Sen was shaking. The note of his hand, given by death or by his point of view.
Fin appeared in the door frame.
"I know." Fin looked at the time. "When?"
"As soon as possible." Sen gripped the note. "As soon as possible... We will bring him back."
"Are we sure this is a fact?" Fin said. "A mysterious man showed up where Shin's body was."
Sen looked at him. "He knocked me out with a wave of his hand. He didn't touched me, nor attacked me. Other living beings couldn't have done it. Survive the heavenly explosion of my sword."
"Shin, died because of that. So as every living being in the radius. That guy came out of nowhere... Giving the area, he may have been there for a while. there's no one else... That is the boss of the grims." Sen put the note on his pocket.
"One of the four horsemen?" Fin raised his arms.
"Death. the bringer of souls, does the ripping and get his stuff or grim reapers to bring the soul to the afterlife." Sen said.
Without hesitation nor doubt. "Let's bring that bastard back." Fin said.
"Let's go." Sen and Fin head out of the church.
Father Albert greeted them. "Good morning... I guess you'd do it right?"
Fin sighed. "We have to bring him back. As for now, the monster world, yes that's how I call it, I'm lazy to think of a better name. knows already about Shin's death.
"Apparently, the world of monsters have a way or their own... I don't know... The term... Vision teller. Unfortunately for us she can see everything or him, I don't fucking know. and let's just say they're way, way happy."
"In short it's like a bad written comics or a manga or manwha who came up with bullshit like this with no proper logic." Fin check if his revolver is still in good shape.
"in more simpler term our place is like written by a 16 years old with anger issue."
With that beautiful explanation done.
"Okay... I don't understand what you said but carry on." Father Albert said as he walk them out of the town.
But then a familiar voice called to them.
Kirin.
Kaide.
Yuhan.
Alane.
They came up to them with questions.
"Is he... really gonna be back?!" Kirin asked, her face full of hope.
"Is Shin... how will you do this?" Kaide asked.
"Please... bring him back, alright?" Yuhan added in.
Lastly, the smallest girl spoke. "I... don't know what to say... do your best?" she said nervously, fidgeting with her fingers.
Sen turned toward them. "It's not just that I want to... I have to." Sen glanced at Kaide. "Entities around the world are more active than ever. Shin's death made them happy, because they used to fear Shin. Now that he's dead, more people are dying… again and again."
"Mr. Sen... could you tell me how Shin was able to do that? You know... be feared?" Yuhan asked. His young mind was filled with curiosity, the drive to be strong.
"Uhhhh..." Sen walked back and forth.
"You really wanna know?" Fin said.
Yuhan nodded.
Fin sighed. "Let me tell you this. We may look like heroes — but we aren't. We're just as dirty as the enemies."
Fin placed a hand on Yuhan's head. "Shin would absolutely torture any demon, entity, or monster for his goal."
"There was a time, just Shin and I... yeah, just the two of us. He took a hostage. A young demon. He grabbed her neck in front of her parents and tightened it... slowly."
"I remember him. He said these exact words: 'I will kill every single one of you. You demons killed my parents. So tell me, why should I spare a demon just because she's young? Tell me where he is, or I'll snap her neck.' In the end, he spared the demons. He read their souls... and came to the conclusion — they were just surviving. They weren't like the others."
"We are protectors... not heroes," Fin said, patting Yuhan's head. "Hope that taught you guys something. 'Fear is the greatest—' nah, I'm just kidding. Use other methods. But make sure 'fear' is your last resort."
Sen pulled Fin and headed out.
"Well, we're on our way," Fin said as he let himself get dragged by Sen.
And so, they went on foot.
---
In Heaven, a few days ago after Shin died — perfectly timed — Vermis and Lucifer arrived.
Then Vermis found out.
"HUH?! SHIN DIED?! WHERE IS HE?!" Vermis shouted.
Without a pause, he surged into the endless skies of Heaven.
Lucifer managed to catch up with him easily. "You've grown attached to a human, haven't you, brother?"
"He's... like a son," Vermis replied, flying even faster.
And then...
A familiar soul caught his attention. He stopped mid-flight. No wind resistance, no physics — just stopped. All the air burst from the stop like an explosion.
He looked at a house.
"Is this it?" Lucifer asked as he watched Vermis descend.
Vermis knocked on the door.
And unsurprisingly… it was Shin.
"Oh..." Shin glanced back at his parents inside, happily chatting. Then he turned to Vermis. "Surprise?"
Vermis sighed. "How? And when?"
"...Today. Sen's sword — it activated instantly. So I told him to open a portal, and I grabbed the sword and took the blow." Shin paused.
