The ground trembled again.
Daniel stood in the crater—burned, bleeding, cracked at the edges. But laughing.
Not the laugh of a man cornered.
The laugh of a predator who was finally starting to enjoy the hunt.
Lucifer narrowed his eyes.
Ruka said nothing—just shifted his stance, raising his Spirit Blade again. Fire swirled around his feet, curling up his body like a living storm.
Above, Temmy remained silent, unmoving, her gaze distant but locked on Daniel's aura like a wolf watching lightning.
Daniel raised a single hand, cracked his neck with a twist. His smile darkened.
"Okay."
A beat.
"No more play."
"I release 10%."
The air collapsed.
Literally.
Space warped around his body as if the very concept of weight had changed. The sky darkened again—this time not from clouds or nightfall—but from the sheer presence pouring off of him.
Demonic pressure surged out like a tidal wave.
Wind screamed. Stones hovered. Light flickered unnaturally.
