THIRD PERSON'S POV

"Watch the news. Demon’s parading criminals in the square," one of the Elders said, eyes narrowed as he observed the scene on the screen.

Ice turned from his desk, his face expressionless as he took in the chaotic scene of bound criminals, all lined up like sheep for slaughter. Demon strode among them with a scythe in hand, looking every bit the twisted executioner.

“How many criminals are there in total?” he asked, his tone calm.

"Over 250," the Elder replied. "And word is, this is only the first batch. Not all of them are even guilty—some are just accused."

Ice’s jaw tightened. “I see.” Standing, he removed his glasses, slipping them into his pocket. “Get the car ready. It’s time to surprise her.”

“Are you going to fight her?” the Elder asked, excitement flashing in his eyes.

Ice frowned, his gaze sharp. “No. I’m rescuing the hostages she has in the plaza. Some of them are innocent, and even the guilty don’t deserve her brand of twisted justice.”

“I’m coming with you,” Claire spoke up, moving toward him with determination.

“Fine,” he replied coolly, his eyes flicking over her. “But don’t get in my way.” A glint of something dark flashed in his eyes. “I want Demon to remember this day, and know she’s facing the one who will end her.”

---

"AAAAAAHHHH, MANIEGO!" Demon screamed, her voice rippling with an eerie mix of excitement and fury.

The thick smoke hung around her as she spun in place, eyes wild, searching the plaza. Her fingers gripped her scythe tighter, every fiber of her being thrumming with twisted joy.

“Come out, Maniego!” she bellowed, her grin wide and feral. “I’ve waited long enough for this!”

Her scythe cut through the smoke as she swung it wildly, as if trying to slice through her own anticipation. Each swing left splinters of stone and wood in its wake, the destruction only stoking her excitement.

"Run all you want, but I’ll find you!" Demon’s voice echoed through the square, chilling anyone still brave enough to watch from a distance.

But then—

"Run? Who said I was going to run?" A voice, deep and composed, cut through the clearing smoke.

As the haze faded, a figure came into view, tall and confident, with a glint of steel in his eyes. Ice stood there, unshaken, a sharp contrast to the chaos surrounding them.

Demon’s heart skipped a beat as she saw him, her pulse racing. She dropped to one knee, clutching her chest, a dramatic smirk spreading across her face.

"You!? You’re even more handsome up close! Do you… wanna marry me?” Her voice took on a playful tone, as if her previous bloodlust had been replaced with pure infatuation.

The White Monarchy member watching from afar groaned, resisting the urge to roll their eyes. "Not this again…"

Ice’s expression remained blank, though his brows lifted in subtle disbelief. “What? You’re… you’re not my type.”

Demon’s eyes widened, feigning heartbreak. “What? But you were obsessed with me once!”

Ice’s patience was wearing thin. “Do you think the person who murdered my mother would be my type?” he snapped coldly, barely hiding his disgust.

Demon’s expression shifted instantly, her playful grin giving way to a wicked smile. “Hmm, you’ve got a point.” She leaned in, her eyes gleaming with twisted delight. “Are you here to kill me, Maniego?” Her words dripped with mockery, each syllable taunting him. “Are you strong enough to take me on? Have you gone through the hellish training I did? Did you watch me rip through the so-called ‘masks’?”

Jarvis watched the encounter from a rooftop nearby, his eyes narrowing. “She’s provoking him,” he murmured, recognizing her tactics. “This isn’t the time for them to face off…”

But Demon wasn’t about to let up. She circled Ice slowly, like a predator toying with its prey, her scythe tracing lazy arcs in the air.

"Come on, Maniego. I’ll make it quick," she cooed mockingly. “Or maybe I’ll let you watch as I finish off every criminal here. How about that?”

Ice’s jaw clenched, his eyes meeting hers with unwavering determination. “You’re delusional, Demon,” he said coldly. “And today, you’ll realize just how outmatched you are.”

She smirked, giving him a once-over. “Outmatched? Oh, darling, I’ll savor breaking you.”

