After being ignored by the raven, Samael returned to America.
Dawn was already beginning to break.
And the creatures were still there.
Blocking his path.
— Honestly… this looks impossible.
Watching the absurd number of Nightmare Creatures, Samael finally understood why Elizabeth had remained in this place for so long.
Two hours.
Two entire hours of observation.
Thinking.
Planning.
And no ideas had come.
With a sigh, he began walking through the interior of the building where he was hiding.
Maybe moving would help him think of a route.
Anything.
As he walked, he passed by a mirror.
Kept walking.
Ten seconds later, he came back.
He stood in front of the reflection.
— You're handsome, Samael.
Then he continued walking as if nothing had happened.
It was still strange to praise his male version like that.
But he was keeping his promise.
— I'll have to lure them somehow…
It was the only solution he had found.
His eyes drifted over the cracked walls around him.
The building was practically dead.
"It shouldn't be that hard to bring it down."
In a normal situation, destroying a structure like that would be impossible.
But in his current state?
It was viable.
Samael began analyzing the support columns.
There were eight.
Three had already failed.
The remaining five were cracked.
Perfect.
White mist emerged.
And Elisa appeared.
The imposing white serpent barely fit inside the first floor.
— Wait a second.
The Echo looked at him obediently.
Samael left the building.
As he moved away, cold mist began leaking from the broken windows.
It was Elisa's Diabolus ability.
Even Samael felt a chill just from watching it.
Once he reached a safe distance, he stopped to observe.
— Destroy the columns.
Twenty seconds later, he dismissed her.
Maybe she hadn't destroyed all of them.
But a few would be enough.
And then—
BOOOOOOM!!
The explosion was deafening.
A whole building collapsed.
Stone.
Concrete.
Dust.
Everything came down.
Bestial screams echoed immediately.
Nightmare Creatures began converging on the city, drawn by the noise.
Samael smiled.
— Thanks.
And started running.
Tolice appeared in his hand.
He advanced toward the mountain where he could feel Elizabeth.
But even with most creatures distracted, crossing completely without fighting was impossible.
A demonic fox of Fallen Rank appeared.
The same species he had fought days ago.
Its claws tore through the air.
Samael barely dodged.
Still, one claw cut across his face.
Without hesitation, he threw Tolice.
WHOOSH!
The sword spun through the air.
Opening a deep wound in the creature's front leg.
But it wasn't enough.
The fox kept advancing.
Samael summoned the Ascended Spear.
The familiar shaft formed in his hands.
And he moved forward.
The fox was fast.
But now it was injured.
A claw scraped his shoulder.
He could have fully dodged.
But that would cost time.
And time was something he didn't have.
He accepted the wound.
The spear struck.
CRACK!!
The injured front leg was torn off.
The creature roared.
But its greatest advantage was speed.
And now it was reduced.
Samael advanced again.
Blocked the bite with the spear shaft.
Recovered Tolice from the ground.
And in one swift motion, tore off the other front leg.
Instinctively, he leaned his head back.
CRACK!!
Jaws snapped shut exactly where his neck had been a moment before.
His heart almost stopped.
Arrogance.
Haste.
They had almost killed him.
Even without its front legs, the creature was still a Fallen Demon.
Without giving it another chance, Samael dodged the tail strike.
And decapitated it.
THUD.
The body fell.
[You killed a Fallen Demon.]
Samael stared at the corpse.
And felt something strange.
A desire.
Not necessity.
Not utility.
Desire.
His Aspect seemed… happy.
As if the connection between them had deepened.
As if, after months of rejection, it was finally being accepted.
Or maybe…
It was the Aspect that was finally accepting Samael.
Without thinking too much, he placed his hand on the body.
Soul essence flowed.
Without even choosing.
He let the system decide.
[Congratulations.]
[You received a Memory.]
[Gray Spear.]
A Spear of Awakened Rank.
Samael stared at it for a few seconds.
Then shrugged.
He preferred the Ascended Spear.
The new Memory was forgotten deep within his soul.
— Faster…
He started running again.
"Faster."
More creatures were already returning.
And then—
His heart went cold.
Another fox.
Same species.
Blocking his path.
— Damn it…
Samael gripped Tolice.
Preparing for another fight.
He dodged another claw.
In the same motion, raised Tolice to block the bite.
CRACK!
Its jaws clamped onto the blade.
Without hesitation, he kicked forward.
The impact didn't knock it back.
But it broke its rhythm.
That was enough.
Samael advanced.
He had already made a decision.
He would let it hit his injured shoulder again.
He even prepared for the pain.
But—
The claw missed.
Mysteriously.
Just for a single instant.
And that tiny mistake placed the creature's neck in the perfect position.
Samael's golden eyes narrowed.
Tolice moved.
SLASH!
The fox's throat was torn open.
The body collapsed.
And once again, a pleasant sensation spread through him.
His minor wounds began to ease.
That enchantment was absurd.
[You killed a Fallen Demon.]
Before the system even finished speaking, Samael had already placed his hand on the corpse.
Soul essence flowed naturally.
Almost instinctively.
A new Memory was born.
This time…
A dagger.
But Samael didn't even look at it.
He stored it within his soul.
And kept running.
"Strange…"
While running, he couldn't help but think about that last strike.
The fox had missed.
Badly.
As if…
Something had interfered.
But this wasn't the time to think.
Finally.
He reached the base of the mountain.
At the same moment, he heard footsteps behind him.
More creatures.
They were returning.
— Damn it…
Without hesitation, Samael began climbing.
Running.
Without any caution.
Because at that moment…
Falling.
Slipping.
Getting injured.
None of it mattered.
If he was caught…
He would die.
And not even a corpse would remain.
Samael kept running.
So focused on escaping…
That he didn't notice.
His Animal Reflexes were going wild.
Danger.
Danger.
Danger.
When he finally realized…
It was too late.
A massive jaw was already in front of his face.
Ready to crush his skull.
"…Ah."
For a moment…
His mind went blank.
No time to react.
Then—
SHIIIK!
An arrow pierced the creature's skull.
It collapsed dead.
Samael didn't even look.
Didn't even think of turning it into a Memory.
He just ran.
Ran up the mountain.
Until he finally reached the cave entrance.
— Haa…
— Haa…
— Haa…
Cold sweat ran down his face.
His heart felt like it was trying to escape his chest.
The image of that jaw was still burned into his mind.
His legs gave out.
And he simply collapsed at the entrance.
Vanitas and Elizabeth looked at him.
Samael was still breathing heavily.
For a few seconds, he couldn't even speak.
Then finally…
He raised his head.
A tired smile formed on his face.
— Haa…
— Your Nephilim to the rescue…
— Haa…
— Arrived, Liz.
And immediately fell onto his back.
Still trembling.
Because, for the first time in a long while…
He had truly believed he was going to die.