The Celestial Bureau trembled.
Papers flew from polished marble desks. Golden lanterns flickered wildly as an unnatural pressure filled the air—cold, sweet, poisonous.
Eric froze mid-step.
A woman stepped through the sealed astral gate as if it were nothing more than a curtain.
Silver hair that shimmered like moonlit chains.
Eyes tinted with a red that did not belong in any celestial realm.
A smile soft enough to be gentle, sharp enough to kill.
Lilith.
Eric staggered backward.
"No… impossible. You can't be here—the Heavenly Wards—"
"Were adorable."
Lilith floated forward, her bare feet leaving ripples of black across the divine floor.
"You really believed those tiny seals could keep me out?"
Her voice filled the entire bureau, like silk dipped in venom.
Eric clenched his fist.
"W-Why did you come here? The Celestial Bureau has nothing to do with you!"
Lilith paused, her smile stretching.
"I'm not here for you, Eric."
She leaned forward, whispering against his ear.
"I'm here for him."
---
Meanwhile — On Earth
Baek Siheon dropped to one knee.
His vision blurred.
His lungs convulsed as a crushing force slammed into his chest—something pulling him, suffocating him, calling his true name as if it owned him.
Lilith's voice echoed inside his skull.
"You… Baek Siheon…"
Seraphina turned sharply toward him.
"Siheon?! What's wrong?"
But her voice sounded distant—muffled—like it came from beneath water.
Because inside Siheon's mind, two voices roared violently:
---
〈Celestial Ascension System〉
Warning: Unauthorized Demonic Presence attempting Mind-Link. Initiating purification protocol.
〈Demonic Sovereign System〉
Do. Not. Interfere.
This connection is mine.
---
Siheon grabbed his head with both hands.
"Stop… both of you—!"
A burst of black-red energy flared around him. Seraphina instinctively stepped back, eyes wide.
"Siheon, your aura—"
But he couldn't hear her.
Only them.
---
〈Celestial Ascension System〉
The entity is Lilith, the First Temptress. High-priority threat. Cut the link immediately.
〈Demonic Sovereign System〉
She speaks his name. That means she remembers.
This is… inconvenient. Very inconvenient.
〈Celestial Ascension System〉
Your tone indicates fear. Explain.
〈Demonic Sovereign System〉
Silence, glow-stick. He doesn't need your panic.
---
Lilith's whisper surged again, stronger:
"Baek Siheon… my lost half… my missing piece…"
Siheon's pupils contracted.
"Lost… half?"
His voice shook—not from fear, but from something deeper.
Something buried in his blood.
Seraphina reached for him.
"Siheon! Focus! Look at me!"
But at that moment—
---
Inside the Celestial Bureau
Eric felt his throat tighten as Lilith's expression darkened.
"You spoke his name."
Eric swallowed. "By mistake— It was an accident—"
Lilith tilted her head gently.
"Oh? So you know my Siheon?"
"Y-Your…?"
Eric stepped back until he hit the wall.
Lilith slowly raised a finger, tracing invisible shapes in the air.
A petal of black fire drifted from her fingertip and landed on Eric's forehead.
He screamed as it sank into his skin.
"Tell me everything," Lilith whispered.
"Every. Last. Secret. About the one you call Baek Siheon."
Back on Earth
The systems clashed harder.
〈Celestial Ascension System〉
Cut the connection. NOW.
〈Demonic Sovereign System〉
If he does, she will come here personally. You want that?
〈Celestial Ascension System〉
Then what is your solution?
〈Demonic Sovereign System〉
Simple… Let him answer her.
Siheon gasped.
"Answer… her?"
Both systems spoke at once:
〈BOTH SYSTEMS〉
Absolutely NOT.
Siheon punched the ground, shattering stone.
"THEN STOP FIGHTING INSIDE MY HEAD!"
The shockwave blasted outward.
Seraphina shielded her face from the dust.
"Siheon—what's happening to you?!"
Siheon slowly raised his head.
His eyes shone with both radiant gold and pitch-black crimson.
And he whispered—
"Lilith… what do you want from me…?"