The air inside the terminal grew heavy—too heavy.
The flames on Ethan's skull flickered, then roared. A pulse of hellfire surged outward like a shockwave, and before anyone could react, he *moved*.
One second, Freed was grinning.
The next, he wasn't.
Ethan appeared behind him like a whisper of smoke—silent, instant. A burning hand clasped the back of the priest's neck.
Freed barely managed to gasp, "Wha—"
Then his soul caught fire.
He screamed once—brief, strangled. Then he crumbled, ash spilling from beneath Ethan's palm, blackened bones falling loose and hollow to the floor.
Raynare screamed. Dohnaseek took a step back.
But Ethan didn't even look at them yet.
He crouched and picked up Freed's gun—still warm. The metal hissed in his hand as fire crawled across the barrel, through the grip, and into the chamber. Infernal symbols branded themselves into the side. The weapon pulsed—alive now.
Then, he raised it.
One breath.
Two shots.
The first bolt of hellfire-augmented lead slammed straight into Mittelt's chest. She barely had time to cry out before her wings ignited, body snapping backward into the wall with a crunch and a scream.
The second shot caught Dohnaseek mid-air as he tried to flee. The bullet pierced him clean through the chest, and his scream ended in a burst of flame that consumed him before he hit the ground.
Two angels.
Gone.
Just like that.
The burning gun smoked in Ethan's hand.
He looked at Raynare who collapsed to her knees, trembling.
"W–Wait!" she cried. "Please—please! I didn't do anything It was Freed! It was the priest! I was just following orders!"
Ethan stepped closer, flames licking across his skeletal face. She flinched.
"I'll leave," she gasped. "I'll fly away—you'll never see me again!"
He tilted his head slightly.
Then nodded.
"…Fine."
Raynare blinked. "Wait, really?"
"But leave the money."
She hesitated—then practically threw the pouch onto the floor. It hit the ground with a metallic *clink*, scattering a few coins.
Without waiting for another word, she spread her wings and shot into the sky.
She made it halfway over the depot.
*Bang.*
The hellfire bullet ripped through her spine. She burst into flames mid-air, screaming as her body dissolved into smoke and cinders. Burning feathers scattered like cursed snow.
Below, Ethan holstered the gun and knelt to pick up the pouch.
At least he had money now to buy a decent me for him of course you also tried his best not to accidently burn the pouch as he walk to the Asia's
Ethan stepped past the charred remains, his skull cooling slowly until flames dimmed and flesh began to reform—bit by bit—until only his human face remained.
Asia in the corner, frozen in terror, her eyes wide and shimmering with tears. She hadn't even moved during the fight. Her lips mumbled quiet, broken prayers.
Ethan crouched beside her, setting the still-warm gun to his side.
"Hey," he said, voice tired but soft. "It's over."
Asia flinched.
He sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Come on. I'm not that scary. Just treat me like any other an angel..."
She looked up at him, confused and tear-streaked. "Angel...? But you… you're… fire and… skull and…"
"And saved you," Ethan offered, raising an eyebrow. "Not a fan of the flaming skull, huh?"
She blinked, then gave a tiny nod.
"you know it's a real angel spirit,as devout believer of the god you shouldn't feel scared" he said. " if you want I can prove you by using my flames a new I promise it won't even hurt as your kind person."
She stared a little longer, still shaking. "so are you really a angel?"
"just think it as I have a spirit of Angel inside me" He offered her a hand.
Before she could respond, a sudden gust of wind blew in from the shattered entrance.
Boots crunched glass.
A calm voice rang out.
"You move faster than expected," Sona said, stepping forward with Tsubaki right behind her.
Ethan didn't even look surprised.
"Oh hey," he said casually. "Hope you enjoyed the quick show."
Tsubaki's eyes flicked to the smoldering ashes around them, to the gun at Ethan's hip, to the shivering girl behind him.
"quite Efficient," Sona added.
Ethan shrugged. "Didn't feel like dragging a stupid fight with low level monsters."
He looked back toward Asia, then back to the devils.
"if you have enjoyed the show now you can go back"
" it's better if we have a talk" Sona's said calmly. "And I also want to invite the nun."
Asia looked up again, confused. "invite?"
"She's not going with you, I like the nun without the bat wings" Ethan said flatly, already reading between the lines.
Sona's gaze narrowed. "So… you don't like devils?"
Ethan tilted his head slightly, eyes flicking over to her with a half-smirk.
"Personally? I like the beautiful ones," he said, voice dry but dead serious.
Tsubaki blinked. Sona raised an eyebrow.
"But," Ethan continued, his tone cooling as he glanced back at Asia, "she's not suitable to become a devil."
"She could be," Sona said calmly. "With the right help."
Ethan shook his head. "No. She's too kind. Too soft. You give someone like her a pair of bat wings and she likes to pray everyday which I am guessing she won't able to do after she becomes the devil for a very long time."
Asia blinked, eyes wide, unsure whether to be offended or thankful.
"She deserves peace and pair of white wings," Ethan finished. "Not power games and black wings."
Sona studied him for a moment her expression softened just slightly, her posture relaxing as the tension settled.
"Well then," she said, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "I think both of you can come with me. We'll have some tea—and talk properly. About your power…which is definitely not angelic."
For a few seconds, Ethan said nothing. Just stared, fire dimming slowly behind his eyes.
Then he shrugged. "Sure," he said, voice low and dry. "As long as you've got snacks. I'm starving."