Jungkook was the one who ran to his hyung and squeezed him into a tight embrace. Seokjin stood there in utter surprise as his eyes were constantly growing bigger. Feeling the younger closer to him, he wrapped his arm around his shoulder and patted his back softly.

“Hyung, I missed you...”

Yoongi was surprised too but he pulled off his gummy smile and also gave Seokjin a light hug.

“You're back, Jin.”

Seokjin let go of Jungkook and asked both of them, “Y-Yoongi? Jungkook? What are you two doing here? I-I thought Ozul held everyone captive.”

“Yeah but not us. We managed to stay hidden.” Yoongi looked proud of himself.

Glancing at the other two guardians, he raised his hand as a sign of greeting, “Hi!”

“Hi yourself! What the heck were you doing inside a barrel, all trembling?! You almost gave yourselves away!” Beomgyu yelled.

“Hey, Kook was the one who couldn’t fit in and kept whining. Not my fault.” he calmly handed all the faults to the younger who giggled in embarrassment.

Suddenly, Jungkook's eyes shifted towards the wrapped staff in Yoon Min's hand and his eyes widened in shock,

“Is that what I think it is?” he pointed at it.

Yoon Min nodded, “Yeah, the magical wand. We brought it.”

Yoongi also examined it and said, “Too bad we don't know how to use it. Only the Princess knows.”

“That's why we need to get Aereum out of the hallroom.”

Seokjin began explaining the plan to the other two. The more they have in the team, the more they have chances to win against the devils. Jungkook was already in their plan since he was fond of actions and stuff. Yoongi managed to agree with them though he was unsure about the whole plan.

“Great! Then me and Beomgyu can distract the devils. Meanwhile, Yoongi Hyung and Yoon Min can untie the others and help them to run away. And Jin Hyung can take Princess Aereum to safety.” Jungkook was brightening up as each second passed. He must be excited a lot.

Beomgyu added, “But we need to be very careful. For one thing, we don't know where Ozul Vex is. I have a feeling he is cooking something evil.”

Seokjin opened the bag he was carrying and took out some Ice Shooters and gave it to Jungkook and Beomgyu. They could try to kill them while luring them outside.

“Everyone ready?” he asked.

“Ready!” all replied except for Yoongi.

--------------

The devils were circling the helpless residents time to time, keeping a sharp eye on each of them. Only if the residents knew that the devils were actually very stupid. When their master orderes them, they were very fit to be in the description of villains.

Myeong Jo who had her hands already untied were looking here and there in search of anything helpful. Reading millions of books helped her to know how to untie her hands secretly at least. She glanced to her left side where Taehyung was sitting on his knees. She hissed at him lowly, causing him to look at her too.

He mouthed, “What?” she gestured at her hands which were free. He widened his eyes and gave a silent compliment. Then like she said, he avoiding everyone’s eyes moved a bit closer to her so that she could free his hands as well. Myeong Jo quickly untied his hands in 6 seconds and got back to her position. Taehyung pretended he was still tied. He tried to think what he can do then to escape from here.

That's when...

“Hey you devils!”

Every single soul looked upstairs where the voice came from.

“You guys are uglier than my imaginary uncle!”

Yian raised an eyebrow, “Jungkook?”

“B-Beomgyu?” Sung Rin spoke after her.

That's right. Both Jungkook and Beomgyu were standing upstairs, looking fearless and mighty. The devils were very confused as they were communicating with each other in their unrecognizable language.

“Well? Are you that stupid that you don't even know if you should catch us?” Jungkook just made it up.

One of the devils sneered at them.

Their plan was working!

“Look, we are two handsome guardians. Aren't you supposed to kill us?” he added.

Beomgyu never used this sort of language so he remained silent, letting the other do it.

Soon, the devils were starting to get upset and raged by their mean comments. It looked like cartoon but smoke really was coming out from their ears.

Jungkook smirked at them, “Well then, we run and you guys catch us. Sounds fun?”

Something was going on between the devils.

“Are they crazy?” Koushi murmured under her breath.

Jungkook made the first move and threw a hard stone at the nearest devil as an attack. That one fell down immediately. This action made all the devils shout in anger as they all began running towards them. He smirked at their stupidity, held Beomgyu's hand and then ran away wherever they could to distract all devils away from them.

Very soon, all devils left the hallroom to follow those two guardians in order to get revenge like idiots.

Yoongi and Yoon Min were hiding behind a pillar all this time. They came out and ran to the crowd of guardians and fairies. Upon seeing them, everyone was shocked as they all called out their names.

“Song Yoon Min!” Sung Rin yelled at her in happiness. It looked like she was gonna cry in a second.