Her gaze narrowed as she saw Ice step forward, seemingly ready to face her. She grinned, the anticipation of a real fight sparking through her veins. Her scythe gleamed under the fading smoke, and her stance tightened, prepared to clash with him.

"Finally," she sneered, her voice dripping with venom. "I've been waiting to tear you apart"

But Ice's face remained calm, unaffected by her taunts. His attention seemed unfocused, as if she was only a temporary obstacle.

"Are you really here to fight, or are you just wasting my time?" Demon’s voice grew sharper, her patience thinning. "If you came to play hero, you’re going to need more than just a self-righteous attitude."

He met her gaze, his calm unsettling. "Funny," he said coldly. "I didn't come here to give you what you want. But thanks for the distraction."

Before she could react, he raised his hand, signaling something behind him. At that moment, she heard the soft shuffle of feet, like a whisper slipping away.

Her eyes flicked over his shoulder—and her grin vanished.

One by one, the criminals she’d lined up, the ones she’d deemed “unworthy” and was prepared to execute, were being rushed away, hustled into waiting vehicles by a team of White Monarchy soldiers. Ice had been stalling her, diverting her focus just long enough to get them to safety.

Her face twisted with fury. “What—no, you’re not taking my prey!” she snarled, lunging forward, her scythe slicing through the air.

But Ice was ready. He blocked her attack with a swift, practiced move, forcing her back a step. "You really thought I’d let you slaughter them here?" he taunted, his voice steady. "These people deserve better than a show put on by a psychopath."

Demon’s laughter was harsh, her rage bleeding through. "Deserve?" she spat. "They don’t deserve anything. They’re filth, the lot of them!"

With a growl, she swung her scythe again, pouring all her anger into the strike, but Ice deflected her attacks, step by step, drawing her further away from the plaza. His movements were measured, his face a mask of calm.

“Afraid to fight me?” she sneered, a wild edge creeping into her voice. “Where’s that spine of yours? Or are you just here to babysit these criminals?”

He glanced over his shoulder briefly, ensuring the last of the vehicles was pulling away. His patience was wearing thin, but he refused to give her the satisfaction of losing his cool. “Maybe one day I’ll fight you, Demon,” he said, his voice a quiet challenge. “But not today. Today, I just took away your audience.”

Her gaze whipped around, and her rage flared. The plaza was nearly empty, her targets—the criminals she’d been savoring the idea of executing—were gone.

“You bastard!” she screamed, lunging at him again, this time with enough force to crack the stone where her scythe hit as he narrowly dodged her blow. The empty plaza only fueled her rage, her whole plan crumbling before her.

But Ice just smirked. "Looks like you're out of toys to play with." He took a step back, almost daring her to follow. "Did you really think I'd just stand by and watch you butcher them?"

Demon’s chest heaved, her scythe clenched tight. "You’ll regret this. I swear, I’ll make you wish you never interfered."

Ice tilted his head, his voice calm, almost bored. "Feel free to try. But you’re losing sight of the bigger picture."

With a final, infuriating look of calm, he turned and began to walk away. Demon stood there, shaking with fury, her plans ruined, her prey stolen from her. She could practically feel her control slipping—and the hatred in her eyes only sharpened.

As Ice turned his back on her, Demon’s rage reached a boiling point, her vision blurring with fury. Her eyes glowed an ominous red, a warning of the storm within. She clenched her scythe so hard her knuckles whitened, the sharp edge gleaming, hungry for blood. Her whole body vibrated with the urge to tear him apart, to make him regret ever challenging her.

Just as she tensed, ready to lunge, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back with surprising force.

“What the hell—” Demon snarled, whirling her scythe to strike, but her attacker was quicker. She found herself hoisted off the ground, her vision shifting as she was swept away from the plaza.

It was Jarvis, his face set in steely determination as he held her tightly. "We’re leaving," he murmured, his tone firm, even as she squirmed violently in his grasp.

“Put me down!” Demon hissed, her voice a venomous command. “Do you know who you’re messing with?”

"Yes, I know exactly who I’m dealing with," Jarvis replied coolly. "And I also know that if you fight here, the bloodshed will make things worse for us. You need to hold back."

