Smoke was emitting from the destroyed facility, the result of an explosion similar to the bombs used in the dark war albeit more destructive because of the gases and flames that were ignited in addition to Nine's elemental flames fueling the intensity of the explosion.

Nine materializes from the fading flames from the facility and falls to her knees. She coughs out blood as increasing the output of the explosion took a huge toll on her body. She was desperately gasping for air and each time she inhaled, she could feel needles piercing her lungs. She picks herself up and looks at the epicenter of it all. There was nothing left. Nothing but ash in a gigantic crater. She falls to the grass below her feet and laughs silently in joy. She finally felt relieved. She finally felt fulfilled. She finally felt peace despite the events unraveling.

She contacts Kokonoe and shares the news.

"Mom?! Where are you?!"

"Hello, daughter. I have some good news. I took out one of them." Nine oddly jovial. This was pretty weird for Kokonoe to hear.

"Who?"

"I suppose that would be me." said an unknown stranger accompanied by silent laughter.

Kokonoe heard a familiar voice through her mother's comms.

Nine's pupils contracted, hearing that voice after he was believed dead.

"Mom?! Mom!"

Nine was about to turn but felt a knife being pointed at her back. She was already too exhausted to cast fire so she inhaled a good amount of air. She then takes his hand and stabs herself with Hazama's knife so that he wouldn't escape and faces his chest and blows with all of her might. The winds coming out of her were comparable to extremely compressed air. She managed to blow through the hole in his chest, revealing nothing but the skies through the hole in his chest. Nine was about to deliver another attack but Hazama grabs her by the neck before she could do anything.

"Absorbing a portion of that odd creature sure did add numbers on my durability, but it wasn't strong enough to take your attack. You are sure one hell of a powerhouse." He pulls out his knife while fiddling with it and doing tricks. "Seems like you did in fact have gotten stronger. A such explosion would disintegrate that body of yours. I'm confident to say that's enough to leave no remains, though I'm now going to have to deal with an actual hole in my body." Said Hazama as he casually hovers his knife through the gap where his heart was supposedly located. Impressed, he began to applaud her for her stubbornness. He lets go of her for a moment only to kick her, making her spin sideways and axe kicking her down to the ground. He then steps on her head while twisting his foot by her temple. Hazama could even hear her daughter yelling out for her mom through the earpiece that Nine had. He was surprised that such a thing survived an explosion like that.

"Didn't you say that you were gonna turn me to ash?" Hazama could see the frustration in her eyes, the hatred she had for him was boiling hotter than before because all of that work, all of that progress were all for naught. It may have damaged him yet he dusted it off like it was nothing.

"Fuck you..." Nine lets out those two words with complete exhaustion. She was ready to die.

"Language! I have never heard you say such things. Are you really that desperate Nine? It's a shame that all of that work was wasted. Welp, too bad that I have to finish the job right now. Overtime isn't in my schedule-nothing personal of course!" said Hazama with a cold smile on his face and pulled out his knife.

WHIFF!

Hazama dodged a few bullets, some going through his coat. He looked towards the source and what he saw made him open his eyes.

"That fast?" said Hazama confusingly as he was dumbfounded by the person he saw.

It was Kokonoe.

Her ability to come to aid was faster than he had anticipated thanks to her recently finished teleporter. However, her presence wasn't the one that surprised him. It was the weapon she was wielding, a dual chain gun.

Hazama held his hat the moment he heard the click of a button and immediately summoned his chains.

He maneuvers himself, allowing himself to dodge bullets at the same time. The sound of buzzing bullets was right next to him as he maintained his distance and at the same time cover the gaps to move forward in order for Kokonoe to keep guessing where he positions himself. Hazama knew full well about how calculative Kokonoe is, but she wouldn't know if Hazama doesn't know himself.

"I got you now!" Kokonoe was prepared to exhaust all of her bullets the moment Hazama would be in her calculative spot.

"Well done!"

Kokonoe felt uneasy from the unexpected compliment. When her trail of bullets had begun to catch up to him and was about to hit their target until...