Yoon Min sat down and began untying everyone’s hands as fast as she could. Yoongi also occupied himself in freeing the others. He firstly untied his fairy then his close friends as he respected the word Nepotism. After untying them, they were telling them to go away from the castle as far as they can.

“Hope you've been well, Yiana.” as soon as she untied her friend, Yian jumped on her body to hug her. Yoon Min badly wanted to hug her back as well but given the situation they were in, it will be unthoughtful to waste time.

But Yian was also smart so she let go of her quickly too. “Glad you are back, girl! What's the plan?”

“Well, untie everyone and get them out of here as soon as possible.” Yoon Min gave her a shoulder pat before running off to the others.

Aereum was very surprised to see her residents acting wisely according to the situation. She never thought the guardians she sent in the outer space would come back safely even after what happened. For the first time, she felt pride not for herself, but for her residents.

“Princess....”

The familiar voice turned out to be Seokjin as he sat on one of his knees and took her hands to remove the rope.

“Seok Jin.” her face brightened up to see him after many days.

He smiled slightly and untied her rope fastly. He made her stand up and then told her calmly, “We have the wand with us. Come with me.”

Almost all guardians and fairies were out of the castle. Yoon Min held Yoongi's arm and said, “Senior, you know where all the Ice Shooters are?”

He shook his head, “No but I think Nam Joon might know.”

“Nam Joon is taking everyone out. I know where they are stored.” Hoseok meddled.

She then said, “Okay, I need you to get as many Ice Shooters you can find and give them to some experienced guardians. We need to save Jungkook and Beomgyu too. They must be hiding.”

“I'll take Jimin with me. Yoongi Hyung, you go and bring the others. Let's go kill some Devils.” Hoseok as usual spoke wih hope as if killing devils were a piece of cake.

She nodded and both of them got out.

Only Yoon Min and Sung Rin were left.

“What you waiting? Come on, let's go!” Sung Rin held her arm.

Yoon Min looked tensed amd scared as well. It seemed she was looking for someone desperately as her eyes were searching every corner.

“S-sung Rin...where is Ella?”

Realization also hit her as she for a minute also scanned the hall room. Then she said, “She must have gotten out as well! Let's go now, Yoon Min!”

She shook her head in denial as she urged Sung Rin to go first.

“Are you crazy? Ain't no way I'm leaving you here! Ella is fine. Just come with me!”

“No, you go, Sung Rin. I will come in a bit. I need to find her.”

Sung Rin wasted the next few minutes trying to make the other agree no matter what. But since her friend was very stubborn at this, she had no choice but to give up. Giving her a good luck, she also made her out of the castle to follow Hoseok.

The door behind her slammed shut suddenly, making a giant noise. Yoon Min jumped in her place as she turned around. The doors closed on their own?

Lights began flickering, the atmosphere suddenly began turning into a scene of horror. Her skin turned cold as she had a guess what was gonna happen. Yoon Min remained still in her place, eyes wandering at each corner.

And as she feared, a shape of black smoke appeared out of nowhere; a few distance away from where she was standing.

Yoon Min unknowingly became pale and breathless. Her eyes were locked with it, limbs were numb and her chest was filling with fear. She was facing the most cruel presence of all universes.

Ozul Vex....

“Hello, Guardian Song Yoon Min.”

A voice inside that shapeless scary black smoke spoke with a chuckle.

It gave her shivers down her spines.

“I must say I was very eager to meet you. After all, you survived my attack miraculously.”

Yoon Min wanted to back away but she lost control of her whole body, rendering her helpless. She found it hard to breathe as the atmosphere around her was too cold and suffocating. Fear was the main reason. She failed to move her eyes from the smoke, clearly knew he turned into a black smoke just to play with her innocent mind.

She managed to let out, “O-ozul Vex?” her throat dried like a stone.

“Oh yes, I am the Ozul Vex. The one you all fear.” he said fakely in his playful voice.

She didn’t know where she got the courage but spoke up, “You are wrong. We don't fear you.”

The evil voice laughed. Laughed like a maniac. As if she said something out of pure comedy. Which made her gulp down. She was all alone in a locked space with the most vicious villain that could take her life away in a second. She should think before she says something.

The black smoke suddenly made its way towards her. Yoon Min wanted to run away but it kept her frozen in place. It slowly began circling her, keeping a near distance to scare her. She could feel the coldness coming out from it. For one thing, she didn’t knew Ozul Vex could take forms of anything, anyone. She just got to know it now. He was more clever and capable of doing things she didn’t know.

“Look at your bravery, young guardian. Let me say something that will sound interesting to you...”

