After school ended, Anubis and Telma were on their way out of the campus when someone suddenly stepped in front of them.
It was none other than the red-haired boy—Ramiel.
He smirked when he noticed the irritation on Anubis's face. Clearly, he didn't care.
Anubis frowned and was about to walk past him when he deliberately blocked her way again.
"What the hell do you want now?!" she snapped.
"Just be my friend. That's all. I swear I'll stop bothering you after that." Ramiel raised three fingers like a scout's oath.
Anubis rolled her eyes.
"Fine. But don't pry into my personal matters, or I'll gouge out your red eyes."
"Heh, fair enough. So we're friends now, right?"
"Think whatever you want. I'm leaving." She brushed past him, Telma following close behind.
Ramiel watched them go, a grin creeping across his face.
"Finally," he murmured, victorious.
---
Later that night...
At home, Anubis made a simple dinner—noodles, the only thing she could cook. She and Telma ate quietly, then retired to their separate rooms.
But Anubis wasn't planning to sleep.
She had unfinished business—with Zeel.
As she stepped outside, heading toward the main road to catch a taxi, she sensed it. Someone was following her.
Instead of confronting them, she led them into a secluded alley.
The moment they entered, she vanished into the shadows—only to reappear behind them, her dagger pressed against their throat.
"Easy, it's me! Cough! Anubis, relax—it's me!" the voice sputtered.
Anubis pulled back. When the person turned around, her eyes narrowed.
"Ramiel. You're lucky I didn't kill you just now, idiot."
"What a heartless way to greet your friend," Ramiel said, rubbing his neck.
"But I guess that's your charm."
"Don't test me. I told you not to pry."
"I just wanted to know where you live, so we could be closer. As friends."
"I didn't ask you to be close to me. I told you what would happen if you got in my way."
"Yeah, yeah... promises, gouged eyes, got it." Ramiel grinned, not at all intimidated. He trailed after her as she resumed walking.
"Where are we going, anyway?"
"To complete a mission."
That raised his eyebrows. But he shrugged and kept pace.
They boarded a taxi and headed to Oak Town—a wealthy area about an hour away, where Zeel lived.
---
When they reached the gates of the mansion, they knocked until two large men in suits answered. The guards eyed them with suspicion.
"Who are you? Who do you want to see?" one asked.
"Zeel. Tell her I'm here." Anubis said coldly.
The guards didn't move.
"For what reason?" the other demanded.
"Tell her Anubis is here—for the challenge. Or I'll drag her out myself."
The second guard scowled, summoning a gust of wind that pushed Anubis and Ramiel back. Before Anubis could react, Ramiel had already vanished and appeared behind the man—slamming him into the ground.
Anubis glanced at him, mildly impressed.
Then, without hesitation, she turned to the other guard, raised her hand, and whispered one word.
"Die."
The man collapsed instantly. His soul, like a thin stream of white mist, was drawn into Anubis's palm. Ramiel watched, stunned. She hadn't even touched him.
"Coming, or do you want to join him?" Anubis asked, stepping over the corpse.
Ramiel got up immediately and followed her.
They barged into the grand dining room, where Zeel and her parents were enjoying their dinner. Zeel looked up in shock as Anubis stormed in, followed by a sword-wielding Ramiel.
"I'm here, as promised," Anubis said, ignoring the adults entirely.
Zeel's father stood.
"Who do you think you are, barging in without respect?!"
"Are you ready to fight?" Anubis asked Zeel directly. "Because I am."
"Who brought this insolent girl here?" the man shouted at his daughter, who trembled in her seat.
"Unruly girl?" Anubis echoed, turning to face him. "Let me explain. Your daughter laid hands on what belongs to me. And now, she pays. You're welcome to interfere—I'd be happy to wipe your entire family off the face of the earth."
"Bang!" The man slammed his fist into the table, seething.
His wife stood.
"You dare insult my husband?!"
Fire flared in her palm.
"Let's see if you're still so mouthy after this."
She hurled a wave of flame toward Anubis. Ramiel reached for his sword—but Anubis raised her hand to stop him.
The fire consumed her.
But she didn't scream. She didn't flinch.
She smiled.
The woman paused, confused.
Anubis stood calmly in the heart of the flames, her grin widening.
"Thanks for the warm-up," she said, mockingly.
"It was... decent. I expected more from a so-called elite."
Furious, the woman threw more fire until she was panting from exhaustion. The flames flickered and died, revealing Anubis—untouched.
From within, Lilith's voice echoed:
"This... this is heavenly-blessed fire. But she's a demon now. How is she... absorbing it?!"
Anubis didn't answer. She simply closed her eyes and allowed the blessed fire to merge with the flames of her elemental triplets.
Meanwhile, Zeel's father, unable to bear the humiliation, struck the ground with his foot.
"Rock demons!"
Twenty or more humanoid-shaped stone demons burst from the earth and charged toward Anubis.
Ramiel vanished.
In the next instant, all of them shattered, his sword slicing clean through them.
He appeared behind Zeel's father, blade pressed to his throat.
His eyes turned pitch black.
"You tried to hurt my girlfriend?" Ramiel growled. "Let me show you what it feels like to live... while wishing you were dead."
Zeel's father gasped, clutching his chest as a searing pain surged through him. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the floor, writhing.
Anubis opened her eyes at the sound and turned calmly.
"Ramiel..." she said, a smirk tugging at her lips.
"Remind me to give you a reward later."