The world now felt engulfed in darkness for Yamile and Zhao. Terror never seemed to cease. The atmosphere inside the base suddenly fell silent after Uncle Marco's final words.
Yamile was speechless. Zhao clenched his fists. The threat was far from over. They weren't just being hunted by the remnants of the Split Sun group but also by someone far more dangerous—the supreme leader of the demon force whose identity had yet to be revealed.
"They're targeting us?" Zhao repeated, his voice firm, nearly trembling with emotion.
"I don't know their exact reason for hunting you, but what's certain is that someone with terrifying power has been sent here," Marco explained seriously.
Yamile and Zhao exchanged glances.
"Who?" Yamile asked.
"How do you know someone is on their way here?" Zhao followed up her question.
Uncle Marco chuckled at the siblings' inquiries. "Are you underestimating me or what? I used to be an intelligence officer."
"The person sent to kill you is a woman named Sora—she used to be one of my subordinates. She possesses the terrifying Weigow demon power, and it has awakened."
"The kind of terror seen in the Eastern city has already occurred in the Central and Western cities. The central city is under Sora's control, while a man named Mugan leads the western city."
"The eastern city was supposed to be led by Kido, but you already killed him. That means only the Eastern city is currently free from the demon terror."
Yamile and Zhao were shocked to hear such facts. So many demon forces had already awakened and were now spreading fear across the nation.
"So we have to kill them all?" Yamile asked.
"It won't be that easy. Your enemies now are much stronger. Marco explained gravely, "They sent the Poccog and Kalanak demon troops here—and all of them have awakened their powers."
"That means what? The enemies you killed yesterday were mere beginners, unable to use their demon powers to the fullest."
The base grew even more tense. It was as if the cold air of fear was seeping into the underground walls. Even the lights overhead seemed dimmer, as though they sensed the severity of the situation.
Yamile swallowed hard. "Poccog and Kalanak powers… awakened?" she muttered under her breath, almost as if speaking to herself. The battle from yesterday still haunted her. Her arm was still wounded, and the fatigue clung to her like a shadow.
Zhao turned away from Marco and stared at the map on the wall—red lines, black dots, and coded markings. "How long until they get here?" he asked, his voice now deeper and more focused.
Marco sighed. "Less than three days. I've already received reports that Sora and part of her demon forces have infiltrated the eastern city's border. They're moving in the shadows, disguising themselves among ordinary people."
"They've come to kill you—and to spread terror to take control of the Eastern city."
Yamile furrowed her brow. "That means all the civilians are in danger."
"Exactly," Marco replied. "And that's what makes your mission even more complicated. We can't strike directly. We have to be careful. They could be blending in at the market, in places of worship, or even in schools. Hunting them is like chasing ghosts."
"So what should we do, Uncle?" Zhao asked his uncle for advice on how to ensure everyone's safety.
"That's why I came, Zhao. Niroki is a demon with extraordinary power. Yamile must awaken that power," Marco said firmly.
Yamile was stunned, now listening intently. "Me? Can I really do that?"
"Come with me. I can train you both to match their terrifying strength," Marco said in a reassuring tone.
"As for you, Zhao—that black sword beside you holds incredible power. Even without demon powers, just using that sword is enough to face them. But you must truly understand how to wield it to its fullest potential," he added.
Zhao glanced at the sword. Hearing this, Yamile grew irritated. She gave her brother a sharp look.
"Must be nice… becoming strong without making a pact with a demon," she whispered as she walked toward him.
Zhao realized his sister was right. With just the sword that Niroki had lent him, he already had deadly strength.
"This is fate. All we can do is be grateful," Zhao replied calmly.
---
What Marco said was indeed true—Sora was already at the eastern city's border. She and her troops had gathered in a seaside inn.
Sora, a woman in her 40s, possessed breathtaking beauty. Her makeup was heavy, and her style of dress was incredibly provocative. Anyone in her vicinity would undoubtedly succumb to her allure.
But beneath that beauty was an unseen horror. The demonic aura radiating from her body was chilling and terrifying. Sora sat on a wicker chair on the second-floor balcony, watching the waves crash against the rocks, sipping from a glass.
Behind her stood two terrifying figures—her elite subordinates: a woman named Magenta and a muscular man named Goly.
"We move tonight," Sora said, fiddling with a golden bracelet on her wrist.
"Shall we start by terrorizing the public market?" Magenta asked, offering a suggestion.
Sora smirked. "No, that's not cruel enough. Let's start with the schools. Burn their childhood memories. Let this city be traumatized from the very beginning."
Night fell. Sora and her troops traversed the eastern city's outskirts in search of schools where children were receiving education.
That night, the sky looked grim. Dark clouds loomed as if aware of the coming destruction. In a quiet corner of the city, at an elementary school that had stood for decades, the chirping of crickets faded into an eerie silence.
Sora walked gracefully through the school gate, followed by Magenta and Goly, with a small army behind them. The disguised demons showed no emotion—only a thirst for chaos.
Sora stopped in the schoolyard, gazing at the flagpole standing tall in the center. She gave a small smile. "A symbol of the future? Let's destroy their hopes first."
Magenta nodded and began spreading the troops throughout the buildings. Goly, with his powerful frame, headed to the teacher's lounge and pulled out a steel cabinet with one hand. He hurled it into the yard, smashing it into a tree that collapsed instantly.
"Start the fire. But slowly… Let them wake up to see their sacred place turn into hell," Sora ordered coldly.
The Kalanak demons began lighting the fires. In just minutes, the back of the school was ablaze. Smoke began to rise into the sky. Nearby residents started to panic, while children staying in the school dorms screamed and ran in terror.
Sora stood still, her eyes savoring the horror. "Weigow… this is just the warm-up," she whispered, as if speaking to the demon inside her.
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