The Devil’s Command

Footsteps echoed through the dark alley.

Seraphina walked forward, her steps steady as the cold night air carried the stench of blood to her nose.

Then—she saw him.

Lucian.

His small body was bound in heavy chains. His silver hair, usually messy but shining even in the dark, was now matted with blood. His pale face was covered in bruises, his lip split, his chest rising and falling shallowly.

Her chest tightened.

His blue eyes, once sharp and full of fire, were dim. Heavy. Pleading.

"D-Don't… c-come h-here…" His voice was broken, trembling with pain.

Seraphina's fingers curled into fists. Her nails dug into her palms, drawing blood.

A slow, sickening chuckle rang through the alley.

The Pig Boss sneered, his greasy face twisting into a wicked grin. His beady eyes glowed with sadistic pleasure as he took in Seraphina's lone figure.

"Well, well… Another prey walks straight into our hands," he taunted, cracking his knuckles. "How considerate of you. Saves us the trouble of hunting you down."

Laughter erupted from the men around him. Mocking. Anticipating.

Seraphina barely registered them.

Her gaze was locked onto Lucian.

The boy who had given her a home.

The friend who had fought to protect them all.

And these filthy pieces of trash had dared to put him in chains?

She inhaled deeply, forcing down the storm of fury rising inside her.

Then—she smiled.

Lucian's breath caught.

Her hazel eyes, once filled with warmth, were now void of emotion. Cold. Focused.

"Stay put."

Her voice was not a request. It was a command.

Lucian froze.

His breath hitched. He had always thought he understood who Seraphina was.

But now, watching her walk toward his captors without hesitation, he realized—

He had never known her at all.

The Pig Boss blinked, then let out a bark of laughter. "Oh? Acting tough, little girl? What do you think you're gonna do, huh? Save your frien—"

His words cut off.

His mouth wouldn't move.

His throat convulsed, his eyes widening in horror. He clutched his face, trying desperately to open his lips, but he couldn't.

Seraphina tilted her head, her smirk widening.

The moment he had spoken, she had taken full control over his body.

The Pig Boss's body shuddered violently. He activated his Iron Body ability, his skin turning solid and unbreakable.

But it didn't matter.

No matter how hard your body is… your mind is still weak.

Seraphina threw her head back, laughing.

A sharp, maniacal sound that sent a wave of dread through the entire gang.

The Pig Boss's iron skin flickered—then disappeared entirely.

His own ability had shut off.

Panic filled his eyes as his trembling hands reached for a weapon. His fingers closed around a knife from a nearby subordinate—

And then, he drove it into his own throat.

A wet gurgle escaped his lips as blood poured down his chest. His eyes rolled back, his body collapsing like a lifeless puppet.

Dead.

Silence.

Horrified silence.

The men, killers and criminals, felt a cold sweat trickle down their backs.

They had murdered many. They had tortured countless.

But this?

This was different.

This was monstrous.

Lucian, still chained, stared.

His breath hitched, his vision blurring as more tears spilled down his cheeks.

For once—for the first time in his life—someone had come to save him.

He had spent his entire life protecting others. He had never expected anyone to protect him.

And now, watching Seraphina, standing there like a demon in the moonlight, he felt overwhelmed.

Seraphina's cold gaze flickered to the man with chain abilities.

He trembled, hands shaking as he dropped Lucian, stumbling back. "M-Monster…" he whispered.

Seraphina caught Lucian before he hit the ground, pulling him into her arms.

The remaining men stiffened.

She smiled, her lips curling into something sinister.

"Now… what should I do with all of you?"

Their hearts hammered in their chests.

They had never feared for their own lives before.

But now, standing before this devil-child, they prayed for mercy.

Seraphina's glowing eyes narrowed.

"It's not like you ever listened when we pleaded."

Seraphina's cold gaze flickered over the cowering men.

Then—her eyes locked onto one man.

Her smirk widened.

"Oh my… I didn't expect you to be here."

The man froze.

Seraphina's voice was syrupy-sweet.

"Come forward."

The man's body trembled as he moved against his will. His eyes darted around wildly, panic rising as he realized—he had been caught.

He was a shadow user, an expert at blending into darkness, escaping unnoticed. He hadn't planned to fight—he was only here to watch the chaos unfold.

And yet, now he stood alone in front of her.

He gritted his teeth and tried to activate his ability—to slip away into the shadows.

Nothing happened.

His pupils shrank.

His ability was useless.

Fear tightened around his chest like a noose.

Then Seraphina spoke.

"Galen Ryse."

His whole body stiffened.

A sharp, cold sensation crawled up his spine.

Her smirk widened as she tilted her head.

"Oh, dear… You know that name, don't you?"

Galen's throat went dry.

The moment his real name left her lips, his entire world shifted.

His breath hitched, his hands shaking violently.

Seraphina's hazel eyes gleamed with cruel amusement.

She took a slow step forward.

"Now… tell me who ordered you to kill my father, Damian Vale."

A sharp gasp escaped from one of the gang members. The others froze in disbelief.

The weight of her words sank in.

This man—this pathetic, trembling man—was one of the few who had murdered Seraphina's parents.

Seraphina watched as Galen turned pale.

He was one of the killers.

He was supposed to chase her down that night…

But he didn't.

Instead, he ran.

Unlike the other assassins, he had chosen self-preservation over finishing the job.

He took the money, watched from the shadows, and decided it wasn't worth the effort to chase after two children.

And because of that, he had escaped Seraphina's brainwashing.

Until now.

His lips parted—to lie, to beg, to say anything—but he never got the chance.

His body suddenly convulsed.

A sickening crack echoed as he clutched his throat, gasping.

Blood dripped from his lips. His veins bulged, darkening as his body twitched violently.

Then—he crumpled to the ground.

Dead.

Seraphina blinked.

She hadn't commanded him to do that.

Her gaze sharpened as she took a step closer, inspecting the lifeless body.

Lucian, still weak, coughed. His voice was rough, but his words carried weight.

"…A magic oath."

Seraphina's fingers twitched. A magic oath?

Lucian's gaze remained fixed on Galen's corpse. "He was bound by a contract. The moment he tried to say anything… the magic killed him."

The remaining gang members watched in horror.

This wasn't a normal fight. This was something beyond their understanding.

They had never seen one of their own die like this.

The realization hit them like a hammer.

They were not untouchable anymore.

Seraphina clicked her tongue.

She had no interest in needless killing.

She let her power expand, her voice reaching every single one of them.

"Forget everything that happened here. You are normal people. Live normal lives."

The men jerked violently as the command took hold.

Then—one by one, they collapsed.

The alley was silent.

Seraphina staggered slightly, sweat beading on her forehead. That last command had drained her completely.

Lucian, still weak, watched her.

"You… used too much magic," he muttered, his voice hoarse.

Seraphina eyed him.

His puffy, swollen face made him look like a grumpy child from her past life.

She snorted. "Thanks for stating the obvious."

She knelt down. "Hop on."

Lucian stiffened. "I can—"

"Shut up." She smirked. "You're getting a piggyback ride, so be grateful."

Lucian sighed.

And so, with Seraphina carrying him on her back, they left the battlefield behind