Demon!

It was 2 am, and Rachel was snoring slightly from the comfort of Dylan's lap. He gently caressed her hair while thinking about the notification he received after she opened onto him.

{New Achievement Unlocked: Netherealm Messiah}

{The hosts' primary goal is to convert the beings of the realm and make them believers and followers of the dark side. There is great joy in the underworld for every pure soul that is led astray!}

{Reward: Inspect}{Upgradable}

{Name: Dylan Morningstar}

{Age: 28}

{Race: Human}{Class: Cambion}

{Sin: Lust}

{Level: 5}

{Stat}

{Str: 5}

{Agi: 4}

{Vit: 1}

{Int: 2}

{Cha: 5}

{DF: 10/20}

{Next level requirement: 1100 exp}

{Skills}

{Tier 1: Allure aura} {Passive}

{Tier 1: Minor Charm} {Active}

{Hellfire Manipulation} {Active}

{Tier 1: Inspect} {Active}

"Inspect," Dylan mumbled, and his eyes released a violet hue while he looked at Rachel's peaceful smile

{Name: Rachel Vasquez}

{Age: 27}

{Race: Human}{Class:N/A}

{Str: 1}

{Agi: 1}

{Vit: 2}

{Int: 2}

{Cha: 2}

"So that's what it does?" Dylan was stunned.

Initially, when he saw the name, Dylan wasn't impressed, but now he understood its purpose, he was intrigued.

Dylan gently removed himself from underneath Rachel. He walked toward the window, and as expected, Father Linus' car was parked across the gate, and he stood outside.

His cold gaze was fixated on Dylan, even though it was dark and there was a golden glow in his eyes.

"This has to stop… Now!" Dylan's eyes tightened.

Without hesitation, he walked out of the room and left Rachel's apartment. Dylan left the compound and into the dark streets; streetlights illuminated the street.

It was quiet, except for the sound of Dylan shutting the gate behind him and turning to meet Father Linus' gaze.

"Getting involved with an officer who has information on your case is a crime, Dylan." Father Linus' tone was accusing.

Dylan chuckled but didn't answer quickly. He casually strolled toward Father Linus' and his eyes revealed a bright violet glow.

{Name: Linus Nathaniel}

{Age: 39}

{Race: Human}{Order of Black Dawn}

{Title: Hound of Solomon}

{Str: 5}

{Agi: 5}

{Vit: 5}

{Int: 3}

{Cha: 1}

Dylan couldn't help but remember Lich's warning about fighting this man.

Order of the black dawn?

Hound of Solomon?

"Where I'm from, stalking is a crime. But I guess you don't know that since you probably spent most of your life in a local parish." Dylan snapped back.

The two stood in silence for a few seconds, and a cool breeze blew through the streets.

"What the hell are you?" Father Linus asked with narrowed eyes.

He could sense something off about this lawyer, but it wasn't the demon he was searching for.

"I should be the one asking that question."

The duo took long strides forward, stopping only a few inches away from each other. The tension was high, and the air was heavy with suspense.

Who would make the first move?

But then a cool breeze followed, and with it came a foul stench. Father Linus twisted his nose in disgust, but Dylan found it unique but not disgusting.

Father Linus noticed his lack of reaction to the stench, and this left him wondering if this human was truly unique or if he was the one-in-a-million anomaly born with a strong spiritual presence.

If Dylan couldn't perceive this stench, he definitely couldn't see demons. If he couldn't see demons, he wasn't the person Father Linus was after.

"We will have this discussion another time…" Linus pinched his nose due to the smell.

He turned around and walked to his car before Dylan could respond. Without hesitation, he drove off in the direction of a unique fragrance in the air.

"What was that?" Dylan couldn't help but ask.

He expected to be swung at by the priest, not ignored and avoided.

{They are finally here… Don't worry, Father Linus has something to chase after now.}

Dylan frowned, his gaze fixated on the direction Father Linus drove off. He was tempted to follow, but Lich was right; this was his chance to get the priest off his back without committing murder.

Whatever the priest meets there will be reported to the church as the problem. To think he almost blew this chance by confronting Father Linus. If he had stayed back with Rachel, the man would have left on his own.

— 2:45 am —

Father Linus followed the stench, his boots pressing against the wet pavement as he moved through the darkened streets of Chicago.

The scent of rotting flesh and sulfur thickened the closer he got. Linus' golden eyes narrowed as he turned into a narrow alley. The streetlight at the entrance flickered, casting brief glimpses of something crouched near a pile of trash.

A low, wet slurping echoed through the alley. Linus' grip on his cross pendant tightened. He took slow, measured steps, his breath steady despite the vile presence ahead.

Then he saw it.

A 4-foot tall demon, hunched over a torn corpse, its elongated fingers digging into soft intestines. Its skin was a sickly gray, marked with black veins pulsing unnaturally.

A row of needle-like teeth clamped down on flesh, tearing away a chunk before the creature's glowing red eyes snapped over his shoulder, meeting Linus' gaze.

Silence fell between the two—A predator meeting another predator.

The demon's jaw was unhinged, black saliva dripping from its maw. A snarl escaped its throat, its forked tongue slithering out to taste the air.

"You shouldn't be here," Linus said, stepping forward as he pulled out a pinky-sized dagger from his chaplet

The demon let out an eerie laugh; its voice layered with something unnatural.

"Neither should you, priest."

"Then one of us must be purged."

"So it seems."