon shrieked, clawing at the ground as the orb's divine energy lashed out, searing its twisted flesh. The air grew heavy with the stench of sulfur and burning ichor.

"Let's try this again," Ray said, his voice cold, merciless. "What's happening in Ironvale?"

"I—I don't know much!" the demon howled, its voice distorted by agony. "Please! It's not my place to know!"

Ray crouched, bringing the orb closer to the demon's face. His other hand glowed with faint, sinister energy—demonic energy.

He pressed his fingers into the orb, imbuing it with a sliver of corruption. The celestial light grew erratic, mingling with the dark energy.

The effect was immediate and devastating. The orb pulsed, releasing waves of divine energy tainted with demonic corruption.

The two opposing forces clashed violently, radiating outward and tearing through the demon's essence. It writhed in pure torment, its form flickering like a candle in a storm.

Ray's voice was calm, almost conversational, as he watched the creature squirm. "You see, this orb doesn't like demons much. But when you mix a little demonic energy in, it creates something truly… unique. Painful, isn't it?"

The demon let out a guttural scream, its body convulsing as the orb's energy tore through it. Cassandra, still paralyzed and on her knees, could only watch in horror as the scene unfolded.

"Please!" the demon gasped, its voice ragged and desperate. "I'll talk! I'll talk!"

Ray tilted his head slightly. "Good. Then start talking."

The demon's voice was a trembling whisper. "Ironvale… something is happening. Asmodeus… he's planning something big. He's using life forces—absorbing them—for a ritual. That's all I know!"

Ray's eyes narrowed. "What kind of ritual?"

"I don't know! I swear!" the demon cried. "It's… ancient. Something to strengthen his foothold in this light faction. That's all I know!"

Ray studied the creature for a long moment, the orb still crackling in his hand. Finally, he withdrew the demonic energy, letting the orb's light settle into a steady glow. The demon slumped forward, barely holding onto its form.

"Pathetic," Ray muttered, rising to his feet. But before he could press further, he felt a sudden shift in the air—a sharp, resonant pang deep within him. His curse stirred, resonating with an ominous energy that sent a chill down his spine.

[ 'Sovereign of the abyss' is resonating with its master's aura ]

His eyes darted to the shadows, where an oppressive aura began to build. The Black Market's exit was no longer a safe retreat. Something—someone—was coming.

Ray clenched his jaw, suppressing the curse's energy with sheer force of will. He moved quickly, grabbing Cassandra by the arm. Her paralysis had worn off, but she was too shaken to resist as he hauled her to her feet.

"We're leaving. Now," he ordered, his tone brooking no argument.

Cassandra stumbled after him as he made his way toward the exit. The oppressive aura followed them, growing stronger with every step. Ray's mind raced. A general of Asmodeus was nearby—too close. He could feel its malevolent presence like a storm on the horizon.

As they emerged from the Black Market into the open streets of Valltherion, Ray's grip on Cassandra tightened. His curse roared within him, threatening to break free, but he forced it down, channeling his focus into suppressing it.

Cassandra finally found her voice, her tone shaky. "What… what was that back there?"

Ray didn't answer, his eyes scanning the streets for threats. "If you want to live, don't ask questions. Just follow my lead."

He led her into the shadows of the city, moving swiftly and silently. Whatever was coming, it wasn't something they could face—not here, not now.

The echoes of the Black Market faded into the distance, but the weight of what they had learned lingered heavily in the air.

Ironvale. Asmodeus. Life forces.

Ray hurried through the winding streets of Valltherion, his grip firm on Cassandra's arm as he navigated the labyrinthine alleys toward the inn.

The distant hum of the Black Market still echoed in his ears, but his focus remained razor-sharp. The oppressive sensation of the general's presence still clung to him, like a shadow that refused to dissipate.

Cassandra stumbled behind him, still shaken and pale, but she didn't protest. The unspoken threat in Ray's cold demeanor was enough to keep her silent.

Finally, they reached the inn. Ray kicked the door shut behind them and locked it in one fluid motion. He turned to Cassandra, his eyes narrowing. "Stay here. Don't touch anything."

Without waiting for a reply, he ascended the narrow staircase to Seraphine's room. His footsteps were heavy as he knocked twice before opening the door.

Seraphine woke up, her golden hair disheveled and her eyes sharp with concern. "What's going on?" she asked, sitting up and pulling a loose robe around herself.

Ray didn't waste time with pleasantries. "Mask my aura," he demanded. "Now."

Her eyes narrowed. "Your demonic aura?" She stood, her expression hardening as her divine energy subtly flickered around her like a protective veil. "What did you do?"

"Not now, Seraphine," Ray said sharply, his voice low but edged with urgency. "A general of Asmodeus is nearby, and if we don't leave soon, he'll know exactly where to find us. I need your mana to cover my tracks."

Seraphine hesitated, her gaze flickering with uncertainty. "And you didn't think this was something to warn me about before dragging a demon general into the city?"

Ray's patience frayed. "Just do it."

She rolled her eyes, stepping closer and lifting her hands. Golden light poured from her fingertips, wrapping around him in shimmering tendrils.

The conflicting energies clashed briefly, his dark aura crackling against her divine mana before settling into a fragile balance.

"Done," she said, her tone clipped. "But don't expect me to keep patching up your messes."

Ray ignored her and turned toward the door. "We're leaving for Ironvale right now."

Seraphine smirked. "Oh, wonderful. Another sleepless, life-threatening journey. My favorite."