“Ahahaha! Entertain me more! More!!” Hannya’s claws tore through the skin of his own chest. Dark-purple blood dripped from the self-inflicted wounds.

  “Strike me, you old gods! For I… am invincible now…”

  “Division Magic… Divide of Reality!” whispered an old god covered in eyes, tearing Hannya’s body and the ground beneath him in half.

  Hannya’s grin widened across both halves as blood sprayed into the air.

  “Illusion Magic…” His body shattered into countless shards of glass, scattering across the ground.

  “You cannot hide from us, unholy demon…”

  The old god’s words died in its throat. Its countless eyes widened at an unfamiliar touch upon one of them.

  “I’m not trying to hide… dear friend…” Hannya caressed the god’s fleshy eye-socket, his voice sharp as a blade’s edge and cold as an emotionless slaughterer.

  “Cult of Slaughter… Abandonment of Flesh.”

  In the blink of an eye, the old god’s body was reduced to a floating cloud of blood before it rained down upon the ground. Hannya’s devilish smile appeared across his shadow—on its neck, arms, and chest—as green blood showered over him.

  “Next…!” Eyes burning brighter than the sun, Hannya rushed forward.

  From the ground, countless tentacles rose like spears, moving at unpredictable, blinding speeds alongside his steps, aiming for every vital organ within reach.

  “Hehahaha! This is fun! Mercury Magic: Needle Rain!”

  His body moved with unparalleled speed among the tentacles. Thrusting an arm downward, thousands of sharp mercury needles fell from the sky, pinning every attacking tentacle to the ground. His gaze remained fixed on the eyeless god controlling them with its mouth-covered hands and body.

  “Wrong to not see me, filthy creature!”

  A gigantic fist swung from the side—the first awakened god, now fully healed from Hannya’s earlier wound.

  “You never learn, do you…?” Hannya vanished before impact, reappearing on the old god’s shoulder. “I hold the power here. Not you three… Wait—technically two. One of you is dead. Hahaha!”

  Before the god could react, Hannya whispered, “Cult of Slaughter… Empty circles.” the old god's body stumbled back. Several void holes appearing all around its arms, chest and legs.

  "Cult of Slaughter... Neck cutter."

  Blood erupted around the old god's neck. Hannya smiled, poking the head with his index finger and sending it tumbling to the ground. The massive body fell motionless, shaking the earth with its weight. When the tremors ceased, Hannya jumped down, brushing dust from his shoulders.

  “Now you can sleep forever. Create worlds all you like before your body turns to ash. Ahahaha!”

  As the giant’s body crumbled to dust, Hannya leaped back, dodging a fresh wave of tentacles rising beneath him.

  “Teleportation Magic!” He vanished, reappearing atop the eyeless god—but before he could touch it, a mouth opened beneath him. Tentacles speared upward.

  “Illusion Magic…!”

  The tentacles pierced through the afterimage, shattering it to pieces as Hannya rematerialized on the ground.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “That was close… Ahahaha!” He sprinted toward the tentacled god, dodging every strike with impossible speed. This ability could actually make me struggle…

  His grin tightened as he closed the distance. Just one touch… it ends with one touch.

  His eyes lit up as he found an opening. Grinning wildly, he launched himself through the forest of tentacles toward the old god’s core. “This! Ends now!”

  As he lunged for the touch, his eyes widened. All thrill for combat vanished. His mouth opened and closed several times before he could speak.

  “L-Lionye…!?”

  Hannya… You’ve grown so much…

  Lionye’s illusion smiled at him. Tears welled in Hannya’s eyes.

  Please be safe out there. He doesn’t want to see you hurt. No one does.

  “I-I… I will! I promise!” His hand rose, reaching for the illusion. As his fingers brushed it, the image faded—only Lionye’s smile lingering before it, too, disappeared.

  A tentacle slammed into his chest, the pain wrenching him back to reality. Blood spilled from his mouth as the appendage pierced clean through his body.

  A scream of agony tore from his throat. His eyes filled with crimson rage.

  “You…! You!!” He gripped the tentacle protruding from his belly, nails digging deep. “Third Eye Technique: Slaughterhouse’s Hack!”

  The tentacled god’s body disintegrated into millions of pieces instantly. Every mouth on its form screamed in torment as tentacles rotted and fell apart, the entire being turning to ash.

  Hannya collapsed to the ground, blood pouring from the wound. “That pathetic creature… laced with forbidden poison magic…!?”

  How can I keep my promise now…?

  A small, childlike humanoid figure approached, holding a pink flower in both hands. A single twilight-colored wing draped around her.

  “Can I… help you?”

  Hannya’s head snapped up. He watched her draw nearer, then glanced at his own grotesque, bloodied form. His eyes grew vulnerable, wide. “Who… are you…?”

  “I’m just… a fallen angel…” Her voice was a broken whisper to his ears.

  “I’m… sorry for that. Can you… actually heal this?” Hannya asked, curious. Only four beings can heal a cursed magic like this… How could she…?

  His thoughts scattered as the girl stepped forward and placed the flower on his bloodied hand. “Wh-what…?”

  “I’m not a strong magician… but sometimes what needs healing isn’t a physical wound…” She bowed her head, expecting shouts or rejection.

  Hannya watched, tears in his eyes. “Not… a physical wound…” he murmured. Then I’m keeping my promise… being healed in heart… by this child. Was this your doing, Master Lionye?

  “Hey… look at me…” He gently lifted her chin, caressing her cheek with his clean hand. His Third Eye closed, the horns on his hands and chest receded, and his demonic shadow faded.

  “Thank you… angelic girl… You truly are… an angel.” A genuine smile touched his lips—the first Hannya had made in a hundred years.

  The girl wiped a tear from his face with her small hands.

  “Dear demon… please end his tyranny… end the True Light’s tyranny… for the outcast angels…” She swallowed hard, meeting his gaze. “You are… very powerful… I’m sure you can do it!” Tears fell as she clasped her hands and began to bow, but Hannya pulled her into an embrace, her small frame disappearing against his.

  “I will end him… I promise.”

  He forced himself to stand.

  “Dear demon… I’m… sorry I couldn’t help you… I watched your battle from afar… but I was too scared to do anything…” the angel murmured.

  Hannya raised an eyebrow, then burst out laughing. “You! Are you serious!? Even I struggled with them! And you wanted to help?!” He wiped away a tear of joy, crouching to her eye level. “Listen. Sometimes things are beyond our control. The best we can do is watch and let those who can handle it… handle it. Don’t ever think you weren’t helpful. You already have been.”

  Hannya turned and walked toward the Palace of Slaughter, glancing back once more with a soft smile as the angelic girl drifted away.

  *Master will be furious… but what could I do? They all attacked me… No one wanted to talk.*

  He let out a bright, honest laugh as he pushed open the palace gates—this time, the sound genuine and full of something like hope.