BOOM!
A thunderous explosion ripped through the night, shattering the silence. A battered silhouette shot across the sky, trailing smoke and feathers. As the dust settled, Azazel stood amidst the ruins, brushing debris from his shoulders, a wicked grin playing at his lips.
He watched Raynare's retreating figure vanish into the darkness. After what he'd just done, she probably hated him more than anyone alive—and he couldn't care less.
—
Elsewhere, the wind howled. Raynare, broken and desperate, tore through the sky, wings in tatters, blood spattering the night. Her strength failed; she plummeted like a dying comet, crashing into the earth with a bone-rattling impact.
Dust billowed. Raynare clawed her way out of the crater, every movement agony. Her face twisted with madness, eyes burning with a hatred so deep it bordered on insanity.
He abandoned me. He actually abandoned me.
She'd worshipped Azazel—loved him, sacrificed everything for him. But he'd cast her aside without a second thought. Worse, he'd tried to erase her from existence.
"AZAZEL! AZAZEL!! AZAZEL!!!"
Her screams echoed into the void, ragged and wild. Betrayal by the one she'd devoted her soul to had shattered her completely.
Why did he betray me? Why does the whole world betray me?
Her resentment boiled over, dark and venomous, transforming her into something monstrous—something more terrifying than any specter.
Her hair whipped in the wind. She howled, voice raw, and with a surge of black energy, two more wings burst from her back. Four pitch-black wings unfurled, shadowing the moon.
Hatred had forced her evolution—Raynare had become a four-winged fallen angel.
Power flooded her veins, far beyond what she'd ever known. Once, she would have been ecstatic. Now, the surge felt cold and empty.
Too weak. Still too weak. Even now, she was nothing but an insect before that man.
Her rage faded. Raynare stood motionless, head tilted back, staring at the endless sky. After all the pain and fury, only a vast, aching emptiness remained.
She'd been cast out—like a stray dog.
Angel, fallen angel, church, humanity… There was no place left for her in this world.
Only darkness, despair, and hell awaited.
She clenched her fists. She refused to accept this fate.
Time passed—minutes or hours, she couldn't tell. Footsteps crunched through the debris, drawing closer. Raynare's numb face twitched with a flicker of recognition.
Tenra approached, calm and unhurried. Raynare felt no anger, no hatred—just a hollow peace.
Compared to Azazel's betrayal, the pain Tenra had inflicted was nothing.
"Raynare, I told you, didn't I? Azazel cast you aside."
He knelt, brushing her cheek with gentle fingers. "What a pitiful woman—homeless, just a stray dog."
Raynare's voice was cold as winter, her aura sharp and poisonous. "Did you come to mock me?"
Her gaze was venomous, but Tenra only smiled, utterly unfazed.
"You're just an abandoned stray. You don't even qualify for my mockery."
Her aura flickered and died. Raynare stared at him, lost.
That's right. She was just a discarded mutt—not even worth laughing at.
This is the world.
They faced each other in silence, the night stretching on.
Finally, Tenra turned away, his voice echoing through the gloom. "Come on, homeless stray. From now on, you belong to me."
Raynare's eyes blazed, fists trembling. She could attack—she could wound him, maybe even kill him.
But she didn't move.
Behind Tenra, Raynare's shadow followed, silent and defeated. Tenra's lips curled in satisfaction.
—
Elsewhere—
"Lord Azazel."
A shimmer of light. Yubelluna stepped out of a teleportation circle, bowing to Azazel, who lounged in the ruins.
He stretched, yawning. "Finally. Did you bring what I wanted?"
Yubelluna produced a crimson gem, holding it out with both hands.
"This is [Boosted Gear], as my master promised. You have three days to study it."
Azazel's eyes gleamed with hunger as he accepted the jewel. "Only three days? Stingy brat. But I suppose that's enough."
He turned the jewel over in his hands, then shot Yubelluna a sly look. "Tell me, beautiful witch—aren't you worried your master won't get it back?"
Yubelluna steadied herself, refusing to be intimidated. "My master trusts Lord Azazel. He knows you're an honorable elder who keeps his word. And—"
"And what?"
"Even if you don't return it, the Sacred Gear will automatically come back after three days."
"My master's instructions are complete. Until next time, Governor."
She smiled, bowed, and vanished into the circle.
Azazel stroked his chin, chuckling. "That kid really does have a capable Queen."
He gazed at the Sacred Gear, eyes burning with excitement.
"Vali never lets me study his gear. But [Boosted Gear]… ah, we're going to have fun. With this, my Fafnir project will be flawless."
He tossed the jewel in the air, whistling as he stepped into his own portal.
He'd paid a steep price in Sacred Gears, but he'd rid himself of Raynare and gained the research material he'd always wanted. A win-win, all around.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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