"Thinking about it now... my death was pretty dumb, y'know? I could've just pushed Sen. The sword wouldn't hurt him either way. I guess I'm like one of those MCs from a show that dies doing something stupid fans call a plot hole." Shin shrugged.
"I'm pretty sure Sen's thinking the same thing."
---
In the present.
"My brother died stupid... I just realized that," Sen muttered as he and Fin kept walking.
---
"That's... pretty stupid," Vermis admitted. "But how did the sword activate instantly? I designed it so it'd only explode if Sen was on the verge of death."
Lucifer chimed in. "Someone else must've touched it."
Shin raised an eyebrow. "By the way, how are you even here? Didn't you say it would take months to reach Hell? Is this a stopover?"
Suddenly, Vermis hugged Shin.
"...What's with the sudden affection?" Shin asked, gently patting Vermis on the back.
"You're dead... which means leave Sen alone," Vermis muttered, hugging him tightly.
"Huh...? What? No, I'm not dead-dead. Well, yeah — but it's only temporary," Shin replied.
"...Huh?" Vermis stopped hugging him. "That's not how it works. You die, you die. The only exception is if you died horribly and unfairly — then you get better treatment in Heaven."
Vermis looked at Lucifer.
"Don't look at me," Lucifer said, raising his hands. "I've been locked up so long, I don't even know the new rules."
"...Except there's one exception," Lucifer continued, folding his arms.
"If a soul manages to perfectly balance good and evil... they're too important to die early," Lucifer explained. "What did the grim reaper say to you?"
Shin scratched his head. "Reaper? No, Death himself came to me."
Vermis put a finger to his lip. "Shin... could it be... that you're one in a trillion?"
"Whoa, I don't know what you two are talking about. I'm confused," Shin frowned.
"Every time the world goes through a genocidal crisis," Lucifer explained, "God creates a rule... for a pair of siblings to maintain the balance."
"In the World War era, there were brothers who worked for the Allied Forces," Vermis added.
"They operated in the shadows. They passed on intel, luck, and guidance — turning battles around when it mattered most."
"And in this era... if it's not just coincidence..." Lucifer looked directly at Shin.
"You... and Sen... are—"
"God's recreation," Lucifer said in awe.
"HUH?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!" Shin shouted, completely stunned.
---
In the present.
After a week in heaven…
Shin hugged his mom and dad.
"See ya… Why aren't you both bothered by all the killing Sen and I did again?"
They both smiled.
"Killing is bad," his mom said, "but you save people by killing the threat. Your dad and I are open-minded."
"...Oh," Shin smiled.
"Get back to the land of the living, son. And remember — find the Living Gem."
Suddenly, Vermis landed next to Shin, with a woman beside him.
"Shin, Lucifer and I will stay here for a while. So here's my most trusted angel to accompany you on your journey." He gave her a gentle push forward.
She stumbled slightly, then straightened up.
"Ahem… Don't think I'm some kind of 'kind' angel. I'll kick your ass if you misbehave," she said coldly, her glare intense.
"Name's Aeloria. Got it?"
"...Yes..." Shin said aloud, but in his mind:
"I don't like her. Kirin's better."
He shook his head.
Vermis sighed.
"Oh boy… These two are not gonna get along. One's a sarcastic edgy guy... the other's a cold woman who probably won't get any man..." he thought.
A moment passed.
"I'm ready," Shin said. "Let's get me back into the world of the living — as an entity. I need to find the Living Gem to fully return as myself, right?"
"Yes," Vermis confirmed. "You won't be able to speak — no face, no voice, nothing. Just a person inside armor. But you'll still be you — full control, full awareness."
With that, Vermis began preparing the seance to open the portal.
Before stepping through, Shin hugged his parents one last time.
"Mom... Dad... I love you two."
"We love you too. Both you and your brother," they said in sync.
A tear rolled down Shin's cheek — a tear of joy and sadness.
"I don't wanna go... But it's not my time yet. I want to stay… but Sen is left alone."
He hugged them tightly.
"Shin, as your father, this is my advice," his dad said.
"Keep being kind. Protect everyone. And make sure those who deserve it get punished. I'm very, very proud of you."
"As your mother," she added, "take care of everything — and everyone — you've ever loved or liked. Sometimes, bad things happen. But don't carry it all alone. Be yourself."
"Do the right thing. Not the easy thing." She smiled warmly.
In the distance, Aeloria and Vermis were still preparing.
"God… I'm sorry I acted like that," Aeloria thought. "With a title like 'Heaven's Demon,' I assumed the worst… But I was wrong."
