Ice stood in silence, locked in a standoff with the demon. His mind raced.

  No mark. No backup. If the demons had wanted to take over years ago, they could've. So why now?

  He narrowed his eyes.

  "Who is your king?"

  Belial looked irritated. "We don't have a king. We have seven princes, you fool."

  Ice's heart sank. Seven of them? Damn. This is what you signed up for, Ice. Give the people what they want. Execute.

  In a fsh, Ice hurled a bck smoke bomb. The cloud erupted but Belial didn't flinch.

  Ice slid right, slicing the demon's leg. Belial reached to grab him missed. Ice was already on his left fnk, bde cutting deep across his back.

  The demon roared, wings fring, blowing the smoke away.

  Ice was exposed.

  Belial lunged, trying to lift him off into the air but Ice twisted, bde inches from the demon's throat. Belial backed off, hovering.

  "You're more than I expected from a mortal," he said.

  Then CRACK.

  A punch from nowhere smmed into Belial's jaw, sending him crashing into a building.

  Ice turned, stunned.

  Edwin stood there, eyes low, wrapped in a swirling aura silver, white, and bck.

  Belial rose, bloodied.

  "What the hell are you supposed to be?"

  Edwin didn't answer.

  He charged.

  The blows from Edwin were majestic but the demon Belial was holding his own, blinding speed, brutal counters, elegant dodges. Punch, dodge, kick, counter. It was like watching gods spar.

  Then CRACK.

  Edwin's knee struck Belial's jaw with surgical precision. The sound echoed like steel snapping.

  Belial staggered.

  "I won't lose to an infidel!" the demon roared.

  His body expanded five feet taller, muscles bulging, aura darkening to purple-bck.

  "Die, mortal!"

  He unched a barrage of punches, kicks, each one echoing through the air like thunder.

  Then stab. His tail sliced Edwin's face, breaking his guard.

  Belial unleashed a savage combo blow that sent Edwin crashing to the ground.

  Ice saw his chance.

  He leapt, the katana raised.

  At the st second, Belial's wing shielded his neck but Ice's bde tore through it, mangling the wing.

  Belial turned, enraged.

  Ice threw another smoke bomb and jumped his instincts screaming.

  Belial stood there enraged but silently.

  Ice spotted him standing still.

  He struck.

  Belial caught his arm.

  "You think that move works twice?"

  He grinned.

  "You mortals have been good opponents. But it ends here."

  Then BANG.

  A punch to Belial's chest sent him flying.

  Edwin was back up and determined he jumped on the demon.

  Punch after punch left, right each one brutal, precise, relentless.

  He didn't stop.

  Belial gasped, blood pouring from his mouth.

  Edwin kept going.

  Until Belial stopped breathing.

  Until the demon of old was extinct.