Demon’s fists tightened, her eyes flashing. "I don’t hold back, Jarvis. He stole from me—he took what was mine!”

"Those criminals aren’t worth it," he whispered, pushing her further into the crowd, blending their presence to avoid drawing attention. People in the square watched, confused and unsettled by the brief chaos but none the wiser to the seething fury pulsing in Demon’s heart.

She fought against him, desperate to turn back, her hands gripping her scythe, her breathing erratic. Her chest burned with frustration, her mind echoing with a need for revenge, for blood, for the satisfaction that only vengeance could bring.

As they slipped into a shadowed alley, Jarvis finally set her down, but he kept a firm grip on her shoulder. Demon wrenched herself away from him, her eyes blazing with raw, untamed fury.

"I don’t care what it takes," she growled, her voice low and dangerous, "I’ll make Maniego pay for this. No one humiliates me and gets away with it."

Jarvis studied her, his expression unreadable. "You need to be patient, Demon. Losing control now will only make things worse. Think—plan. That’s what you’re good at, right?"

Demon’s chest heaved, her grip still tight on her scythe. Every fiber of her being screamed for violence, for retribution. She could already imagine the look on Ice’s face as she finally got her revenge.

But Jarvis’s calm words echoed in her mind, forcing her to slow her breaths. She closed her eyes, her heart pounding, the red in her eyes slowly dimming. She knew he was right, even if every instinct told her otherwise. To get what she wanted, she’d have to play this smart.

---

As Ice's car sped away from the plaza, his brow furrowed in thought. Something gnawed at him, a feeling that he couldn't quite shake. He clenched his fists, his mind still spinning with the strange encounter he’d just had with Demon.

“That man… I swear he looked familiar,” Ice muttered, almost to himself, sliding into the passenger seat. "But why didn't I see his face clearly?" His gaze hardened as he looked out the window, the cityscape blurring by. “And the White Monarchy… why didn’t they step in?”

Unbeknownst to him, Demon had given strict orders: "No one touches Maniego but me." The White Monarchy had obeyed, standing down as instructed, leaving Ice with an eerie sense of unease.

Ice shook his head, replaying the bizarre confrontation in his mind—the way Demon’s face lit up with wild excitement, the unnerving glint in her eyes, and that unsettling, playful voice.

“You!” She had exclaimed, her eyes glinting with twisted amusement. “You’re even more handsome up close! Do you… wanna marry me?”

The words echoed in his head, like a twisted melody stuck on repeat. It had left him rattled, the madness in her eyes more unnerving than any weapon she could wield.

“Damn it,” he cursed under his breath, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Why the hell am I even thinking about her?”

From the back seat, Claire watched him, her face clouded with complex emotions. “He’s still under her spell, even after everything…” she murmured, barely audible. Memories surfaced, of the day she’d been given orders to turn Ice’s attention away from Hyra. She’d done her duty, drawing him away, but a small part of her still carried guilt—and a thorn of jealousy.

“She’s not serious about him, you know,” came a voice from beside her. Lux glanced at her, her face lined with exasperation. “Ice has always been yours. Demon’s just… playing with him.”

“Playing with him?” Claire echoed, frowning. “Then why… why does it feel like there’s something more?”

Lux’s gaze softened, though it was tinged with bitterness. “I watched them together, Claire. Demon and Conan…” she trailed off, her voice dropping. “Their love is… consuming. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t break it.”

*BOOM!*

The car jolted as a thunderous explosion erupted behind them. The air thickened with black smoke, and Ice whipped around to see the inferno engulfing the vehicle where the criminals were being transported. His heart dropped as he realized what had happened.

Through the smoke, Demon’s laugh rang out, chilling and triumphant. She held up a small detonator, grinning maniacally.

“You thought you could take my prey from me, Maniego?” she sneered, her voice carrying over the chaos. “Some of them might’ve survived if you’d just left them alone. This blood is on "your" hands. HAHAHAHAHA!”

“DEMON!” Ice roared, his face twisting with rage.

“Yes? Want to tell me off, or… fuck me instead?” she called, her mocking laughter echoing as she tossed the detonator carelessly.