"!"

Hazama stopped to where Nine was.

Kokonoe dragged her chainguns upward, missing both her mother and the target.

"What's wrong? I thought you had me?"

Hazama then throws his chain toward Kokonoe but heard the noise of electricity, he looked behind him and saw a ball made out of electricity flying towards him.

"Huh?! Tager?!"

The chain that was a target for Kokonoe stopped at its place and he slingshotted himself in order to not get hit, "I should have known that she came here with friends!" He landed on his two feet surprised. "I don't have time for thi-" His dialogue was immediately cut off when a kick made contact with his nape and struck him down to the ground.

"Hazama! Your vile act towards the princess cannot go unnoticed!"

Valkenhayn made sure he wouldn't escape. He tangled the chains from his drive to his leg and pulled him in.

"You?! I didn't even do anything to her!"

Whilst Hazama was flying towards him from being reeled in. Hazama then creates energy within his palm and grabs his butterfly knives. While trails of snakes fly around his arms.

"Devouring fang!"

Hazama used the momentum of being pulled in as a way to increase the output of his attack. He grazes the ground as he tries to precisely aim where to fatally wound Valkenhayn with a single slash.

"The princess dislikes Ragna being injured and you harmed him."

Once Valkenhayn had entered Hazama's range, he attacked but the butler easily deflected the attack and kicked away his knife the moment the snake trails disappeared after disarming Hazama, he sees that there were multiple knives thrown at him. This forced Valkenhayn to keep his guard up to defend himself, allowing Hazama to quickly slither away.

"Seems to be a rescue mission..." He whispers, "Wait, why do you make it sound like Ragna is the vampire's property?" A moment of confusion after processing Valkenhayn's words was met with another kick to the face. Kokonoe then presses her remote to which multiple magnets appear out of thin air. They were all dragging Hazama towards Valkenhayn, giving him little time to do anything.

Hazama's senses were all over the place. He had no time to think due to the pressure he was being put on by multiple people in the field. Just as he was going to devise a plan for an escape, he heard sparking electricity.

"C-crap!"

Hazama had forgotten that Tager was also on the playing field. He had placed his entire focus on Valkenhayn because his abilities forced him to be on guard, especially reacting to attacks that seemed almost unblockable due to how fast they are because of Kokonoe's magnetic support.

"Sparkbolt!"

"Wha-GAH!"

Hazama was spazzing uncontrollably, after being hit by a ball of electricity in his moment of vulnerability. Electricity had passed through his body in an instant, leaving him paralyzed.

Valkenhayn jumped and lunged toward the paralyzed Hazama and transformed his arm into a lycanite arm and punches Hazama, leaving dust to scatter violently due to the crushed concrete flying from the facility from the force done by the butler.

Once the dust cleared, it was revealed that Hazama blocked his attack, or so he thought. His hand was through the hole in his chest and was met with complete surprise. Everyone thought he had delivered a fatal blow but were all surprised as well.

"What is this...?"

"What? Haven't seen someone like this before?"

Hazama grabbed Valkenhayn's arm and stabbed his shoulder. He was supposed to aim for the head but the butler reacted fast enough to move his body. Hazama then kicks him away and unfurls his jacket, revealing a significant number of knives. He throws them all at once at terrifying speeds and takes off. Upon swinging, he already felt something coming toward him. He looks back and immediately blocked another one of Valkenhayn's attacks. He was astonished that someone that old still had the speed to deflect all of those knives in a short period of time.

While the two were fighting, Jubei arrived and hurriedly over to the exhausted mage, "Konoe, you alright?"

Nine looked at him annoyed and coughed out blood and spoke angrily, "Let me ask you: Do I look alright to you?"

"We got no time for that right now..."

"You can be irritating sometimes...especially waking me up after I was dreaming about walking on flowers..."

"No way I'm losin' you twice," Jubei calls out to Valkenhayn to summon the portal.

