The old Kosak and his son noticed the incoming arrows almost immediately. The killing intent contained within them was so dense it distorted the surrounding air, leaving dark ripples in space as they tore through the blizzard.

Both demons abandoned their advance without hesitation. Whatever plans they had for Damian no longer mattered. Survival came first. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Ice Authority: Guardian!"

The elder’s voice boomed across the battlefield.

The frozen world responded instantly.

Massive sculptures of ice erupted from thin air around both father and son as though reality itself had answered their command.

Towering figures resembling ancient warriors emerged from the blizzard, their forms crystalline and flawless. The ice guardians crossed their arms before the two Kosaks and then folded inward, sealing them within layers upon layers of compressed frost.

The arrows struck moments later.

BOOOOOOOOOM!

The explosion shook the entire false world.

Dark purple energy erupted outward like a collapsing star, forming a violent vortex that devoured everything nearby. Frost, snow, and debris vanished into the swirling destruction as shockwaves spread through the blizzard.

Cracks immediately spread across the giant ice sculptures and the structures groaned loudly. Fragments splintered off their surfaces and vanished into the vortex.

Yet they endured.

Within the frozen shell, Kan and Kor stood with narrowed eyes as their defensive art strained against the overwhelming force.

Meanwhile, the four cloaked figures found themselves in an equally dangerous situation.

The white flames continued surging outward after Damian’s attack, swallowing entire sections of the battlefield.

Without hesitation, all four unleashed their demonic force simultaneously. Dark crimson energy exploded around them, forming layered shells of protection.

The white flames slammed against those barriers repeatedly.

Gah!

Damian could hear pained grunts and frustrated curses carried by the storm. Yet despite the pressure, he sensed no serious injuries.

Everyone was struggling but every one of them remained fully capable of fighting.

That realization surprised him.

This was no longer another battle where overwhelming force alone would decide the outcome.

These opponents were different.

Damian leaned slightly upon his throne. Then, for the first time since the battle began, he chose not to press the attack.

The flames gradually withdrew and the pressure vanished. The battlefield slowly settled.

The struggling demons blinked in confusion. The sudden cessation of violence caught them completely off guard.

Even Kan looked suspicious.

The giant ice sculpture finally shattered apart. Thousands of crystalline fragments exploded outward before dissolving into mist.

Kan and Kor dropped lightly onto the frozen ground. The four cloaked figures immediately regrouped behind them.

Within moments, all six stood together. Four silent figures concealed beneath dark cloaks with the two Kosaks standing at the front.

The crimson glow beneath the assassins’ hoods burned brightly within the darkness. Their eyes never left Damian and neither side moved.

The blizzard continued raging around them while Rin loomed in the distance like a mountain of black and violet fur.

Finally, the elder Kosak broke the silence.

"What is the meaning of this?!"

His voice carried irritation and suspicion. The old demon clearly expected another attack.

Before Damian could answer, a deep growl suddenly shook the battlefield.

Grrrrrrr!

The sound rolled across the frozen world like thunder. All six demigods instinctively turned. Behind them stood Rin.

The enormous fox towered over the battlefield. Seven massive tails danced violently behind him. His violet eyes glowed with open hostility.

Every exhale from his nostrils released torrents of heat that turned nearby snow into steam.

The six assassins visibly tense, they had forgotten about the giant fox standing behind them.

Damian watched their reactions and scoffed.

"Old men have always been rude. There is no need to overreact."

The elder Kosak’s face twitched.

Rin looked moments away from biting somebody’s head off. The combination created a strangely absurd scene.

Damian rested his cheek upon his palm. His throne floated comfortably in midair while the six-handed Asura avatar loomed behind him like a divine executioner.

"So..."

His gaze drifted across each face one after another.

"If we are going to kill each other, don’t you think we should at least know each other’s names?"

His tone sounded almost friendly as though they were discussing business instead of attempting mutual murder.

The six demons exchanged brief glances. None of them responded. After experiencing Damian’s power firsthand, their eagerness to charge recklessly had noticeably diminished.

That did not mean they trusted him. Nor did it mean they intended to cooperate. Six pairs of hostile eyes remained fixed upon him.

Damian sighed dramatically.

"You know..."

His gaze settled upon Kan.

"My wives could easily rip your daughter’s head off if they ever feel like I’m being disrespected."

The atmosphere froze.

Every expression on the opposing side changed immediately.

"I believe it is in your best interest to answer my questions."

Almost as if responding to his words, three immense presences suddenly surged from the protected mansion below.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The pressure swept across the battlefield and the false world trembled.

The assassins visibly stiffened. Even the cloaked figures shifted uneasily. The message was clear. Damian was not bluffing.

"You vile scum!" Kor exploded with rage.

The younger Kosak’s face twisted with fury. His hands clenched tightly only for Damian to burst into loud laughter.

"A demon calling a human vile?"

He laughed harder.

"That’s hilarious!"

The sound echoed through the battlefield. Even Rin looked amused.

The six assassins could only watch as Damian laughed at them openly.

Eventually the laughter faded and Damian wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. His smile remained, yet beneath that smile, his gaze had become much sharper because he had noticed something interesting.

The four cloaked figures remained silent. For people supposedly assisting in a rescue mission, their behavior felt strange.

If they were merely hired assassins, they would have continued attacking. If they were mercenaries, they would care only about completing the mission.

Instead, every one of them appeared strangely concerned about Rah. As though her survival mattered personally. That alone made Damian suspicious.

"Are you going to talk?"

His smile widened.

"Or do I have to ask my wives to treat your daughter with love and kindness?"

The threat landed perfectly.

Immediately, Kan raised his hand.

"Wait."

The old demon’s voice had lost much of its previous confidence.

"Young Prince, it hasn’t gotten to that."

Damian shrugged.

"Then start speaking."

Kan exhaled heavily.

The old patriarch stepped forward several paces. Then, to everyone’s surprise, he lowered his head respectfully.

The gesture visibly pained him yet he performed it anyway.

"I am Kan, Patriarch of the Kosak Tribe, Marquis of the Underworld."

He gestured toward his son.

"This is my son Kor."

His jaw tightened.

"And we have come to rescue my daughter."

The embarrassment radiating from him was almost tangible. Damian smiled pleasantly.

"There."

He nodded.

"That wasn’t so hard, was it?"

His third eye glowed brighter and Damian casually raised a finger. It pointed directly toward the four cloaked figures.

The smile on his face became significantly more dangerous.

"Who are they?"

Kan froze. The old patriarch’s expression changed instantly.

He glanced toward the cloaked figures, then back toward Damian, then toward the cloaked figures again. Yet he remained silent.

That hesitation told Damian everything he needed to know. His eyes widened slightly and a sinister grin slowly spread across his face.

The realization was delicious. These four individuals were important. Perhaps even more important than Rah and the Kosak royalty.

"What do we have here?"

Damian leaned forward slightly upon his throne. The excitement in his eyes became impossible to hide.

Behinde them, Rin’s massive fox eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"Your suspicion may be right."

Even Rin could feel it now. The four silent figures had become far more interesting than the rescue mission itself.

And judging by the way Kan suddenly looked uncomfortable, whatever identities those cloaks concealed were secrets worth killing to protect.