Ash and Azra were an inseparable duo.
Ash carried an ordinary weapon, while Azra wielded a shield.
Even though both of them were ten times stronger than the average soldier, they always went on missions together.
"Are there really that many demons here that the soldiers couldn't handle them and had to call the Guardians?" Azra asked, clearly shaken.
She had never even wanted to become a Guardian in the first place.
"This doesn't look good," Ash said as they stepped out of the car and saw the fire.
Several houses were burning. Chaos was waiting for them.
They ran—and froze the moment they arrived.
Several soldiers lay on the ground.
But there were only two demons.
One of them looked like a human shadow. They recognized it immediately—they had killed that kind before.
The other looked far more human. A rotting human.
It seemed conscious. Strong.
Its blood-red eyes sent fear straight into their bones.
The shadow demon was feeding on a man while the other demon watched carefully.
Azra had never trembled like this before. Breathing felt impossible.
"C," Ash hissed in disgust.
He pulled out his strange sword and sliced his palm, letting his blood coat the blade.
Ordinary weapons were less effective against demons than Guardian weapons.
Ash didn't carry a Guardian weapon—but as a member of one of the Five Families, his blood allowed him to kill demons faster.
He charged at the demon that was feeding, sparks flying around him.
He couldn't cut off its head without killing the man too, so he severed one of its arms instead.
The demon let out a horrifying scream and dropped the man, turning on Ash.
It was stronger than usual—it had just fed.
Ash dodged carefully. He couldn't afford to be scratched; even a single wound would weaken him.
When he found an opening, he cut off the second arm.
Then the head.
"Azra!" he shouted when he saw the other demon slowly approaching her while she stood frozen.
His voice snapped her back to reality.
She pulled out her dagger and cut her palm.
"Drink," she said, smearing her blood across her shield.
Power surged through her body.
She looked at Ash and nodded—her ability was active. She was protecting them.
They attacked the demon at the same time, one from each side.
The demon swung at Azra with its right arm, but the strike had no effect.
It couldn't even touch her.
Azra laughed and drove her dagger into its heart with all her strength.
She lowered her guard, thinking it was over—but the demon grabbed her arm.
In that instant, Ash leaped forward and decapitated it.
"Are you okay?" He grabbed her arm, checking for injuries.
"Ah!" she exhaled in relief.
"That was way too close."
The next morning, during breakfast, they told Levi and Natasha everything.
"I knew demons like that existed," Azra said, still shaken. "But they've never appeared before."
She hadn't slept at all. That demon's face was burned into her mind.
"It was obvious it understood us," Ash added. "It was thinking. Watching the situation like it was planning something."
"I thought they were just a myth," Levi said after a moment.
"Why now?" he muttered, thinking out loud.
Natasha was confused too.
She didn't even believe in the original demon they were taught about.
If they existed—why hadn't they appeared before?
Breaking News: The Minister has passed away at the age of 41. Cause of death unknown.
"The Minister?" Ash said suspiciously when he heard the news on TV.
"That was sudden."
"I saw him a few days ago. He looked perfectly healthy," Azra added, confused.
Natasha showed no reaction.
She knew Levi was watching her.
He had already figured it out.
"So you're saying someone killed him?" Ash asked, resting his head in his palm as he looked at Azra.
"Do I really have to spell it out for you, idiot?" she snapped, shoving his hand so his head dropped.
Levi chuckled.
Natasha shot him a warning glare.
That was the moment she confirmed it for him.
He wanted to tell them it was her—but he couldn't betray her.
"That's not funny, man. I could've hit my head on the table," Ash said angrily, thinking Levi was laughing at him.
"Maybe then you'd finally get smarter," Natasha said, changing the subject.
Ash started to protest, but her phone rang.
"Office. Now," the President said the moment she answered, then hung up.
Something was wrong.
She didn't know if she was allowed to tell the others—but hiding anything from Levi was impossible.
"Levi," she said calmly, trying not to alarm the others.
He stood up immediately and went with her.
Too many suspicious things had happened in just a few days.
He was smart enough to know it wasn't a coincidence.
"Why did you kill him?" Levi asked flatly as they rushed toward the President.
She glanced at him before answering.
He looked detached. Like he wasn't going to judge her or lecture her.
"I don't know," she said honestly. "I wasn't given an explanation."
Levi frowned. He barely recognized her.
The look on his face irritated Natasha.
"See? That's why I do his jobs. Not you."
She wanted to hurt him.
And for a moment, she succeeded.
"I'd rather be unemployed than follow orders blindly, without questions or answers," Levi said, smiling proudly.
He no longer felt even a little bad that she had taken his place.
Levi only took orders from his father—and even then, only if he agreed with them.
Natasha felt humiliated. She slammed the door shut.
They walked quickly toward the office. Everything seemed normal.
"What is it?" she asked impatiently as she entered.
"Well…" the President began, standing up—but stopped when he saw his son with her.
"You really think you can hide something from me without me noticing?" Levi said, frustrated, stepping inside.
The President didn't like that tone—but he knew it was true.
"A girl tried to assassinate me last night," he said casually.
"I couldn't find out who she is. I want to know if you recognize her."
"What?" Levi shouted.
He was relieved it had failed—but furious.
"Is Mom okay?" He immediately thought of his mother.
"She's fine. Come."
He led them to another room.
Inside, a girl was tied to a chair.
She looked at Levi with pale blue eyes.
It took him a second to recognize her.
"Shit. I can't hit a girl," he muttered, rolling his eyes.
"But she can."
He stepped aside.
The girl's expression changed when she saw Natasha.
She was terrified.
Natasha smiled as she approached.
The girl squirmed, trying to escape.
One hard punch shut her up.
"Nat, ask questions first," Levi groaned, rubbing his forehead.
"Oh. Right," she said casually.
"Who are you?"
Silence.
She hit her again.
"I won't be gentle like the people who gave you those bruises," Natasha warned before leaving the room.
The President handed her sword back to her.
She returned.
"Go ahead. Kill me," the girl whispered.
"Who said I would?" Natasha asked, confused.
"Left-handed or right-handed?" she asked, stepping behind her.
The girl shivered.
"So I choose," Natasha said—and swung.
The girl screamed as her arm hit the floor.
Levi felt sick—but reminded himself she had tried to kill his father.
Demons were easy.
Humans weren't.
"You still have plenty of parts," Natasha said calmly.
"And I've got all day."
"Ana," the girl screamed. "Ana Hudson!"
That was enough.
Levi left the room.
Natasha stayed a little longer.
The surname sounded familiar—but she couldn't remember why.
"Please… kill me," Ana begged through tears.
Natasha did.
She didn't know why.
But she did.