The butler palm-strikes Hazama to the abdomen, pushing him away, and uses this opportunity to summon a door and for everyone to pass through but unexpectedly, Jubei passes Nine to Tager.

"What foolish trick are you trying to pull?! We are here only to rescue Nine and leave!"

"Dad, we have to leave!"

"I heard ya! I'm just doing my daughter a favor!"

"This isn't good...you better have to make this quick," said Tager as he passes through the portal. Kokonoe tells him that she was going to come later but was dragged in by Tager, telling her that she isn't in their level of combat. She bites off the candy from her mouth and returns to the portal.

While the two suited figures were fighting, Hazama secretly brought out another ouroboros and zipped away from the fight in an attempt to infiltrate the lab of Kokonoe through the portal but the chains were suddenly sliced and Hazama rolls on the ground to recover. Jubei had effectively cut the chains quickly thanks to his beastkin spatial awareness, in addition to his refined swordsmanship skills. Hazama is fully aware that this cat was way faster in terms of both speed and reaction time and even has a better battle IQ. In a blink of an eye, he closes the distance between him and Hazama with both of their weapons clashing. Jubei uses his tails to cast fireballs and shakes a little to shed some fur, knowing that Hazama has an aggressive allergic reaction to cats.

"A-ACHOO! That was uncalled for!" He wipes off the discharge from his nose and his arms were pinned by his claws. Hazama could not even properly focus because of how violent his sneezes have become in such a short period of time, he couldn't even see due to how watery his eyes were as well. It was hell for Hazama. Jubei unsheathed his sword and without any hesitation, he swung his sword straight for his neck.

Hazama with his terrible allergy, sneezed violently on Jubei's face, covering the one-eyed lotus' face with slimy mucus. It both hindered his sight and even some went in his mouth. This caused the cat to recoil out of disgust and tries to spit out whatever went in his mouth. The gentleman tries to escape but Jubei threw his swords with his tails toward his coat, pinning his clothing to the ground.

The two heroes jumped towards him to deliver a decisive killing blow but then...

WHIFF!

What came in contact with their attack was the ground.

To their surprise, Hazama was gone in the blink of an eye. Jubei looks around and uses his sense of smell along with Valkenhayn. He was no longer in the area and really disappeared without a trace. They went towards the portal and decided to ask questions later.

Meanwhile in the palace after the fight...

"Ugh, I can't breathe..." Hazama was on the ground struggling to breathe after his nose was clogged with mucus.

"You look pathetic, Hazama."

"You were watching the whole thing? This isn't funny...why do I have such a strong allergic reaction to damn cats..."

He pulls out his handkerchief and blows into it full force while picking himself up. Upon facing the imperator, he sees out that she did not look too pleased.

"You were unable to kill one of them..."

"It's not my fault that they had an ungodly amount of resilience, but I did get something that would offer you a benefit..."

He throws out his Ouroboros towards her and she formed a barrier with ghastly ribcages. Just as she thought it was negated, it melted through her barrier and barely misses her. He then pulls it back with a grin on his face. "That thing you talked about held unimaginable strength. Nine was constructing it under our noses and recently obtained its properties. I was only able to steal a portion because this inherited ability is significantly inferior to Ragna's, yet with that portion, I'm able to pass through your defense." He chuckles, "So how do you feel about a false god's power being able to harm you? You might wanna have to up your game a little when you encounter Ragna." He turns around and walks away while putting on his hat and covering his nose to prevent the overflowing discharge from covering his mouth. Izanami then teleported to him in an attempt to kill him after his stunt, but he raised his finger up as a gesture that he doesn't feel like dying and also unknowingly to her, mocking her as well due to the fact he already knew that something like this would happen sometime later, "Sorry but I'm in no condition to fight. You may be a deity but your vessel is not. Contracting flu is the last thing you want and I believe It is best for me to stay back don't you think?" said Hazama as he lets out another vicious sneeze.

"You're arrogance will lead to your downfall. A person with such intelligence should know your place. Your feeble Nox Nyctores will never have an effect on me."

