While Ryūma contacted with Aghnis, another battle was about to begin in a dark, empty alley.

  "Huh? What did you say?" Finn asked, eyes widening.

  "I said we're running," Code replied. "You said he's upper-class. I obviously can't fight him."

  "O-oh," Finn muttered.

  "So, grab on," Code said. Finn moved closer and held Code's hand.

  "You actually think I'll let you go?" Terror said coldly, stepping into the middle of the alley.

  "Well, sorry about that," Code replied, bending low.

  "Muscle Enhancement..." His muscles hardened, veins tensing as his gaze sharpened.

  "...Acceleration!" Code boomed. He launched upward, the reaction cratering the floor. He landed on the wall, Finn dangling from his grip.

  "Fucker, you actually think I'll fight you, huh?" Code muttered, looking down at Terror. "I've got a life to live, goddamn it!"

  The wall shattered as Code shot forward, splitting the air into ripples.

  He and Finn burst from the alley and landed hard on the ground outside, skidding to a stop.

  "We did it," Finn said, relief flooding his voice.

  "Yeah," Code replied with a small smile. "We esc—" he began, but the words died mid-sentence.

  A devastating force ripped through the air as a massive explosion obliterated the floor and everything around them. Wind lashed their faces and shoved them backward as they stumbled.

  "What was that force?!" Finn exclaimed, eyes wide as he peered through the thick haze.

  "It destroyed everything," Code whispered, squinting as he pushed himself to his feet.

  The dust cloud slowly thinned. When Code finally saw clearly—

  "Holy motherfucking shit!" he gasped.

  Footsteps echoed as Terror’s silhouette emerged from the settling debris.

  "You actually think you can run away?" Terror said.

  "Uh… uh…" Code’s heart hammered as he took in the destruction.

  Every building from where he stood to deep inside the alley had been reduced to dust and splinters.

  "What just happened?!" a man screamed, crawling out from under a pile of rubble. "Wait, th-that is…" His words choked off as the scale of the devastation sank in, with Terror standing calmly at its center.

  "Demon! It’s a demon!!" another voice shrieked. People staggered out of the wreckage and fled in panic.

  "Run for your life!!"

  ‘Shit! I forgot there were still people here,’ Code thought, biting his lower lip.

  The fleeing crowd shoved past him, bumping his shoulders and scattering into side alleys until the street was empty.

  Terror raised a single finger and pointed it at himself as the last straggler vanished. Now only he, Code, and Finn remained.

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  "You think you can run away from me?" Terror asked, his tone thick with mocking disbelief.

  ...

  GREYSTONE.

  The marketplace bustled with noise and chattering as people went about their activities peacefully, oblivious of the carnage about to unfold.

  The peace held until a building suddenly exploded, sending dust and flames spiraling heavenward.

  "Terrorists!!" The people screamed and scattered as debris, stones and bricks rained down, crushing stalls and kiosks.

  Glistening red fireballs materialized in the air as Ryūma pulled out of the explosion, skidding backward to a halt.

  "Arrgh... arrgh," he exhaled heavily, eyes wide and fixed on the devastated building.

  "Oi," a dark voice came from within as a foot stepped out, smoke oozing from it.

  "You should've just let me eat in peace," Aghnis purred, his voice draggy and weary as he walked out.

  "What the hell?" Ryūma muttered, locking onto him. 'How is he able to stand while burning at the same time?' he thought.

  Flames soared all over Aghnis's body. Sticks and metal tore into his flesh and face as blood splashed out.

  Yet instead of writhing in pain, he stood, dark pupils glinting ominously.

  "I've decided," Aghnis said, his tongue slithering out and licking the blood off his lips. "You're my next meal."

  Ryūma's eyes narrowed as he tensed. "Bring it on," he muttered. 'I'll kill you before you reach the market,' he thought.

  "Eh? You actually think you can beat me?" Aghnis mocked. "We'll see."

  He bent his head to the ground, then his mouth split wide.