The black smoke then continued, “Long ago you came to this universe as a guardian who took her life and now has to serve suicidal humans the rest of her days like a servant. She made many friends. Even got herself an admirer who has no idea her poor little dead heart aches painfully whenever he is close to her. You are lost admist your feelings. You don't know what you feel around him. You see him as a stranger but you feel him nothing but a close person. You are also haunted by the thoughts of your unknown past. You want to know what you did, what happened that made you kill yourself. Unlike others, you want to find out about your life and fill your stomach with answers. You are passionate, intelligent, responsible, all in your goody shoes...”

Yoon Min's jaw dropped in pure shock. He knew everything about her. All her secrets, all her thoughts, all her intentions. She couldn’t move her stare away from it since she was immersed into his addictive mind.

“H-how did you--”

“Oh believe me, Song Yoon Min...I even know your past which you want to find out so badly.” there was no expression in him but it was certain he was smirking.

She found no words, no expressions to describe how she was feeling then.

Just...shocked.

“Not just you, I know every guardian and fairy's stories when they were alive.

Yoon Min was silent the whole time. She was too taken aback when she got to know Ozul Vex knew her past. There was a part in her that wanted to ask him about it but the other sides told her not to do it. It was against the rules.

She was getting weaker as seconds passed since the cold air was freezing her dangerously as her fingers began trembling slightly along with her feet. The black smoke being too close to her caused it.

He then said, “I must say Kim Seok Jin is no more than a stupid fool. How come he never saw tears in your eyes every time you are with him? Can't he see you trying your best to hide your pain from him?”

Yoon Min tightened her fists before she replied back, “Leave him out of this, Ozul. He has nothing to do with me.”

“Oh really? Are you sure?”

The black smoke finally moved away from her, causing her too feel less cold now. It moved to the highest stair where the throne was placed and turned towards her who was many steps down. Then slowly, like magic, it began turning its real face.

In a minute, there stood a tall heavily built demon who looked so frightful as well as hideous that almost made her want to vomit. He was exactly the way she read in books. There was no single fact that was missed. He had deep scars, marks that were printed everywhere in his face. His hair looked dirty along with his whole body. And the mischievous smirk he was holding made her frozen in place.

His appearance proved he was indeed Demon Ozul Vex.

Yoon Min gulped down in fear. There was no one beside her. She was all alone inside the hall. She was begging for others to come and get her out of here. She knew fear of him could make her unconscious any second.

“Why, little guardian? Wondering where your knight in shining armour is? Who are you expecting? Kim Seok Jin or Choi Beomgyu?” Ozul laughed at her maniacally.

She couldn’t look at him anymore. She wanted to hide her eyes from his sinful gaze and grin that wanted to murder her. He was enjoying her poor state. All alone, helpless yet trying to act strong.

That's when a pair of arms wrapped around her fragile body and her eyes were covered with a warm hand gently.

Yoon Min was indeed surprised by the touch of course but she very well knew who it was.

Looking down at them, Ozul began laughing again; the sound of his laugh showed he was finding it funny to watch them. He was nothing but a merciless creature.

“Don't look at him. Stay behind me.” Seokjin whispered into her ear, then slowly moved her behind him as if he was her shield. He directly looked at Ozul with no fear whatsoever.

“Ozul Vex...should I be honored or ashamed to meet you?”

Yoon Min was quite surprised by his spirit though she knew he was this kind of person.

Ozul seemed to like his behaviour since he replied caring fakely, “Hello to you too, Senior Guardian Kim Seok Jin. We were just talking about you.”

“Well, that is very nice to hear. Now, can you step down from our Princess's throne? You are ruining it with your stinking grin.”

He widened his sadistic grin before uttering, “Aren't you being too high considering how low you are in keeping your secret?”

Yoon Min quirked her eyebrows up in confusion. From her eyes, she saw Seokjin's expression changing slowly. What secret?

Ozul seemed to sense their minds as he said with an evil grin, “Ah, Guardian Yoon Min must not know, right?”

He moved his gaze at her again and said, “Kim Seok Jin has been hiding something from everyone which only he and my dear Aereumie knows.”

She stepped beside him in order to see Seokjin's face. He wasn’t saying anything. Was it true? Yoon Min wasn’t interested in the secret however. Everyone had their privacy so it was not a big deal. But the fact the way Ozul was speaking as if he was hiding something terrible and even Princess Aereum knows it; It was a matter of curiosity.

”What secret?” She asked Seokjin instead of the demon.

Seokjin was devasted. As if bullets of memories shot him in his chest. He lost control of his whole body, thinking about that secret.

Ozul chuckled at his weakness and decided to answer instead,

“He knows his past.”