Chapter 12 — A Step Toward Strength
As Razan flew with Loona toward the mission site, the wind cut around them in sharp, whistling currents. The crimson sky of Hell stretched endlessly above, split by drifting clouds of dark smoke rising from distant factories. Below them, ruined streets and twisted buildings passed by like a blur, each one carrying the same chaotic energy the underworld was known for.
Razan held Loona securely as they flew, his wings beating steadily. While the flight wasn't exactly long, it was fast enough that the scenery shifted every second. Loona's tail swayed slightly with the motion, her eyes scanning the horizon with a mixture of focus and excitement.
Razan finally broke the silence.
"Well, now that you can use part of my power, you can start fighting some weaker demons to gain combat experience."
Loona tilted her head toward him, strands of her almost gray white hair fluttering in the wind.
"So you're letting me handle the targets for this mission this time?"
"Yes," Razan replied. "I'll be right by your side, but you'll be the one fighting."
Loona's lips curled into a wide, eager smile.
"Finally, some action."
Seeing that spark of ferocity in her eyes, Razan was reminded once again why her species was called hellhounds. She wasn't just excited—she was practically vibrating with the thrill of the hunt. Even without snarling or showing her fangs, Loona radiated the kind of intensity only a true predator had.
He continued, voice steady but slightly louder to compete with the rushing wind:
"Loona, since you can use my powers, you probably noticed I have a lot of different abilities. And that number is only going to increase. So I suggest you pick powers that match your fighting style."
Loona raised an eyebrow, glancing at him sideways.
"Match my style?"
"Yes. I recommend using my darkness power as your main ability. It's versatile, easy to use, and you can combine it with your claws and teeth to create your own unique style. The other powers you leave as support, only when needed. That's how I do it. My dragon power is my main one, the rest are for amplifying or supporting."
"I see," Loona said. "So I'll use the power of darkness as my main skill and the other ones as backup if I need them."
The two descended toward their destination—a half-collapsed warehouse surrounded by broken fences and flickering red lights. The air around the place smelled like rust, smoke, and something unpleasantly organic.
They landed, dust rising in a small cloud around Razan's boots. He let go of Loona and shifted out of his half-dragon form, stretching his shoulders.
"Why do these criminals always pick abandoned buildings, docks, old factories… always the same kind of place?" he complained, eyeing the derelict warehouse as if it personally offended him.
Loona shrugged as she cracked her knuckles, looking completely unfazed.
"It's not like they can stay anywhere better with the strength they have."
"Fair enough…" Razan sighed. "Alright, let's do this."
"Let's."
As they approached, Loona focused for a moment. The shadows around them flickered and curled toward her like living smoke, coating her body in a thin veil of darkness. Her eyes glowed faintly, her silhouette sharpening as she accelerated forward.
With one swift motion, she launched herself at the enemies. The force of her leap cracked the floor under her feet. The criminals barely had time to react before she was on top of them, moving like a streak of black lightning.
Razan, meanwhile, casually sat on a broken table nearby. He crossed one leg over the other, resting his elbows on his knee as he watched her fight. His voice echoed through the room:
"Don't waste the power like that, wolf girl! Use the darkness only on the parts you rely on the most—your claws and your teeth! That boosts your attack without wasting unnecessary energy!"
Loona paused just a fraction of a second—enough to shift her focus. The shadow aura around her body pulled inward, condensing around her claws and fangs. The energy grew sharper, denser, darker.
She launched forward again.
With a single devastating strike, she slashed downward with shadow-infused claws. The air rippled with the force of the blow, and the criminals were erased from existence in an instant—no sound, no struggle, just pure annihilation.
Loona froze, staring at where they had been, stunned by the overwhelming destructive power she had just unleashed.
Razan smiled with a mix of pride and satisfaction.
"Impressive, right? That's why I told you to use this power as your main one. It fits you perfectly."
Loona nodded slowly, still processing the impact of her attack.
"Well," Razan continued, pushing himself up from the ruined table, "that's enough for today. Let's go home."
He picked Loona up in his arms with ease, holding her securely, and shifted back into his half-dragon form. His wings spread wide with a powerful flap before he ascended into the sky.
The air was cooler at higher altitude, brushing gently past Loona's face. She relaxed slightly in his hold, her expression thoughtful.
"I have a question," she finally said, her voice steady. "I can use teleportation, which means you can use it too. So why do we always fly to places? Wouldn't teleporting be faster?"
Razan answered without hesitation:
"There are two answers: a lie and the truth. Which one do you want first?"
"The lie."
"The lie is that it's an important power. I can't let too many people see me using it because I want to keep it as a surprise card," he said seriously.
Loona narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"And what's the truth?"
Razan opened a wide grin, almost glowing with shamelessness.
"The truth is that I like spending time with my little wolf girl and carrying you like a princess while we fly."
Loona let out a long, exhausted smile—the kind that carried equal parts disbelief and resignation.
"I knew it… I shouldn't expect anything serious from you."
"Hey! That was serious!" Razan protested, his wings twitching indignantly.
Still lightly bickering, their voices fading into the wind, they continued their flight back home—ending another small but meaningful day in the chaotic world of Hell.