"No effect? I just went through your barrier! You're the one to talk to. Besides, we all know who's going after you first. Let's see if a deity like you can save yourself. You're using a mortal as a vessel anyways."

Izanami noticed a little change in Hazama. He has gotten more confident and a little more vocal. "You are slowly becoming him, Hazama. Don't tempt me into eradicating both of you..."

"Don't try lumping me with him. I have followed orders or at least do my best to follow unlike him. What is it that you want me to do, imperator?" All he got in return was a glare. "Well then, suit yourself." He shrugged.

Hazama walks away from the imperator and goes back into his office. He managed to cook some boiled eggs before leaving for his mission so he wouldn't have to do it once he arrived back. He sits down and perfectly removed the shell from the egg without having to peel it multiple times and then, he looked at his hand. He is then reminded that he was like the very egg he was holding, his entirety is nothing but a shell, void of a soul, void of emotions. He can feel himself physically but it felt...fake, but he already knew. He wants to know why exactly he was here other than just a vessel for Terumi. He laughs silently from thinking about Nine's hatred for him. He surely could see feel and see her angry and displeased expressions and it sure brought joy to the gentleman, something that allowed him to feel. He could feel satisfaction from an emotion he had sensed while stealing the creature's power. The feeling of hatred. Hazama wanted to see the dread in people's eyes and their pain. His intentions in doing so differ from Terumi's and wish to mock and play with his opponents while Terumi seeks out destruction and forces agony into his enemies. Perhaps they may be considered to be the two sides of the same coin. He leans on the chair with his foot on the table while playing with his butterfly knife upon thinking about the situation.

"Perhaps this is the possibility that was opened up for me. I have nobody to thank other than Ragna the Bloodedge." He turns on his classical music and proceeds with his feast which consisted only of boiled eggs.

Izanami could already feel something abnormal but it was so faint that it was incredibly difficult to identify where and who was it coming from. That's how well concealed their ability is. She figured it was Hazama testing waters with his newfound power but she kept her guard up. Despite their pledge of alliance, they still cannot be trusted but none of that concerns her because her attention was focused on the events that had happened with Hakumen not long ago. She immediately called upon Azrael for questioning.

"What do you want?"

"Tell me, how is it you manage to fail even after gaining a gift?"

"I got carried away when I had way too much fun with the hero until you dragged me out of it."

"Fun? Do you think this is a game? If you do not abide by what you have agreed on, then you would void the contract and that would also mean your inevitable disposal." Despite her threats, Azrael paid no mind. The imperator continued to question the Mad dog, "How were you able to locate Hakumen? His presence was well hidden all this time?"

"I didn't. I was just exercising until I saw him. It was an unexpected encounter, so I had to take the chance."

"If you dare lie through your teeth, your execution will not be merciful."

Azrael smiled. "Hoho. That ain't a lie...but think of it as you wish." He could feel a sharp tingle all over his body just from Izanami's powerful stare. "Oh, is that a challenge from a god? I would gladly accept your offer." The mad dog punches his fist in excitement.

"There is no need for your filthy hands to come in contact with me. You are only here to follow what I say, do you understand Mad Dog?"

"Sorry but I don't like obeying orders all the time." He stretched while looking at her with a provocative smile. "I'm sure you don't like being ordered around too..."

Azrael dashed towards Izanami at full force, releasing all of his limiters. "You paid me well and I will do what I was paid to do but I don't remember having to follow orders in my contract. See this as a form of gratitude, free of charge!"

Azrael was stuck when he stepped on something. It was from Izanami's minions. She stands up from her throne and looked at him grimly while walking toward him.

"Humans have domesticated wolves over a thousand years...however that would not mean that all dogs would be automatically be trained and disciplined, especially wild ones," she continues to speak while touching his chest seductively which annoyed Azrael, especially the random fact that he didn't need to hear at all but it all came together when he realized what she was doing.

