Chapter 14: Friendship Loss

Amidst the destruction, Yaxoc stood up, dust and debris falling from his shoulders. He leaped out of the crumbling building, landing gracefully on the blood-soaked ground.

"What just happened...?" he thought, scanning the battlefield.

The scent of death lingered in the air. A few demons roamed nearby, scavenging, unaware of the impending storm.

"Well… here goes nothing."

Yaxoc lunged forward, a blur of motion, tearing through the creatures with ruthless efficiency. Limbs flew. Screams echoed. The few who attempted to flee met the same fate—obliteration.

As the last demon fell, Yaxoc stepped on its broken wings, his gaze shifting to a motionless figure amidst the wreckage.

Marcus.

A pit formed in his stomach. The rain began to fall, soaking the battlefield in a cold embrace.

"You didn't want to fight in this war…" Yaxoc clenched his fists. "I ignored your point."

Then, something stirred.

His fingers brushed against the Gem of Hope in his pocket. It pulsed, glowing with an ethereal radiance.

"Why is it… glowing?" he muttered, lifting the gem for a closer look.

Before he could comprehend, the gem shattered into a million fragments. A brilliant light surged from the remains, swirling into the air.

Yaxoc instinctively stepped back, eyes wide.

"What the hell—?"

The light surged into his body.

An unfamiliar yet overwhelming power coursed through his veins. His senses sharpened. His aura flared, white-hot.

"The power of hope..."

The ground trembled.

More demons emerged from the shadows, drawn to the light. Yet before they could strike—they were already in pieces.

A voice called out.

"Yaxoc?"

He turned to see Hannah, staring at him, eyes reflecting the divine glow radiating from his form.

"What's happening to you?"

"I… don't know," Yaxoc admitted. His hands trembled. Not from fear, but from the sheer power surging through him. "I feel like my body is telling me to keep going."

Hannah's eyes landed on the glowing dust in his palm.

"Wait… that's the Gem of Hope! But… why did it shatter?"

"I have no idea," Yaxoc said, his voice laced with uncertainty.

Before they could dwell on it, more demons appeared.

Hannah wasted no time, raising her hand. The air grew heavy as her gravity magic crushed them into the earth.

The bodies twitched, then morphed.

Their broken forms reassembled into something worse—Type 4 demons.

"Oh, great… just what we needed," Hannah muttered.

"I'll handle them. Go."

Hannah hesitated before nodding. "Be careful." She turned and disappeared into the storm.

Yaxoc faced the demons alone.

"Soaked in grief, huh?" One demon sneered. "What a crybaby."

Yaxoc's aura flared. His expression darkened.

"Say that again."

The demons shifted uneasily.

"Dude, I think you took it too far," one whispered.

"Shut up," another snapped. "What's he gonna do? We're stronger than some mortal."

"Isn't this the guy who was said to be stronger than Lucius six months ago?"

The group fell silent.

"He has angelic essence at maximum mastery," another added warily. "Killing his friend? Bad idea."

"Angelic essence means nothing to us," the cocky one scoffed.

Yaxoc exhaled slowly.

"Are you done?"

The demon smirked. "Oh, we're done. And you had thirty seconds to run away, but—"

He never finished.

In a blink, Yaxoc vanished.

A shockwave tore through the battlefield as he reappeared behind the demon, catching his leg mid-kick.

"Stronger? Bold words," Yaxoc said coldly. "Arrogance blinds you."

With a single motion, he hurled the demon into the ruins, shattering multiple buildings.

The rest of the demons tensed—except one.

"Fighting with rage?" the fifth demon taunted. "Not smart for an angel. Losing friends is nothing but child's play."

Yaxoc's fists tightened.

"I am not an angel," he said, his aura igniting. "But I am a mortal who still feels EMOTIONS!"

The sheer force of his energy shook the ground.

Yaxoc lunged, his fists a storm of unstoppable blows. The demon barely dodged, retaliating with a swift strike—only to be countered by Yaxoc's Manji Kick.

Disoriented, the demon staggered.

Yaxoc didn't hesitate. Two titanic blows struck its core before he finished with an Angelic Flash.

The demon evaporated into light.

The remaining demons froze in terror.

"Holy… he's a threat."

"We need to—"

Before they could react, they vanished—wiped out by Yaxoc's very presence.

He turned to leave—then stopped.

A presence.

Familiar.

From the shadows emerged a figure, stitched flesh, burning dragon tail, eyes glowing.

"Rammurth…" Yaxoc muttered.

The dragon warrior smirked. "It's been a while, Yaxoc."

"How are you alive?"

"A long story," Rammurth said. "But… I think it's time we team up."

Yaxoc blinked. "Come again?"

"You heard me. We need to work together."

"Why? Aren't you supposed to seek revenge like the others?"

"Revenge is pointless. You've surpassed me, and I know it."

Rammurth pulled out a file.

"This… is about Ogamak."

Yaxoc's brows furrowed.

"Listen carefully," Rammurth continued. "Ogamak was once a Type 1 demon. Yet he challenged Lucifer himself."

"That's bullshit."

"It's true. He killed them all. That's how he climbed to where he is now."

"Then is he stronger than Lucius?"

"No. Lucius still outclasses him a thousandfold. His demonic essence of blood makes him an unstoppable force."

Before Yaxoc could respond, the ground shook violently.

A massive explosion erupted.

A dark silhouette emerged, a grin stretching across its monstrous face.

Ogamak.

"Ahh… so the dead dragon lives again."

Rammurth's eyes narrowed. "You stay out of this, Yaxoc. I'll buy you time."

"Wait—what?"

"Your power isn't ready. But it will be."

Ogamak cracked his glowing red knuckles. "Oh? You think you can stall me?"

Rammurth exhaled, purple flames licking at his teeth.

"Even among monsters, you're a plague. And plagues need to be eradicated."

He attacked first.

Flames roared. Blades clashed. The air itself trembled.

But Ogamak grinned through the chaos.

"You really think that's enough?"

He countered with a devastating blow, sending Rammurth flying.

Yaxoc's eyes widened.

"Shit."

Ogamak's gaze locked onto him.

"It's just you and me now, Yaxoc." His grin widened.

"Time to break you."

TO BE CONTINUED…