That demon waved his right hand as he walked inside the alley, gesturing for us to follow him. I never minded it. Somewhere silent is always better than someone crowded. Both for mortals and me. It will save a lot of trouble after I'm done with these fools.

"Sir... Why are you smiling like that?" Jeanne said, just like Eve did before. It was getting hard to control myself.

The blood lust was acting up again. I had tried to bury my hatred for demons in my heart. But it had never died. Every time I saw these demons, it'd come out of its grave just like an undead being that refused to go to the afterlife. I took in deep breaths to calm my mind. I didn't want to lose myself to my rage again as I did in the morning.

"Just come with me," I said and walked forward. They didn't say anything further and followed me. I guess they had no choice. As I was near the alley, I halted.

I saw my Eve coming out of the car after keeping the groceries. She stood beside her car on the other side of the road. She looked around a bit. And the next moment, our eyes met. Even though we weren't separated for long, but in her eyes, I saw joy of seeing me again. It was funny how impatient she was. It was funny how easily I found my peace. Those bad thoughts of mine were like prey cowering in the fear of a predator. Her eyes were so magical.

"What's wrong?" Jeanne asked, wondering why I had halted. She couldn't see my Eve because of people blocking her sight.

I smiled at my Eve and shook my head. Hoping she would not follow me. The things that happen in dark shouldn't ever reach her. I'd never let them reach her.

"Nothing," I replied and walked inside the alley.

The alley wasn't too wide, but it wasn't too small either. It was empty, but I could sense the demon in yellow and his companions up ahead. I kept walking forward and turned right.

There that demon was, standing in the middle of that small path. The other two demons were nearby, but they didn't come out. Even though it was already dark, his side appeared to be a darker. That demon wanted to scare us, but such small tricks were useless to me. My eyes could see everything. He was looking down on us as if we were insects. It was just... too funny.

"Bring those kids here, sign a pact and be my servant. Or you can always get ready to die," he spoke it all slowly but sharply, perhaps fearing we won't understand it. Those kids behind my held my shirt, fearing I would really hand them over to the demon to save myself.

I didn't get from where this lowlife was getting his confidence from. If we look according to the ranking system, that demon, at best, belonged to higher A rank. At worst, he would be a lower A rank demon. And he still behaved like that. The new blood among demons surpass the old ones only in foolishness.

"I'd have to deny," I politely replied. I knew that being all nice with these demons will never work. There was no way that he would say something like 'Ok. You can go. Sorry for trouble'. But I still tried. I gave him a chance because I wanted to change. That was the first time I gave a demon a chance. Otherwise, I'd have beheaded him for his insolence.

That demon smiled and said, "Why are you so eager to die. I swear I don't treat my servants badly. In any case, the kids are coming with me. I'm tired after following them for so long."

"I'm afraid you can't even touch a single strand of their hair... Or mine."

The smile on his face disappeared, and anger replaced it. His expression changed too suddenly. I almost burst up laughing at his pitiful emotions flaring up for no reason.

"If you kneel and beg for forgiveness, I might think of letting you die a painless death," the demon said in a high tone. He then walked towards me. I guessed he wanted to fight me, but with bare hands? Wasn't he just too reckless?

"Jean. Let me show you how to do it right," I told the kid and walked forward. Jean looked like someone who practised fighting physically too. I didn't mind demonstrating him a correct uppercut.

The demon in yellow increased his speed and clenched his fists. When he was right in front of me, he moved his right arm to punch my face. I gave him a handicap and let him hit me as a form of mercy.

His punch connected... But as I had expected, it was too weak. His hit couldn't even make me turn my head. Even though the demons might brag about their strength, most of them were as soft as a pile of shit. I couldn't help but sigh thinking of these pitiful creatures. He withdrew his arm and looked at me in disbelief.

"My turn," I warned him before I started.

I moved my fist towards his jaw for an uppercut. When he realized it, he wanted to draw back, but he was too slow... All the momenta from my arm was transferred to his head in one instant and he fell back on the ground, motionless. I could have killed him in one punch, but I didn't want to go home with bloody fists. So I held back, a lot.

I turned back and asked Jean, "How was it?"

Both the kids looked at me in disbelief. It was only a while later when Jean exclaimed, "Awesome!"

I turned my head forward again.

"You should come out too," I called out for those hidden demons loudly, hoping that they would come out from their hiding.

Just after that, someone jumped down in front of me. The ground where he fell crack in a spider web like fashion. That demon was wearing a brown long coat. He was much more muscular than the yellow devil. But this one looked middle-aged and more mature than the yellow one. My intuition told me that he had some physical enchantment ability. I was surprised to find out that this person was a higher demon.

"You've got some guts, boy. To dare hit my brother so badly in front of me," The demon in brown bellowed.

"Oh! He was your brother. No wonder you look so similar."

"You gave him a free hit. Right? I give you a free hit now. Come!"

I guess he wanted to sate his pride by doing so. Or perhaps he too was trying to show off just like his brother. Sigh... Heredity problems. Their egoistic behaviour was disgusting me. He should have at least tried to ask me about my identity before trying to show off.

"Thank you. Don't regret it later." I accepted his generosity.

