Mammoth walked around the place while Jayden just stood there. A menacing smile appeared on his face. "After all these years, I have finally gone far." He said as he clenched his fists.
Jayden didn't know what to do or say. So, she asked Mammoth. "What now? Do I claim the throne?" She asked.
Mammoth turned his attention to her, he laughed menacingly, repeating what she said. "What now? Oh, there's a lot of things that'll be done" He said, his voice low and intense.
Suddenly, it happened.
Jayden gasped in pain as magical cuffs sealed around her wrists. She turned in shock.
Mammoth stood before her, the grin on his face now cold and cruel.
"I trusted you!" she cried, eyes wide with betrayal.
Mammoth only shrugged. "Well, that's gullible of you," he said. "I'm called the Soul Eater for a reason. I am the demon of greed."
Jayden's heart pounded.
"My plan all along," Mammoth continued, "was to get you powerful enough so I could use it for my own benefit. Once you had it all... I'd feast on your soul and absorb your abilities. I'll be the ruler of all realms. Even Death will worship me!"
He laughed menacingly.
Jayden struggled against the cuffs, trying to break free as he began to extract her power and soul. His form shifted—twisting and mutating back into his monstrous, original shape. His beauty faded. All that was left was a grotesque and horrifying demon, grinning wickedly.
Jayden looked at him, tears in her eyes. "What made you like this?" she whispered. "Why?"
Mammoth's expression darkened. "I used to be as powerful as Azrael. We were a team in the underworld—me, Azrael, and Hades. We were chosen by the Elders, as strong as gods. But the Elders never appreciated us. They took all the credit.
"I told my friends, but they were loyal to the rules. I was furious. I went to the realm of the living and fed on wicked souls, gaining their strength and beauty, becoming what I am today. All-powerful.
"But Azrael... that wretched Death... always stronger. But not anymore. With your power and your soul, I will become unstoppable. I will take revenge for being banished to the Earth's surface!"
Jayden was speechless. Azrael and Mammoth... were once friends?
"Please," she begged. "You don't have to do this—"
But Mammoth didn't care. He began to drain her again.
Suddenly, a scythe came spinning through the air, slicing Mammoth's hand clean off.
Jayden gasped, staring at the severed hand on the ground.
She turned—and saw him.
"Azrael..." she whispered.
He stood tall, golden eyes burning with fury.
"Do you have to ruin everything?!" Mammoth shouted in frustration.
Azrael stepped forward, his voice cold. "Your greed made you blind. You'll die by my hands for touching her. She belongs to—"
He hesitated. Did she still forgive him?
Then she said softly, "I belong to you... remember?"
Azrael's eyes softened. A faint smile touched his lips.
Mammoth growled as his hand regenerated. Jayden was stunned, but Azrael remained calm.
They clashed. The fight was intense—raw power against raw fury—but Mammoth knew he couldn't win. So he used a trick to distract Azrael and snatched Jayden away, disappearing in a flash.
They reappeared at the castle, leaving Azrael behind.
The captives watched, shocked and terrified. Azrael appeared before them in a swirl of black mist. His gaze made them tremble.
He raised his scythe. The people screamed.
But he only sliced through the ropes binding them.
They cried in relief, thanking him as they fled.
Suddenly, the temple gods spoke. "You have destroyed the covenant we had with the King."
Azrael glared at them, then turned his scythe on the temple itself. In minutes, it was destroyed—along with the stone gods.
But before the final blow, they told him where Jayden had been taken.
"The castle," they whispered.
Azrael vanished into black mist.
"Jayden... I'm coming."