She was treating him like her pet

"Owners must always discipline their mutts so they would obey their commands and cause unexpected trouble, and you have to be put in your place, Mad Dog. Discipline is moments away if you do not stand down."

Azrael broke free from the unknown restraint and attacked her.

"Can't you see? I'm declaring war on the gods!"

Izanami swiped his hand and slammed him down to the ground, fracturing some bones and nearly snapping his neck. She quickly dislocated his arms and legs before he could make a move. Azrael coughs out so much blood from a single move. "Declaring war on the gods? How silly of you. Has Terumi been offering lessons? You deserve a treat" She smiled and laughed with amusement, angering the mad dog while he was in pain. "Oh I'm sorry, that was your full power is it not? Disappointing." She grabbed his chest with her fingers penetrating his flesh and lifted him up.

The pain that Azrael was feeling.

It was arousing...

It was amazing...

It felt good...

Izanami was unaware of Azrael's masochistic tendencies after she had awakened something within him that she had not known.

The wounds that Azrael sustained from her attacks had healed. Her nails that were dug into his chest were pushed out and a violet aura was forming around the mad dog. His eyes glowing and his mouth foaming like a rabid dog.

"Oh?" Izanami was unimpressed but intrigued by this new transformation. She takes off her priestess-like regalia and summons magatama-like floaters to lift her feet in the air. She was ready for battle.

Azrael rushed towards her and paid no mind to the restraining magic she had cast upon him. She resorted to chains that held the undead altogether in the underworld but were destroyed at a moment's notice. She smirked seeing that he might have a useful purpose because those chains of hers were made from the souls of the damned. Destroying those would mean that the person holds a ridiculous feat.

Azrael comes into contact with Izanami's barrier. Something that was impossible for Ragna to pierce through if he didn't have death's essence. He was unleashing a flurry of attacks, all that was just of pure strength. No grimoires, no magic, no technology. Just brute force and it still boggles everyone that he could escape a different dimension with just that. The goddess of death yawned but saw something rather particular, her barrier was taking damage. A barrier that is supposed almost on par with the Tsukuyomi unit and he was damaging it with his fists.

"Interesting..."

Azrael roared and threw a punch that broke through her defenses. She had not anticipated that he would break her barrier that quick and was taken by surprise. He grabs her by the neck and tightens his grasp.

Izanami doesn't have the ability to sense evil like Terumi but she knows that Azrael was exuding malicious tendencies. The depravity of his rage was beyond even the black beast itself. He was no longer an animal but a truly monstrous entity instead. He tries to crush her neck but Izanami released herself from his grasp by stabbing his abdomen with her hand, but he returned the favor by doing the same thing by punching a hole in her stomach and breaking her spine.

She quickly figured out that if she delivers more damage to him, the more he will inflict in return. A risky but fitting ability for someone like Azrael.

"You can still stand up? But it looks like you seem to look troubled, Imperator. What is the matter?"

"You tainted my dress with my own blood? Unforgivable..."

Izanami's drive was riddling him with Magatama projectiles to which none were effective at all. He uses the arm which penetrated Izanami's stomach to slam her down to the ground, he then pins her by putting himself on top of her and pulling his arm. away, leaving a hole in her abdomen.

"Once I kill you, the other one is next!"

He delivers a flurry of attacks and believes that he was giving Izanami the beating of her life. Blood was spewing everywhere until his hands were all bloodied and swollen from punching her face excessively. He stopped for a moment to see the damage but then realized that her face immediately healed as if she was unscathed. Her expression was devoid of all emotion, unimpressed from Azrael's pathetic attempt to kill her. Azrael then grabs her neck which destroys the ground below them and began to hurl a never-ending streak of punches to a point that his fist began to bleed, mixing together with her very own.

This was confusing for Azrael, why is she not dead? He swore that he crushed her skull more than he could count. She just laid there and took it all. Despite growing extremely strong, she was still motionless, not even moving a single muscle to retaliate.

"Is this your true power?! You are pathetic!"

Izanami stops his punch and she didn't look happy.

"Maybe it is..."