I stepped forward in front of him. He too was looking down on me. Without wasting any time, I swung my hand to punch his face, just like his little brother punched me a while ago. Before my punch hit him, I saw his skin turn a little yellowish. I knew he was using his physical enchantment ability for defence, but I continued with the same speed. His ability wasn't strong enough to worry me.

I hit his face, and the expected thing happened. He fell down on the ground, unconscious, just like his little brother. If he had defended properly, he would have the energy to twitch in pain.

And at that moment, I felt four short knives flying in my direction, all pointed at my vitals. One heading towards my head, second towards my heart, third towards my abdomen and forth towards my neck. I'd be instantly killed if I didn't dodge them. I could move, and my reaction time was fastest than the speed of those knives. But there was one problem.

The knife coming towards my neck would hit Jean if I dodged. I used the leap of time and instead of dodging them, I caught them and threw them to the side. Interacting with objects outside the realm of time was possible if I switch the ability fast enough.

Another devil jumped from the same building the second devil had jumped from. I should better call it descending instead of jumping because her speed was very slow. It surprised me when I saw through the life force of that demon. The life force was radiating out like the surging waves of a river. I never could have thought that someone like her would be here. No wonder I was forced to use my ability.

"I didn't expect Miss Asmodeus to be here."

They called themselves lords of sins or the seven kings of Gehenna. They were the absolute rulers of Gehenna, only below the sovereigns. Even hundreds of higher demons couldn't hold a candle against one of the lords. Even those arrogant higher demons would respectfully bow down their head in front of the lords. I had never met them before. They never appeared when I went to Gehenna. But I had heard tales about them. It was my first time meeting one of the lords. In front of me was the queen of lust, Asmodeus.

Her large black bat-like wings were spread far as she descended. I had to say she was a looker. Her deep blue eyes looked like an endless ocean deep enough to drown anyone's heart and she had perfectly arched eyebrows. Her lips were coloured with redness that would make you want to touch them. Her white unblemished snow-like skin appeared like nothing could be fairer. Her face was at the peak of perfection.

Then there were her bewitching curves hidden by a light blue dress and something like a skin-tight trouser. Her hair was long and as dark as night. She was wearing high heels. This seductress could steal anyone's heart in a heartbeat.

"You've got sharp eyes little angel," Asmodeus' giggled and her voice was soft as if it was embracing me. Even though she was standing a couple of meters away from me but I could feel that sweet smell assault my nostrils. That smell made me feel like I was in paradise.

"I ask Miss Asmodeus to let us go."

"Would you like to work for me, little angel?"

Her voice was even softer this time. Like I could hear her whispering those words in my ears. She looked so fragile and still so beautiful. I wanted to snatch that lady and take her for myself. I felt like I should agree to whatever she says, otherwise I'd regret it to death.

I took a deep breath. I had enough of such tricks. She had used her ability to charm the moment I laid eyes on her. Yeah, her ability was much stronger than others, but it wasn't irresistible to me. Yeah she was beautiful, but truthfully, she really didn't stand a chance in front of my Eve. I experienced those things because I let her charm me. I was curious about those so-called lords and their strength. But it was disappointing. Turned out that their tales were exaggerated.

"I'd have to deny Miss too."

"What?" My words startled Asmodeus.

"Miss Asmodeus. I'm immune to such abilities. And I already have someone whom I serve," I truthfully told her. The abilities that target mind and heart aren't rare. Like creating hazy thoughts or inducing mental confusion. To prevent hidden attacks, some beings place traps in their mind. Others just bet on their wills. But someone skilled enough could solve such traps. From what I had heart, I didn't doubt that Asmodeus was adept in mind abilities.

In my case, it was true immunity. My all-seeing eyes could see through all lies and all mirage. Sometimes, I feel that this is the strongest ability which has kept me alive till now.

"You're very strong, little angel..." Asmodeus' voice was still calm and composed. Her surprise had only lasted for a while, and she tried to charm me once again.

"What a pity..." As she continued speaking, my intuition gave me a sharp warning. "This little boy is not as strong as you." As her words hit my ear, and I realized she was talking about those kids behind me.

Before I could turn back, I felt a sharp pain in my right leg. A knife had been slashed behind my right knee. The muscles were torn. My leg couldn't support me, and I fell down on my knees. But that wasn't all. Another knife was stabbed in my back. The second one was stabbed so deep that it almost came out of my abdomen.

I turned my head and saw Jean, who had excitement and madness in his eyes. Jean was still holding the knife handle, trying to stab even deeper.

"What have you done!?" Jeanne screamed.

I flicked Jean's forehead hard with my finger, and he fainted.

I felt pain again. This time in my chest. Because my head was turned, I didn't see Asmodeus stabbing me. This stab was near my heart. Two of my ribs broke with that strike. I groaned because of the pain. This might very well be the second heaviest injury I ever suffered. I should have expected such a despicable action from a demon king.

Asmodeus sure was fast. Bringing her knife out and covering a few meters distance in such a short time and making such a lethal strike. It was praiseworthy. These lords weren't as weak as I once thought. But...

Because of her actions, I lost it... My sanity...