Vermis spoke quietly beside her.
"Shin is someone you only understand once you meet him. To enemies, he's terrifying. To allies, he's the one you want guarding your back."
"But with Shin," Vermis added, "it's always 'We're safe because Shin is here' — not 'Shin, you're safe.' People feel protected around him. But Shin? He carries everything."
"Back with his parents… that's the first time in years he felt safe. And he'll remember that feeling for the rest of his mortal life."
While the two talked, Shin finished saying his goodbyes and walked up to them.
"...Ready. Now say the rules." Shin stood next to Vermis.
He really didn't like Aeloria because of her attitude.
"Shin, you'll be back in the living world, but not alive. You won't be able to talk, because you'll no longer be a living creature or a spirit. After this, you'll be in-between. You can't speak, eat, sleep, or anything like that — but you'll be in full control of your body and your abilities," Vermis said, opening the portal back to the living world.
"Got it?" Vermis looked at Shin. "I've got to stay and clean things up here… again. But now with my brother, Lucifer."
Shin nodded. "Can I at least write things down? You know, what I wanna say?"
"...Yeah, I guess," Vermis shrugged.
"Nice, nice..." Shin looked back at his parents one last time…
Then he jumped into the portal.
Aeloria and Vermis looked at each other. She nodded and followed after.
---
Moments passed.
Shin was thrown into endless space, spinning constantly with no end.
The space around him…
A black hole swirled in the center, surrounded by countless stars that didn't seem real. Everything was fuzzy.
Then, Shin fell into the black hole.
A white, thick, hard metal wrapped around him — almost like it ate him alive — covering every inch of his body in armor-like plating.
Everything, from head to toe. No facial expressions. No living skin. Nothing.
Then...
There he was. In the middle of a quiet town. Wearing full white armor.
Aeloria quickly appeared behind him.
"Shin… are you okay?"
Shin stood up. He could no longer talk — for now.
He tried to speak, but no words came out. He simply nodded.
He opened his palm. Violet flames lit up in his hand. His powers were still intact.
He looked around. Nothing he was searching for was nearby.
Then he knelt and began writing in the mud:
"Location?"
Aeloria smirked.
"Heh? The Heaven's Demon is asking for my help?"
Shin's head twitched slightly. He wrote again:
"What's with the attitude? Do all angels think they can boss humans around just because they're higher beings?"
"What's with the ego?"
Aeloria chuckled.
"I'm just messing with ya."
She then flew into the sky to scout.
---
Down below…
"Excuse me."
A woman's voice.
"Do you think I'm beautiful?"
Shin turned around.
A woman stood there… wearing a hospital mask.
Shin nodded.
She removed her mask… revealing a mouth slashed wide across her cheeks.
"How about now?" she smiled.
"My, my… What's wrong with you? What's with the suit of armor?" she giggled.
Shin turned around. He tilted his head, then kneeled in the mud and began writing.
"I died."
The woman chuckled.
"So, you're a spirit like me, huh?"
"But you haven't answered me yet..." She pulled out a pair of scissors and a machete.
"Am I beautiful?" she asked again.
"Even with a slit mouth?"
Shin gave her a thumbs-up.
"...That's it?" the woman blinked. "What a bummer... What's your name, anyway?"
Shin shrugged and wrote:
"Shin."
The woman laughed.
"Are you kidding me? He's dead, ya know?"
"And he's definitely not in this country," she added.
Shin wrote:
"As if he's the only one named Shin... Is his death that worldwide?"
The woman stopped laughing.
"Yeah. Every monster, spirit, and entity knows."
"There are rumors… in the world of monsters. About that guy."
Shin crossed his arms. Listening.
"He's called the Heaven's Demon. Rumors say he burned down an entire mansion of human traffickers… no emotion on his face. They say he once ripped off the head of a massive demon without blinking."
"For a human, they say... he's the most terrifying one."
Shin nodded—understanding how the world now saw him.
He wrote:
"You think he's evil?"
The woman hesitated.
"There are rumors of him killing for fun... I don't know."
Then she seemed to remember her manners.
"Name's Kuchisake Onna."
"So… what's your actual name?"
Shin looked around and began writing:
"Basu."
Kuchisake tilted her head.
"Bath? Quit shitting me. Tell me your real name."
Shin looked around again.
"Ki."
She squinted.
"Tree, huh?"
"Well... I guess you just have a weird name. Or you're not in the mood to tell me," she said, shrugging.
Then Shin started trolling.
"Y'know, that guy named Shin who recently died? Pretty evil, right?"
