A Cold Reflection
(Henry's POV)
I stood at the edge of a tall building, the city lights of Oslo stretching endlessly before me. The wind was crisp and sharp, ruffling my coat as I stared down at the moving cars below.
Even up here, away from the noise, my mind wasn't at peace.
I exhaled a slow breath, then muttered:
"System, tell me… are all women bitches like Katerina?"
A moment of silence. Then, the familiar blue holographic screen appeared before me.
---
[SYSTEM RESPONSE]
"The classification of all women as 'bitches' based on one individual's actions is statistically inaccurate. There are multiple personality types across the human spectrum."
"However, an analysis of your past experiences suggests a pattern in your interactions with powerful women who seek control over you. Do you wish to change this pattern?"
---
I scoffed. "So, you're saying I attract the worst ones?"
---
"Correction: You were once conditioned to tolerate them. However, your current evolution suggests otherwise."
---
I leaned against the railing, my grip tightening.
The System wasn't wrong.
Past Henry had been too loyal, too trusting.
And what did he get in return?
Betrayal. Humiliation. Erasure.
But now?
Now I was not that man anymore.
Step One – The Weight of the Past
I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the past play out in my head.
Two years of neglect.
Two years of her forgetting anniversaries, birthdays.
Two years of her warming another man's bed.
And yet, Katerina had the audacity to act like she was the victim?
Like I was supposed to forgive her?
Tch.
She thought I was still that same fool.
She thought I would come crawling back, desperate for her attention.
She thought wrong.
I opened my eyes, my gaze turning sharp.
"System, log this in my memory. If Katerina tries anything… I won't even acknowledge her existence."
"Acknowledged. Shall I prepare countermeasures if she attempts to interfere in your life?"
I smirked. "Let her try. I dare her."
She wanted war?
Then I would give her a battle she could never win.
---
[NEW QUEST UNLOCKED]
Quest Name: Hidden Hideout of Demons from the Demon World (Hidden Quest)
Objective:
A secret faction of high-level demons has infiltrated the human world and established a hideout in an unknown location.
These demons are not ordinary—they operate in secrecy, pulling strings in human affairs.
Track them down and eliminate the threat before they expand their influence.
Current Status: Unknown Hideout Location (Tracking Required)
Threat Level: S-Rank
Rewards:
+20 Strength
+18 Intelligence
Infernal Eye (New Ability) (Allows you to detect demonic entities hiding in human form.)
---
I smirked, cracking my knuckles.
"Looks like I've got work to do."
A hidden demon faction? Operating under the radar in the human world?
This wasn't just some random mission.
It was an opportunity.
To get stronger. To hunt. To destroy.
I pulled out my Celestial Warpstone, feeling the energy hum between my fingers.
"System, begin tracking demonic activity near Oslo."
---
[TRACKING ACTIVATED…]
Demonic presence detected.
Locating nearest source…
---
A red marker appeared on my map—just at the outskirts of the city.
I smirked, my golden eyes burning with anticipation.
"Let's see what kind of demons think they can hide from me."
With a single step, I activated Celestial Blink—and vanished into the night.
The moment I activated Celestial Blink, the world around me blurred, and in the blink of an eye, I landed on the outskirts of Oslo—an abandoned industrial zone, covered in snow and shadowed by old warehouses.
The air was thick with something unnatural.
I could feel it.
A presence.
Something was here.
I rolled my shoulders, cracking my neck. "Alright, let's see what kind of demons think they can play hide and seek in my world."
I took a slow step forward, letting my senses expand.
The System had already detected demonic activity, but I needed more details.
"System, analyze the area."
A blue screen appeared before me.
---
[SYSTEM SCAN ACTIVATED]
- Demonic Energy Detected: Active Presence (Multiple Entities)
- Estimated Strength Level: High-Rank Demons Present
- Hideout Structure: Underground (Sealed by Enchantment)
- Danger Level: S-Rank (Extreme Caution Recommended)
---
I smirked. "Underground, huh? Of course, these bastards wouldn't make it easy."
Then—
A movement.
A shadow flickered at the corner of my vision, vanishing behind one of the warehouses.
"Found you."
I vanished instantly, using Celestial Blink to appear right behind the presence.
The moment I landed, a sharp clawed hand lashed toward my throat.
