The moment Daki stepped through the infernal gate, she was consumed by an overwhelming brightness—so intense it burned against her senses. Instinctively, she raised her hands to shield her eyes, shutting them tightly against the unbearable light.
Then, in an instant, the heat of Hell was gone. The weight of the underworld vanished. The scent of fire and sulfur disappeared.
When she opened her eyes, she was no longer in Hell.
It was night. A cool breeze brushed against her skin, carrying unfamiliar scents—the city, the sea, the faint trace of humans. Towering buildings surrounded her, their glass windows reflecting the neon lights of a bustling street. Strange metallic creatures with glowing eyes—cars—rushed past on paved roads. People moved in clusters, talking, laughing, completely unaware of her presence.
Daki frowned. Something felt off.
A man in a dark suit walked straight toward her, and just as she braced herself for impact—he passed right through her.
She froze.
"That's strange," she muttered, watching as others did the same, moving past as if she wasn't even there. For a brief moment, panic flickered in her mind. Was she a ghost? Had she failed to take a proper form?
But then she felt it—the shift in her essence. Her body was no longer made of fire and shadows. Her once-fiery flesh had been replaced by smooth, warm skin. She reached up, feeling long, silky hair cascading over her shoulders. Glancing at her reflection in a nearby glass window, she saw herself for the first time in human form.
She was tall, strikingly beautiful, her features delicate yet powerful. Her piercing blue eyes, the only remnant of Hell's touch, stood out against her flawless skin.
Then, another realization struck her. She understood the words around her.
"I can… speak their language?" she mused aloud, listening to the people passing by, their conversations making perfect sense to her. A smirk tugged at her lips. "Must be because I'm here now."
Her voice carried arrogance, confidence. She was still Daki, still a demon, and nothing had changed.
And now, her hunt could begin.