"I mean, he's called the Heaven's Demon... Ain't that already a red flag?"
"So you should probably hate him. Or at least confirm your suspicions that he's a bad man."
Shin began writing again in the mud.
"Yeah, I'm happy that guy died. It'll be safer for us innocent spirits am I right?"
Then shin finished writing.
"Wow... So talkative for someone who can't speak." Kuchisake onna said.
Suddenly a barrage of chains fierce the ground around Kuchisake.
Aeloria landed.
Kuchisake onna got scared. "An angel?!"
But Shin put his hand on her shoulder.
Aeloria turned back. "What are you doing? Hand's off."
Shin shook his head. He pointed at Kuchisake and shook his head from left to right.
Shin kneeled down to the mud and began writing.
"This is a nonsense fight. She didn't attacked me so she's not an enemy."
Shin looked at Aeloria.
Aeloria sigh out of frustration and recalled her chains.
Kuchisake doesn't drop her guard. "...Who are you people..."
"Aeloria... And this goofy guy you've been talking here."
Shin wave like a happy man.
"That... Guy... Is.. uhmm... Heaven's demon..." She is kind of ashamed that this goofy Shin is the one everyone feared.
Kuchisake laughed. "Be serious," she said while giggling.
"This guy can't be the person we're all afraid of," she smiled.
But then Shin opened his hand, and violet flames covered his entire palm.
"...So... I... Uh... I... Gotta go," Kuchisake stuttered as she began slowly walking away.
But then a hand grabbed her shoulder. "EEEKKK!" She jumped. "I...uh... Mr. Shin... I promise I haven't killed or harmed anyone... I swear on my life..."
But Shin gave her a gentle pat, like an older brother giving his little sister reassurance.
Shin kneeled down on the ground and began writing in the dirt:
"I won't hurt you. Unlike the rumors, I don't hurt those who don't deserve it."
"And I'm very, very friendly :)"
Shin even added a happy face to the message.
"Ya know, I'm supposed to be dead, but due to plot armor, I'm in the middle of life and death. And I don't know where I am, but you showed up, so I figured... Japan, correct?"
Kuchisake nodded. "H...How are you... You're not gonna destroy my soul... A-Are you?" she stuttered, cold sweat running down her face.
"That depends," Aeloria said.
But Shin nodded, signaling he had no intention to hurt anyone without reason.
Shin began writing again.
"Have you done anything that would make you worth killing? Sins you committed against innocent lives?"
"Please... I don't know how to prove it, but I only... attack people who I sense evil in... It's still killing... but I... I..." Kuchisake tried to back away from Shin's hand.
Shin then grabbed her gently, and his flames swallowed her—reading her soul.
Eventually, Shin let her go. He gave a nod to Aeloria.
"Go. I don't have any reason to bother you anymore," Shin wrote.
Kuchisake let out a sigh. "Thank you..."
They all headed their separate ways after the encounter.
"Just nod or shake your head. Do you think people—and other monsters—deserve to be forgiven if they've had a change of heart, even if they did something horrible?" Aeloria asked Shin.
Shin didn't hesitate and shook his head.
"So... you think everyone who's done something terrible in their past, no matter how good they are now, should still face consequences—even death?" Aeloria said.
Shin nodded.
Shin wrote on the dirt.
"If a rapist decided to change and have a family, does that change the fact that he ruined someone's life and dignity?"
"If a pedophile raped kids... changing won't save them. I will burn their tongues off their mouth and pull it out and let them bleed to death."
With that, Shin stood up and continued walking.
"Understood," Aeloria followed up. "Anyway, Vermis said he sent us here because of a key. The key to unlock the gem and fully revive you."
Shin nodded.
"...So why did you become like this? You know? All ruthless and all of that," Aeloria awkwardly said. "Just trying to make conversation..."
"Oh, and I forgot I could just create a paper... Sorry you had to keep writing on the dirt." She then created a paper and gave it to Shin.
Shin took it and began writing.
"It's okay. Back then I was very, very hateful. I wanted to kill every single thing that harmed people. Revenge, I guess... or a way to distance my mind from the fact that everyone feared me."
"Or the fact that in my age I couldn't love someone... 'Cause I can see what they really are... Pathetic, am I?"
"Back then I hunted down the demons that killed my parents. I was so distant and focused on revenge... They died because of me."
"Kids... They died because of me."
He showed the note to her.
"...Mind if I ask what happened?" Aeloria said.
Shin paused for a moment and then began writing.
"I left them... thinking they were already safe... It's 2 years in this world. I was 17 years old when it happened."
