"Let's start then?" Wrath smirked.
No.1 cracked his knuckles. "Let's start."
Without hesitation, Wrath lunged forward, grabbing No.1's left arm and forcefully driving his thumb into the soft spot near the forearm.
No.1's veins bulged, turning black, and a strange darkness began crawling up toward his elbow.
As it reached the joint, No.1 snarled, "Tsk," and with a burst of fury, tore off his own arm to stop the infection.
He leapt backward.
Wrath chuckled. "Nah, why are you running already?"
No.1 gritted his teeth. "Not good…"
He launched forward with a knee aimed straight at Wrath's face. But Wrath shifted—fluid, calm.
Mid-dodge, Wrath reached toward his waist, pulled out a small blade, and stabbed it deep into No.1's knee.
"AAAHHH!!" No.1 screamed as he landed, pulling the knife free. Blood dripped down his leg.
Why… why can I feel pain again?
Wrath answered.
"That's no ordinary blade. It's laced with holy metal. Not only does it burn demons, it slows regeneration too."
"You're a demon," No.1 growled. "Using holy metal… you're insane."
"Or just practical." Wrath smirked and opened his coat wide.
Inside—dozens of small throwing knives shimmered beneath the leather.
"No.1 raised an eyebrow. "Why so many?"
"You'll see." Wrath vanished.
In a flash, both men sprinted toward each other.
No.1 pulled the holy knife and hurled it at Wrath's face. Wrath caught it just inches from impact, never breaking stride.
No.1 jumped. Wrath retaliated, throwing the knife back mid-air.
No.1 twisted mid-flight, dodging it, and drove his knee toward Wrath again—but Wrath ducked.
No.1 crashed into the ground, shattering the road.
Wrath countered with a roundhouse kick. No.1 blocked it, catching Wrath's leg under his arm.
But Wrath was fast.
He drew another knife from his belt and slashed downward. No.1 narrowly dodged, sliding back to reset.
They clashed again.
This time, Wrath went for No.1's shoulder, but No.1 stepped in close, letting the blade dig slightly as he absorbed the impact on his shoulder.
Wrath dropped that knife immediately and—without hesitation—snatched another and stabbed at No.1's stomach.
No.1 blocked it with his hand. The blade pierced clean through his palm.
Before No.1 could react, Wrath shifted his weight to the side and delivered a back-heel kick directly on the protruding blade—driving it sideways into the back of No.1's knee.
No.1 collapsed on one knee.
"Tch… fast," he thought.
Wrath spun and delivered a half-turning kick to the back of No.1's head, slamming his face into the broken road.
Without stopping, Wrath grabbed No.1 by the ankle and swung him overhead like a whip.
BOOM!
The ground fractured with each impact. The road split like cracked glass.
Then—
BANG!
A bullet struck Wrath in the abdomen.
"FREEZE!" a voice shouted.
Police had formed a perimeter.
Through a megaphone, the officer barked, "Hands in the air! Step away from him, or we'll open fire!"
Wrath didn't even flinch.
He stood, his left hand in his pocket, blood soaking through his clothes. He looked up—expression cold, lifeless.
Then he smirked.
"…Hells Domain."
FWOOOSH.
A massive burst of demonic energy erupted beneath him.
The road beneath his feet disintegrated into molten ash. A circular wave of destruction spread outward—buildings, vehicles, everything within a hundred meters vaporized into scorched rubble.
Flames roared from the cracks in the ground, leaving behind nothing but scorched red earth and smoke.
Wrath laughed.
"I'd stay and play, but I've got someone else to deal with."
Suddenly—CRACK!
A punch landed square in his stomach, driving clean through his midsection.
Wrath coughed blood, eyes wide in shock.
He looked down—No.1's fist buried in his torso.
"You talk too much."
Chapter Ends