I tilted my head just in time, barely dodging, and countered with a brutal kick to the demon's ribs.
CRACK.
The demon was sent flying, smashing through a metal container, its body breaking through the steel like it was paper.
It groaned, slowly getting up—revealing glowing red eyes, dark skin cracked with infernal energy, and sharp, jagged teeth.
"Tch. You're stronger than expected, human."
I twirled my sword in my hand, smirking. "And you're weaker than I expected, demon."
The demon let out a snarl, its body cracking with dark flames.
But before it could attack again—
The ground trembled.
And then—
A massive, black stone gate rose from the earth, covered in glowing demonic runes.
I had found the entrance.
The demon in front of me laughed, despite his injuries.
"You have no idea what you've just walked into."
I smirked, stepping forward, pointing my blade at his chest. "Then why don't you show me?"
A deep rumbling sound echoed from behind the gate.
And then—
The doors burst open.
And they stepped out.
Two massive demon guardians, each standing over 10 feet tall, their bodies covered in molten black armor, their glowing yellow eyes locked onto me.
Gatekeepers.
The demon behind me sneered. "You're already dead."
I rolled my shoulders, tightening my grip on my sword.
"Nah. I'm just getting started."
I tightened my grip around my sword, feeling the raw celestial energy pulsing through it.
The demon guardians stood in front of me, their massive, armored bodies radiating pure hellfire, their glowing yellow eyes locked onto me like I was nothing but an insect.
But they had no idea.
I wasn't just Henry Hans anymore.
I was the Divine Executioner.
And I was about to remind them why.
I exhaled slowly, rolling my shoulders.
This body—Henry Hans' body—was strong. Far stronger than it had ever been when he was still a mortal man.
But was it strong enough to handle my true power?
There was only one way to find out.
I lifted my sword, my golden aura exploding outward, causing the very air around me to vibrate.
I could feel the strain immediately.
But I ignored it.
"System, override all safety restrictions."
---
[SYSTEM ALERT]
WARNING! This technique puts extreme strain on the user's body! Proceeding may result in severe damage.
Override?
[YES]
---
I grinned as a storm of celestial energy erupted around me.
The demon guardians took a step back.
They could feel it now.
Pure, divine judgment.
I raised my sword high, lightning crackling across the blade, golden flames swirling around me as I spoke the words that had once made entire armies fall to their knees.
"DIVINE PUNISHMENT!"
The moment the words left my lips—
The sky itself split apart.
A massive column of pure divine energy descended from the heavens, crashing down onto the battlefield with the force of a thousand holy spears.
The ground shattered, the entire industrial zone shaking as if a natural disaster had been unleashed.
The first demon guardian was caught in the blast—screaming as its molten armor melted away, its entire body disintegrating under the pressure of divine judgment.
The second guardian tried to resist, raising its massive greatsword, but it was too late.
I vanished, using Celestial Blink, appearing above him mid-air—
And with one brutal downward slash, I split the demon in half.
BOOM!
His body collapsed, his remains reduced to ash.
The entire area was left in ruins—craters and molten debris everywhere.
And then—
Everything went silent.
I landed heavily on my feet, feeling my legs tremble slightly.
My breathing was ragged, my muscles burning.
The strain was real.
This attack had once been second nature to me.
But in this body—it still needed time to adapt.
I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stand tall.
I wasn't done yet.
The original demon, the one who had tried to ambush me earlier, was still alive.
He lay on the ground, staring at me in pure terror.
His voice was weak. "W-What… are you…?"
I walked toward him, my sword still glowing with divine energy.
I looked down at him, my golden eyes cold, merciless.
"I am the executioner of your kind."
Then, without another word—
I plunged my sword through his chest.
Step Four – The Next Phase
As I withdrew my blade, the System Notification appeared.
---
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
Quest Progression:
Demon Guardians Eliminated.
Entrance to the Hidden Hideout is now open.
WARNING! Further demonic entities detected beyond the gate. Proceed with caution.
---
I smirked, ignoring the soreness in my muscles.
This was just the beginning.
I looked toward the massive black stone gate, still glowing with demonic runes.
I cracked my neck, stepping forward.
"Time to see what's hiding inside."
And with that—
I pushed the gates open.