"I was... dumb, stupid, and always angry. And I left them... while they cried for me to stay with them... But I didn't. I left because I was very close to getting my revenge that I looked over the fact that they need me."
"...I didn't get my revenge... They escaped... When I came back, the kids... were all mangled up. Eaten..."
---
Years ago
"Are you sure it's safe here?" the kids questioned.
"Can you just stay with us...?"
"We don't feel safe..." said the kids, but Shin hugged them.
"Listen... I'll be back. I'll be gone for a few hours. Stay here and hide, got it?" Shin patted them.
After a few hours... He didn't get his revenge. The demons outsmarted him.
And... Shin stood over the mangled bodies of the kids.
He stood in silence but couldn't hold it. Tears ran down his eyes.
"No... No... Oh, God..."
"Why... did you leave them, Shin..." Shin kneeled down to their bodies. He touched their face... or what's remained of them at least.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry." he repeatedly said.
After a few minutes, he started giving them a proper burial. Silence and anger clouded his mind.
"They have futures... I should be the one to die. I don't have any future left in me. I only exist to protect... to kill every single thing that threatens the innocent's lives."
Shin caressed their cheeks before burying them.
"I will... I promise I will give you peace and the revenge you all deserve. I'm very sorry I left you all."
Then... Shin left. He headed towards the demons' lair.
He entered and dismembered one of the demons.
"Who... killed them... WHO KILLED THEM?!" Shin yelled while holding the decapitated head of a demon.
The demon's leader headed in front.
"We did. And don't think just because you killed one of our demons you'll be far stronger." In front of Shin, he ate one of the kid's hands to spite him.
The demons jumped Shin, beating the shit out of him.
Shin dropped to the ground.
The demon leader laughed.
"You're a kid, and you'll die a kid."
Shin tried to get up. But it hurts... Hell, it hurts. He pushed himself and got up.
"I... Shin Azalea... will burn through hell to erase every single one of you." Shin was bleeding a lot.
He charged towards the demon leader. Many demons tried to catch him but he barely dodged them.
He body-hit the leader. He punched him. But his arms were broken... It's weak, and bones were almost sticking out.
He did something unpredictable. Out of anger, despair, and revenge.
He bit the skin of the demon leader's face. Then... he bashed his head with his head.
He headbutted the demon repeatedly. The demons that tried to stop him just stopped.
They saw a horrible scene. To them, killing is their masterpiece, a way of food, a way of fun.
But this one is different. They're narcissists who found themselves in a way that they're different from humans.
Seeing Shin like this... A kid... made their stomachs sick.
The demon leader kicked Shin.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!"
But Shin didn't budge. He kept going until… eventually, the demon stopped moving.
His face was crushed, his skull broken and in pieces.
Shin stood up—broken, silent, fully covered in his own blood and the demon's.
He walked into the crowd of demons, and they let him pass. None of them dared get in his way.
He wandered into the middle of a city. Tired, hungry, and heavily injured.
He pushed himself... but inevitably, he collapsed. Unable to move.
Fortunately, the demon lair exploded.
"W-What...?"
Vermis landed in front of him.
"God... I'm sorry I'm late again…" Vermis hugged Shin, who was barely clinging to life.
Vermis then began healing him. He took it slow, because sudden healing would be extremely painful — bones, nerves, and organs would shift rapidly, but the pain wouldn't ease up the same way.
(Not that angels can't do it fast, but human anatomy is too complex to fix instantly without it hurting like hell.)
"We're going home, Shin…" Vermis said softly, trying his best to take it slow.
"Vermis… I failed…" Shin clung to him.
He was in pain… but none of that mattered. The people he tried to protect were gone.
He failed. He failed them.
"Shhh… It's not your fault… The demons have been better hunters than we expected this month…"
"I… I could've just stayed… Yet I chose revenge... and look what it did to them…
I'm a failure. I failed to protect them." Shin coughed up blood
Vermis carried him.
"Let's go home…"
---
Back to the present.
"…Poor soul." Aeloria placed her hand on Shin's shoulder.
Shin wrote something:
"Do angels sleep?"
Aeloria blinked for a moment. "Yes."
Shin nodded, understanding her.
"We should find a place to rest tonight and continue tomorrow," Shin wrote.
"Aww… Are you really considering me, even though I'm just an assistant sent by Vermis?" she looked at him with hopeful eyes.
Shin nodded.
"Well, everyone needs rest."
---
Sen and Fin's adventure.
"Who are you?" Sen said.
A headless horseman roared in front of them.
He got off the horse…
and respectfully extended his hand for a handshake.
To be continued...