The Crucible — Fourth Layer

The dimly lit room reeked faintly of smoke, the dartboard nailed to the far wall already riddled with holes. A young man stood in front of it, cigarette dangling lazily from his lips, the glow of its ember painting his sharp features in red. He flicked a dart between his fingers before sending it whistling through the air. Thunk. It buried itself dead center.

"You still haven't quit smoking, Eric," Sarah's voice rang out as she materialized behind him.

A curl of smoke hissed from Eric's mouth as he exhaled and spoke around the cigarette. "What can I say? It's a bad habit."

Sarah's eyes narrowed slightly. "I can't say I'm surprised."

Eric didn't bother looking at her. He simply picked up another dart, his movements calm, deliberate. He cocked his wrist and fired again. Another perfect shot. "So," he said flatly, "what are you doing here, Sarah? You wouldn't come without a reason… would you?"

"You're right," Sarah replied. Her tone hardened, her posture crisp. "Lord Azreal has summoned the Six. A mission has been assigned in the world of the living. He chose you all to accompany him."

Eric finally turned, pulling the cigarette from his lips as a grin ghosted across his face. "A mission… to the world of the living? That can't end well."

Sarah raised an eyebrow. "So? Are you coming along?"

"Of course," Eric answered without hesitation. "Since Lord Azreal himself instructed it, I'll go. And besides…" He fished into his pocket and pulled out an empty cigarette box, rattling it with a wry smile. "I'm all out. Only one stick left. Guess I'll need to resupply in the human world."

Sarah let out an unimpressed breath. "So that's your reason for tagging along?"

Eric's grin widened. "Don't put it that way. I'll take the empty box as a souvenir."

"Fine." Sarah's voice was curt now. "Head to the Royal Palace. Lord Azreal wants to address you all before departure."

Eric plucked the last dart from his desk, his eyes narrowing in focus. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled it. The dart slammed into the bullseye, splitting the one already lodged there clean in two. Perfect precision.

A shimmering portal tore open beside him, blue-white light bleeding into the smoke-filled room.

"You can use this to get there," Sarah said.

Eric gave her a half-smirk. "See you there." He stepped casually into the portal, disappearing without looking back.

Sarah's expression softened just briefly before she too blinked out of sight.

---

Hell's Royal Palace — The Throne Room

The throne room stood in utter silence, a weighty stillness pressing down on the air. Azreal sat unmoving upon his obsidian throne, his gaze fixed straight ahead. Then, without turning, his voice cut through the stillness like a blade.

"When do you intend to stop hiding in the shadows?"

The shadow beneath his throne rippled unnaturally. Slowly, a figure rose from the darkness, pale white hair catching the dim light. His mismatched eyes—one crimson, the other ice blue—glinted with an almost feral intensity.

He wore a crisp black butler's uniform, silver embroidery gleaming faintly across its high collar. White gloves covered his hands, and polished boots clicked lightly against the floor as he stepped fully into view.

"Jack the Ripper," Azreal said, voice calm, commanding.

Jack inclined his head with perfect poise. "It's been a while, Lord Azreal."

"Yes, it has," Azreal replied evenly.

Jack's lips curved faintly. "It seems I've gotten rusty for you to have noticed me."

Azreal's gaze sharpened. "Try concealing your bloodlust first. It's dripping all over this hall."

Jack froze, then let out a soft, cold laugh. "Ah… it seems I really have gotten rusty. Forgive me, my lord."

Azreal leaned back against the throne's black stone. "It's good you're here. Where are the others?"

"Still in the Crucible," Jack answered. His calm eyes locked with Azreal's. "But tell me… is there a reason they should be here?"

Azreal's tone grew quieter, heavier. "So Sarah didn't call you. Then why appear before me now, Jack, after all this time?"

Jack's lips curled faintly. His mismatched eyes bore into Azreal's. "It's been far too long since I last served you tea, my lord." He placed a hand over his chest in a gesture of mock formality. "I was bored in the Crucible, so I came here. Allow me to prepare a pot. We'll continue our discussion over it."

Without waiting for dismissal, Jack turned and glided toward the hall's side doors, his voice eerily calm as he vanished from view.

---

At the Gate

The massive gate shimmered with infernal light as Arian descended, his wings folding back before he shifted down into his smaller form. Aria slid from his back, landing lightly on her feet.

"I'm finally getting the hang of it," she said proudly.

"Good for you, Lady Aria," Arian replied as he hovered beside her.

Together, they passed through the gates and entered the grand hall. The sound of laughter immediately drew Aria's eyes to a familiar figure. Cain leaned casually against a pillar, grinning as he traded words with Nena.

"It's been so long, Cain," Nena said warmly. "I thought you wouldn't come back. So tell me—why are you here?"

Cain smirked. "You have Lord Azreal to thank for that. He summoned me, said he wanted to discuss something important."

"Oh?" Nena teased, folding her arms. "So you only came here for Azreal?"

Cain chuckled. "It's not like that, Nena. I also came to see you."

Aria approached then, her steps drawing their attention.

"Oh, Aria!" Nena greeted. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Aria replied with a smile, though her gaze drifted curiously to Cain.