Azrael uses her own grip against her and throws her like a ragdoll towards the wall, breaking a couple of pillars like it was nothing. He walks to her and picks her up by the hand.

"Is this all that you have to offer?"

"Are you done with your games, Mad Dog? This is boresome."

Izanami was still unimpressed. Her face was still devoid of all emotion and she yawned. She quickly falls asleep while being held by Azrael.

"Wha-?!" He throws her and tries to perform a lariat but his right arm was caught by her. His lariat was said to easily break bones even being blocked yet she stopped him without even breaking a sweat.

"Let go!"

Izanami closes her face to his.

"Is this all you have to offer? You seem to be the pathetic one here." This infuriated Azrael because she just used his own words against him.

Azrael tries to kick her off but he was held in place.

"I can't move! What the hell did you do to me?!"

"You are trapped that is all." She looks at the bleeding hole in her abdomen that was halfway to closing.

"I expect payment from you. For tainting my dress."

"Sure thing..."

A burst of energy comes out of Azrael, breaking everything that had held him in place.

"Black Hawk..."

"Come," said Izanami as she raised her chin.

"STINGER!"

"You have entertained me enough!"

One phrase was all she needed and so...

Time has stopped.

She floats to him and touches his chest.

"Time shall resume once again."

All of the force behind that swing had stopped entirely, before he knew it, his body took damage after stopping so suddenly at incredible speeds. He falls to one knee after sustaining so much damage. If she had not been careless, that attack would have caused plenty of stress to her vessel.

"Who are-no...what are you?"

"Do you see now?"

She forces him to stand up and places her hand where his heart is located.

She clenches her fist and pulls something out of Azrael, it was so sudden that he couldn't react in time. The mad dog falls to the ground, losing control of his entire body. He can't speak, he can't move, but he can still see. She lifts Azrael by the neck and lets her minions hold him.

"You see Azrael...I am not like the deities fabled in your religious tales." She shows him the orb of blue light to him. "This sphere is your soul. Now, would you like to die or would you like to live? Your choice." She giggles while cupping his chin seductively. "Oh that's right, you have chosen this fight with your own hands." She eats his soul and closes into his face. "You will now serve under me whether you like it or not..." She kisses him and pulls something right out of his mouth with her teeth.

It was the kiss of death.

What remained of Azrael's soul, she consumed it. She laughs maniacally and blows her hand towards the husk of Azrael...

But Suddenly, he was back to life...

"W-what the hell was that?!" He touches his mouth and wipes whatever foul taste she had in her mouth. It tasted like rotten flesh and something distasteful touched his tongue. His taste buds had fully engraved the taste of death and it did not seem to wear off right away.

"You are now to serve under me. Whether you like it or not.

"What did you do to me?!"

"You had a choice. A choice to simply follow orders yet you had to act all proud, believing that a borrowed power would aid you in defeating me. Laughable!"

She floats around him while seductively rubbing his chin.

"You are bound to me. Supposedly, this was a technique that was intended for Ragna. It seems that you may be the first to experience firsthand..."

"You think that will stop me?!"

Azrael compresses all of the power he had into his fist and unleashes hell on the goddess of death. The trails behind his punch even burned the air around him.

"Die!"

Once his fist made contact...

A smile was present on Izanami's face.

CRASH!

Air blows behind Izanami as she took the blow. When Azrael took a glimpse of where he had punched her, there was no damage. Not even a spec of dust was present.

"What?!"

Azrael slowly felt discomfort in his abdomen.

"Ugh, what the hell?"

A brief moment after he rubbed the source of his discomfort, he felt bones in his body shatter. He spits out blood and falls to his knees. He looked down at his own abdomen and sees that it was burned and he can tell that he just started multiple internal bleeding within his body.

The attack he delivered towards the goddess of death, it was him instead who received it.

