Renny said quietly, "What about you?"

Myla looked up, confused. "What about me?"

"Do you deserve to be here?" he asked, turning to face her fully.

She blinked, caught off guard. "That's… a question," she murmured, forcing a weak smile.

"I'm serious, Myla," Renny said, his voice low. "Do you really deserve to be in Hell?"

Her smile faded. She met his eyes, then nodded slowly. There was shame in her gaze.

"I can tell," Renny said softly. "Whatever your life was on Earth… it's not something you're proud of."

Myla shook her head, still looking at him. Her lips trembled slightly, but she didn't look away.

Without another word, Renny stepped closer and pulled her into an embrace. She pressed her face against his shoulder, her quiet sobs echoing softly in the stillness of the chamber.

***

By the time they reached the pit, Renny and Myla made their way through the timber forest until they came upon Druvash. The beast's eyes lit up when he saw Renny.

"Renayo," Druvash said, spreading his arms wide before dropping to one knee. "An honor to welcome you to my domain."

Myla blinked in disbelief. "A beast bows to you now?"

Druvash glanced at her with a grin. "This respect wasn't given, little one. It was earned."

Renny smiled faintly and lifted the food he'd brought. "I came with some meals from Maeril."

"Ah," Druvash teased, "no demon seed hidden in there, I hope?"

Renny chuckled. "Not this time."

Druvash snapped his fingers, and one of his best creations appeared, a table carved from timber with intricate patterns and smooth polish. Myla ran her palms over its surface, clearly impressed. "This is beautiful," she murmured.

Three wooden chairs grew from the ground around it, and the three of them sat. Renny set the food down, and soon laughter and chatter filled the clearing.

They spoke about Charles's soul key and how Renny had used it in his last contract, then about their wild journey through the Collector's Ring. Myla laughed at some of Druvash's exaggerated retellings, and even Renny found himself smiling more than he expected.

For a while, it felt less like Hell, and more like three friends sharing stories after a long day.

When they were done, Renny reached into his coat and handed Druvash Charles's soul key. "Keep this safe for me," he said.

Druvash accepted it carefully, nodding with a faint smile. "You have my word, Demon."

Renny stood, dusting off his coat. "We'll see each other again," he said.

"That, I'll hold you to," Druvash replied warmly.

With a final nod, Renny and Myla turned and began their walk back through the timber forest.

***

Their next stop was the Hotgrounds. As the name suggested, it was scorching. Even for demons, the air was punishing. Each step kicked up steam from the cracked earth as Renny and Myla pushed through, searching for the beast.

At first, there was nothing. Then the ground began to rumble. A sharp tremor split the silence before a massive form burst from beneath the surface, red-skinned, its body steaming, forelimbs broad and jointed, ending in spinning, drill-like claws.

It lunged straight for them. Renny pulled Myla aside, both narrowly dodging the strike. "Stay here," he said, his tone firm. "I'll handle this quickly."

"You sure you don't need help?" Myla asked, adjusting her stance.

Renny shook his head. "It's my contract. I don't need help with a lesser beast like this. You said you wanted to watch, right? Then watch."

Myla exhaled and nodded, stepping back. Renny summoned his Fracture Dagger, the blade glinting faintly. His eyes shifted, glowing as he activated his Demon Sight, scanning Rokha's body for fracture signals. The air grew tense, then both charged, the ground trembling under their clash.

Rokha was powerful, but nowhere near the level of beasts like Druvash or Zauric, the 500CP reward reflected that clearly. From the start, Renny dominated the fight, his strikes clean and controlled. Each blow landed hard, his kicks sending the massive creature tumbling across the molten ground.

But Rokha wasn't going down that easily. With a thunderous roar, it burrowed into the ground, the earth splitting as it drilled straight toward Renny's position. Steam burst upward, molten dust scattering, but Renny had already moved. He saw through its tricks.

The beast erupted from below, claws spinning wildly, only to meet Renny's blade. He grabbed onto its forelimb, driving his dagger across its molten hide, slicing deep into the glowing cracks that laced its body. Rokha had more fractures than most beasts, its very form was unstable, giving Renny all the weaknesses he needed.

Throughout the fight, the creature never landed a single hit. Every time it charged, Renny was already a step ahead. When its claws came down, he whispered, "Dreznar Vohl."

A burst of power followed — Shatterfall. The beast's massive drill-like claws exploded into fragments, scattering across the heated ground. Renny spun with the recoil, planting a heavy kick into its skull, sending the creature tumbling once more.

But Rokha rose again, roaring as new drills formed from molten stone. Renny exhaled through his teeth. "Just like the others… regeneration," he muttered.

The fractures across the beast's body glowed violently now, perfect. Renny lowered his stance, "Kraveth Shyrr," he uttered.

Explosive Fracture.

A surge of energy burst through Rokha's frame. The cracks blazed white before erupting, shattering the beast's entire body into burning shards. Its limbs disintegrated, leaving only a mangled upper half lying in a pool of red, molten liquid that hissed as it cooled around them.

Renny walked up to the broken creature, its molten eyes still flickering faintly. "Beast, you have been subdued," he said firmly, pulling out the necklace and looping it around what remained of Rokha's neck. "Guard this soul key. Do not release it until I return for it."

The beast gave a low, rumbling groan, a sound of obedience, before its body sank halfway into the heated ground, melding with it.

Moments later, Myla stepped into the clearing, her boots crunching over the scorched earth as she looked around at the wreckage. "Impressive," she said, a smirk tugging at her lips. "I'll admit, I don't think I could've handled that thing as easily as you did. Then again, you are a Grade Two demon now."

She slipped beside him, sliding her arm through his and locking it there. "You looked so hot fighting that beast," she whispered, eyes glinting mischievously. "It made me feel things."

Before Renny could respond, she tugged him by the arm, practically dragging him through the pit and back toward his apartment, determined, and clearly not taking no for an answer.

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