Cain's eyes met hers, his golden irises gleaming with unreadable intent.

"You don't know him, do you?" Nena said, stepping between them. "Let me introduce you. This is Cain."

Cain stretched his hand toward Aria, lips curling into a smooth smile. "Nice to meet you…"

"Aria," she replied softly, raising her hand to take his—

"Aria," Arian's voice cut in sharply. He appeared at her side, his tone urgent. "Lord Azreal must be waiting."

"Right," Aria said, drawing her hand back.

Cain's gaze shifted to Arian, his smirk widening. "Arian… buddy. You look different."

But Arian's expression was unreadable. "Aria, let's go." Without another word, he ushered her forward, the two of them walking away toward the throne room.

Cain's eyes followed Aria as she left, a strange intensity flickering in them.

Suddenly, pain shot through his ear. "Ow!" He yelped, grabbing it. "Nena! What was that for?!"

Nena pulled harder, glaring at him. "Don't look at her like that, Cain. I know you. I know what you're capable of. Stay. Away. From. Her."

Cain raised his hands defensively, still grinning. "Nena, come on. I wasn't planning anything."

"I hope so," she muttered, releasing him. Without another glance, she strode off, leaving Cain rubbing his ear with a smirk that refused to leave his face.

On the way, Aria and Arian walked together, her steps uneasy as her thoughts raced.

"Arian… what was that about?" Aria asked, her voice carrying a tinge of guilt. "We were rude to him."

Arian's expression hardened. "Remember when I told you to stay away from one member of the Six?"

"Yes," Aria said, still puzzled.

"He's the one," Arian replied, his tone sharp. "Cain. Don't let that smile fool you, Aria. He may look sweet—gentle, even—but that's only because he respects Nena, just like Lord Azreal and Lord Hermes. That doesn't make him safe. Don't misjudge him just because he acts nice."

Before Aria could respond, a low chuckle slithered into her ears like poison.

"Oh, Arian… that hurts."

Both froze. Cain's voice was suddenly behind them. Close. Too close.

"I heard all of that," Cain said, his tone mockingly wounded. "And I must say… I'm really, really hurt by it."

He stood inches away, the shadows still clinging to him as if reluctant to let him go. Slowly, casually, he stretched out his hand and laid it upon Aria's shoulder.

"Well now," Cain murmured, a sharp grin tugging his lips. "Let's see who we really have here."

The instant his fingers brushed her, reality shattered.

Cain's vision blurred. The world twisted and warped, colors bleeding into one another until all form collapsed. Shadows elongated, devouring, and then—

BOOM

A blinding white light erupted, burning away the darkness itself. Cain staggered, eyes straining against the brilliance.

Before him stretched an endless plain of pink flames, calm yet absolute, roaring in silence. They swayed like an ocean that went on forever, eternal, sacred, untouchable.

Above, suspended in the void, hung a massive red cross, ethereal yet suffocating, radiating an authority that pressed into his bones. The air was judgment itself.

At the center stood Aria. Her body flickered with both light and flame, her silhouette shifting as though two beings stood as one. Behind her, a shadow loomed—Yuzara. Her presence was crushing, divine yet terrifying, her burning gaze cutting through Cain like knives.

Cain's breath caught. His bloodlust, his corruption, everything in him screamed to kneel.

"Oh…" Yuzara's voice echoed like thunder inside his skull, dripping with cruel familiarity. "Look what the cat dragged in."

Cain grit his teeth, his instincts clawing for escape.

"This one," Yuzara said, her voice reverberating like a judgmental bell. "Is not yours to judge."

The flames surged.

Before Cain could move, the ocean of holy fire roared and swallowed him whole, tearing him out of that warped vision and back into reality.

—

The real world slammed back into place.

Aria gasped as her mark ignited, glowing furiously on her hand. Her eyes shone with blinding pink light. Cain's body erupted into the same flames, engulfing him instantly.

"GAAAHHHH!" Cain's scream tore through the air as the fire devoured him, his skin blistering, flesh burning away.

Aria staggered back in horror. "A-Arian! What's happening to him!?"

Arian's eyes widened, his tone grim as he muttered to himself, "Cain's ability lies in corrupting anything he touches… but this… this is different. Instead, he is being corrupted. By her flames."

His gaze locked on Aria's glowing mark, pulsing violently on her hand. "The mark must have responded to his touch… Yuzara's judgment awakened."

Aria's heart hammered, tears threatening her eyes. "We—we need to help him!"

But Cain's screams were suddenly cut short. His body collapsed into itself, burning until nothing remained. No bone. No blood. No shadow.

Only ashes.

Aria froze, her voice breaking into a whisper. "…I… I killed him."

The silence after was deafening.

---

The Crucible — Fifth Layer

A well-arranged room, lined with bookshelves and strange ornaments, held the still figure of a young girl sprawled across her bed. Her hair, long and messy, spilled like a brown river across the pillow.

The air shimmered, and Sarah appeared above the room, her voice smooth but teasing.

"You're still as sleepy as ever, aren't you?"

The girl groaned, her face half-buried in the sheets. "Go away, Sarah…"

Sarah smiled faintly. "Rise and shine… Lyra."

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