His fists shook with barely-contained fury, but she simply waved him off, brushing it all aside with a bored expression. In an instant, her manic energy drained, replaced with a look of pure disinterest. The whole ordeal seemed to have lost its appeal.

“Well,” Demon sighed, tossing her hair over her shoulder, “that was… mildly entertaining.” She shot him one last disdainful look. “But I’m done here. You’ve been a poor plaything, Ice.”

She spun on her heel, whistling a tune as she walked away, scythe swinging at her side as if the carnage and chaos had never happened.

JARVIS'S POV

What the hell just happened?

I thought I’d managed to calm her down, but the second my guard slipped, Demon had somehow tied me up. I hadn’t even seen it coming—one moment I was watching her, the next I was bound like a fool. That Demon was as stubborn as she was ruthless.

“She won’t rest until she’s had her revenge on Ice,” I muttered under my breath, testing the restraints around my wrists. Just as I was about to work on the knots, a figure appeared.

"Hey, pal, what are you doing all tied up there?"

"Pal my ass", I thought, rolling my eyes. He was no friend of mine, but he was my only way out.

“Take off my leash,” I grumbled. He chuckled but stepped forward, untying me with a grin that reminded me of Jared. Damn, Jared. Sorry, but you'd be better off in chains than six feet under.

As soon as I was free, I rubbed my sore wrists, feeling the blood start to circulate again. “Did you hear Demon followed the criminals and blew up their transport?” he said, an almost admiring tone to his voice.

I glanced at him sharply. “Did that explosion hurt the man Demon confronted earlier?”

“Nah,” he replied, shaking his head with a casual shrug. “Demon got bored and just left the scene without a second thought. Didn't even look back at that mask.”

My jaw tightened. “So, no plans to take him down yet, huh?”

Jigs shook his head, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. “Guess she thinks he's too weak. She’s not interested in playing with prey that doesn’t put up a fight.”

“Yeah, he is,” I murmured.

I watched Jigs walk off, looking pleased with himself, probably basking in the glory of being the one to set me free. Hmm.

Just as I was about to head out, I noticed the scorch marks still fresh on the asphalt where the criminals' car had blown up. Demon's work, no doubt—she’d made it clear that anyone who crossed her, even in the slightest, would face a brutal end.

And Ice… I smirked, imagining the sheer fury in his eyes when he’d seen his supposed “rescue mission” turn to ash. He'd underestimated her, thinking a simple confrontation would be enough. But Demon wasn’t the kind to let her prey slip away.

A commotion drew my attention back toward the plaza, where a few of the White Monarchy members were talking in hushed tones, clearly rattled by the day’s events. I approached, catching the end of their conversation.

“Is Demon planning to escalate this?” one of them murmured, glancing nervously over his shoulder.

“If she feels like it,” I replied, causing them to startle. “Demon does what she wants, and the moment you think she’s done, that’s when you should be most afraid.”

Their uneasy expressions told me they knew that all too well. I shook my head and turned away, heading back toward the Underground base. If she really had gone home like Jigs had said, then I needed to check on her—see if her bloodlust had actually settled or if she was simply waiting to unleash it again.

When I got back to the base, Demon was lounging casually in her chair, as if nothing had happened. She looked up as I entered, a small, amused smile curling on her lips.

“Back already, Jarvis? I thought you’d be running off to scold me or something,” she teased, that dangerous glint in her eyes.

I crossed my arms, trying not to let her smug expression get to me. “You left without finishing what you started. Not like you to leave the job half-done.”

She shrugged, twirling a blade between her fingers. “Boring target. Maniego didn’t give me the fight I wanted, so why waste energy?”

“Didn’t think you’d settle for anything short of total destruction.”

Her smile widened, eyes gleaming. “Oh, trust me, Jarvis. I’m just getting started. Today was a warm-up.”

The way she said it, calm and calculated, sent a shiver down my spine. She was biding her time, and when she did decide to strike, I knew it would be catastrophic.

      SHAWN LUKAS MANIEGO (ICE)

CLAIRE MARASIGAN

SAMANTHA LUX TAKASHI