  "What?" Ryūma exclaimed, staggering backward. 'What's he trying to do?' His face twisted into disgust.

  Aghnis raised a finger and shoved it into his throat. His fingers twitched, neck muscles twisting.

  "Bluegh!" Dark brown liquid poured out, splattering the ground in slimy matter. Inside the liquid were half-decomposed viscera, bones, and blood.

  "Ha. Hahaha," Aghnis chuckled as he raised his gaze back to Ryūma. "Now I'm empty. I've got enough space in my stomach for you," he grinned.

  "You disgusting freak," Ryūma hissed, falling into stance.

  "Hahaha," Aghnis laughed as he jerked backward.

  'Here it comes,' Ryūma thought, eyes narrowing.

  "Die!!" Aghnis shouted as he launched forward. His arms twisted and shriveled, transforming into two huge green leeches.

  Their knife-like teeth snarled and gnashed as they hurled toward Ryūma.

  Flames burst from Ryūma's palms, propelling him upward. He launched over the leeches and spun above them.

  "Hahaha. Gotcha!" Aghnis boomed as the surface of the leeches contorted.

  Another set of leeches burst from the arms, hurtling toward Ryūma.

  'He can create more?' Ryūma gasped, balancing mid-air.

  'Fire sorcery,' he exhaled, pointing a finger downward at the worms flying toward him.

  Rows of fireballs materialized beneath his fingers.

  'Fireball barrage!' Ryūma commanded. The fireballs fired forward, connecting with the worms in a gory explosion as flesh and blood sprayed across the ground.

  'I'll kill him now!' Ryūma snapped as flames burst from his palms.

  'Crimson Burst!' He shot forward, leaving trails of flame in the air as he blitzed toward Aghnis.

  'His arms are busy. Now is my chance,' Ryūma thought as he reached Aghnis.

  He halted, shifting his right arm backward to prepare a punch.

  He clenched his fist as the flames around it condensed.

  'Explosive... Fist!!'

  Ryūma threw the blow forward. His fist was so hot it curled the air around it.

  But as the punch reached inches from Aghnis's face—

  "Nice," Aghnis said, lips twisting into a grin.

  "Shit," Ryūma's eyes widened as realization struck.

  Aghnis's jaws split and his mouth opened wide, large enough to swallow Ryūma's arm. His tongue sprawled out, canines grinding terrifyingly.

  "Now, come!"

  "Nnggh!" Ryūma groaned as his fist neared Aghnis's mouth. 'Damn, I can't kill this momentum,' he grimaced, flying forward.

  "Hehe, let's see the flavour of your flesh," Aghnis laughed.

  "I can't lose my arm here!" Ryūma yelled. A surge of adrenaline rushed through him.

  His gaze hardened, veins bulging, as he raised his left arm toward Aghnis's face.

  "Die... bastard!"

  Sparks erupted before his palm.

  'Crimson Burst!'

  Flames exploded outward, engulfing Aghnis's face. The recoil sent Ryūma hauling backward, crashing into a wall.

  "Arrgh arrgh, close call," Ryūma breathed heavily, sweat sliding down his cheeks.

  "Ugh, that was close," Aghnis's voice came as he stepped out of the fire.

  Half his face was burnt, revealing a disgusting mash of flesh and muscle while his left eye twitched.

  "That wasn't enough to kill him?" Ryūma muttered.

  "I was so close to eating you there," Aghnis continued, pupils glistening with ravenous hunger.

  "However," Aghnis grinned. "Eating you was plan A."

  "Huh?" Ryūma gasped as it hit him. His gaze slowly rolled downward, locking onto his bleeding right foot.

  "I-Is this..." he muttered.

  "Yes," Aghnis said. "You've been grazed by one of my worms, and guess what?"

  Ryūma's gaze rose to him.

  "You've been infected."

  Ryūma's heart thudded with a ba-dum, a wave of dizziness suddenly washing over him.

  "Looks like the poison has circulated. It should be taking effect now."

  "Shit," Ryūma hissed as he fell flat to the ground. "My legs are paralyzed."