He held his stomach tightly from the pain and convulsively twitches due to his muscles pulsing by themselves from the insane damage he took. Normally, he would stand up and savor the pain but this was no attack like no other. His punch was not only aimed to kill, it was aimed to obliterate everything. It was a miracle for him to survive thanks to his superhuman-like durability. While he was in a crumpled state, Izanami kicked his face and pinned him down with her foot. Just as Azrael was about to retaliate regardless of the pain, multiple skeletal hands protrude from the ground and held back his arms and legs.

"You bitch!"

"Finally, you have given me some entertainment. I do not sense it in you, impressive."

"Sense what?"

"The fear of death. No wonder why you were so pleased knowing that you had indulged yourself in a battle to the death. You were very willing to die just a moment ago. Unfortunately, the battle from the beginning was already a loss, to begin with..."

Azrael breaks through the multiple layers of bones that left him incapacitated. He was not done with her just yet.

"You have done enough tricks, Mad Dog."

Skeletal and ghostly figures crawl into Azrael, grabbing him all over, reassuring him that this time he cannot escape no matter what. He could hear the screams of agony and pain from the ghastly creatures but the Mad Dog paid no mind. Azrael gritted his teeth in rage. He was on a losing streak and he was not satisfied with what was going on.

"However, you have obtained a blessing. Killing you would be a waste." She leaves him to be while she summons a fog around him so that she could think about his purpose. The Mad Dog couldn't see a single thing because the fog created by her was no ordinary fog, not like the unclear vision that anyone could perceive inside a foggy location. He could not see at all, his vision was nothing but darkness as if he was completely blind. He then heard a peal of faint laughter from Izanami and it sounded like he was surrounding her.

"Interesting..." Grey ooze surrounds Azrael and covers his wounds. "Bare your fangs once more and there will never be next time."

The ooze had healed his wounds and Azrael had returned to full strength. He was shocked and confused. He couldn't fathom the events that had just occurred. He was silenced and he could no longer talk garbage about Izanami. He knew that he was no match and that further provocation would mean his demise. Not like he was afraid to die, moreover, he was completely infuriated that he would lose again and even realized that he was no match for her."

"Anything else to say, Azrael? Any signs of defiance, you will die a painful death. Understand?"

"Damn you..."

"What was that?"

"I said damn you! Healing me doesn't mean you have my loyalty!" He attempts to deliver another blow. "Punching harder would sure do the trick!"

"(Sighs) Are you excited to find a place to stay in the underworld?"

Azrael could suddenly feel the weight of multiple mountains on his shoulder. He fell and knelt down confused and struggling to keep himself balanced.

"W-what the hell?"

"I figured that you would not listen, so I had implanted a spell onto you if you happen to bare your fangs onto me once more. If you break free, you will die. Make your choice because you are just a tool for me. My older brother will make a fine replacement after you fulfill your purpose. Unless of course, if you please me." A dark smile on her face.

"Fuck you...w-wha-?! Shit!"

He slammed his own head to the ground.

"It's a shame. I thought you would accept my invitation. I will take my leave now." Izanami spins and her clothing and crown reappeared with her combat-related things disappearing simultaneously. The brief transformation replaced her tattered dress and even healed her wounds. She proceeds to mock Azrael once more and walks away. She looked back and faced in the direction where she felt like she was being watched. Izanami then threw her fan and it seemed to have destroyed a hidden glass frame. It was revealed that Terumi was watching the whole thing. She simply huffed and paid no mind.

After Izanami had left the room, Azrael was still fixated on his bowing position and cursed that he couldn't move. Izanami later lifted the restraints after some time. Azrael's resentment and rage were so blind that he didn't even sense Terumi in the air.

"How generous of you Imperator..."

Terumi was still observing his new changes. All the hate he could feel in this world was astounding. He laughs quietly in a maniacal fashion and he really couldn't help himself. With such powers as this, he cannot take things seriously anymore, but keeping the element of surprise is his specialty. He pulls down his hood and plays with his two butterfly knives. "If I piss off the black beast, would it work out for me? Does it even have emotions and just seeks destruction as much as I do? Perhaps I'll find out soon..."