Break in to the demon realm

The day of the full moon arrived far quicker than Leon expected. He hadn’t given much thought to Hannah’s warnings, yet his decision was already made. After all, this was about Hanz—the man who had taught him how to maximize his Kantar efficiency, the man who never once looked at him like a monster after the others learned of Atreus’ death.

But this wasn’t that same man. This was still the boy Hanz. A boy destined to grow into the mentor Leon knew, yet still vulnerable enough to be in danger now.

In the days leading up to the full moon, Leon spent his time preparing. His supplies were simple—mostly pills to suppress his demonic curse. Weapons were unnecessary. His kantar technique allowed him to manifest anything he could imagine, each construct dissolving into dust once the battle ended.

Two hours before moonrise, Leon had already dressed for the mission. His long black leather coat swayed around his frame, matched with fingerless gloves and baggy blue jeans. Unlike his usual white shirt, he wore a black turtleneck beneath the coat—an almost funereal look.

Page, his elder sister, glanced at him suspiciously as she grabbed her bag for work. “You didn’t mention having a mission today.”

Leon smirked casually. “Yeah, I didn’t tell you beforehand. It just came up. New client’s got a gig for me two towns over—something about retrieving a hard drive from a crime boss. Sounds like a bunch of technical stuff I don’t fully understand, but it’ll probably take a few days.”

Page eyed him carefully but let it slide. Leon wasn’t just anyone—he was one of the heroes who had defeated Shun, the corrupted celestial. No normal human, and few kantar users besides Shu or Hannah, could rival him.

“Alright,” she sighed, snatching her car keys from the table. “Good luck with your mission. And remember—no using demon powers.” She opened the door, stepping out with a final smile. “Love you, little bro. Come home soon.”

The door shut, leaving Leon alone.

Leaning back into the couch, he muttered, “I’ve gotten too good at lying. Even my own sister can’t tell anymore.” He exhaled slowly. “Anyway… time to track Shu’s or Hannah’s kantar signature so I can teleport to them.”

Closing his crimson eyes, Leon focused. Minutes passed in strained silence. His senses stretched far, but frustration soon gripped him. “Damn it… I’m not Shu. He’s the best at sensory techniques. And I’m trying to find two people who excel at suppressing their signatures… borderline impossible.”

Then a thought struck him. Tobi.

Tobi had always struggled with kantar control—from using it as fuel for his techniques to even the basics like sensing others. Compared to Shu or Hannah, Tobi’s presence burned brighter, harder to hide.

Leon’s lips curled. “No way Tobi isn’t trying to save Hanz. If I track him, I’ll find them.”

Locking onto the faint but distinctive pulse of Tobi’s kantar, Leon vanished in a shimmer of crimson particles—reappearing directly behind him.

Tobi reacted instantly. His arm flared with blue flames as he delivered a full-powered punch to Leon’s torso. The impact hurled Leon backward, smashing him into a temple wall before he collapsed onto the dusty floor.

Groaning, Leon rose and brushed himself off, a grin tugging at his lips. “What’s up, Tobi? Long time no see. You hit harder than before.”

Tobi froze, eyes narrowing as recognition set in. His scowl twisted with hatred. “I would’ve punched harder if I knew it was you.”

Leon chuckled inwardly. So Hannah didn’t tell them. Refreshing.

He glanced around the temple—ancient stone walls draped in moss, cracks fresh from recent battles. Then his gaze returned to Tobi. “Where’s Shu? Hannah?”

Tobi’s glare only sharpened. “They’ll be back soon enough… though I doubt you’ll still be around.”

In a blur of motion, Tobi lunged, fists ablaze with kantar flames. Leon slipped through the barrage, speaking calmly between dodges. “I’m not here to fight you. I’m on your side—at least for now.”

But Tobi didn’t listen. Rage consumed him. This was the man who killed Hannah’s brother. Nothing else mattered.

He’s still faster, Tobi thought bitterly, pushing harder. His irises flared red as his kantar ignited into an uppercut to Leon’s chin, followed by a brutal punch to the gut. Blood splattered from Leon’s lips as he staggered back.

Before Leon could recover, Tobi conjured five blazing fireballs, hurling them with explosive force. They erupted across Leon’s body in violent bursts.

Smoke engulfed the chamber. When it cleared, Leon stood tall, his coat smoldering slightly. Apart from his bleeding mouth, he was unharmed.

Wiping the blood with his sleeve, Leon smirked. “Stronger, huh? Got your vampire powers under control now too. If I hadn’t made a barrier at the last second, I’d be toast.”

Tobi didn’t respond. Instead, he forged a burning chain, wrapping it around Leon’s arm. The heat scorched his flesh as Tobi yanked him forward. Another flaming uppercut crashed into Leon’s chin, launching him skyward.

But before Tobi could reel him back, pain lanced across his back. He whirled around to see another Leon, kantar dagger in hand. The chain binding Leon’s arm shattered.

Smirking, Leon explained, “Kantar double. Picked it up from a certain masked client—never paid me, but the trick was worth it.”

In a blur, the real Leon appeared above Tobi, driving him into the ground with crushing force. The temple floor shattered, leaving a massive crater.

Tobi lay unconscious, his healing factor barely keeping him alive.

Looking down, Leon muttered, “You’ve grown astronomically stronger, Tobi. But I still have the edge—experience, versatility. Before I slammed you down, I struck a pressure point to knock you out. The crater was just insurance.”

Meanwhile, in the Celestial Realm…

Shu and Hannah searched through the endless archives of the celestial library. Shu groaned, tossing aside another tome. “Nothing. No info on where the Demon Slayer Blade is.”

Hannah, still engrossed in her book, suddenly froze. “Wait… after you defeated Shun, we gave you Enkairadion weapons. Your staff evolved into its true form. We gave Tobi the Gauntlets of Cerberus, and…”

Shu’s eyes widened. “And Leon… you gave Leon the Demon Slayer Blade.”

They exchanged a knowing glance before vanishing, reappearing at the temple—only to find Tobi unconscious and Leon casually twirling a kantar construct.

Leon rose lazily. “Not what it looks like. He attacked me first.”

Hannah smirked faintly. “So you came after all. Half-expected you not to.”

Shu’s voice was flat. “After we save Hanz, we settle the score.”

Leon simply nodded. His smirk returned, softer this time. “I owe Hanz too much. Saving his younger self’s butt is the least I can do.” His expression darkened slightly. “So… how do we enter the Demon Realm?”

Hannah answered, calm as ever. “When the moon rises, you’ll use the Demon Slayer Blade in its true form. Pour Kantar into it and slice the air. That will open the way.”

Leon shrugged and sat back down. “Half an hour, then.”

In the Demon Realm…

Hanz’s body had withered—starved, dehydrated, frail. He could no longer sustain his Kantar realm for long. Hallucinations of Hannah and the others rescuing him haunted him, but every time he awoke in the same damp cell, hope eroded further.

When the cell door creaked open, his heart leapt—only to sink when two demon guards entered. One sneered in a guttural voice. “The time of your death has arrived. Consider this… mercy.”

Too weak to resist, Hanz let them drag him through the castle to the highest tower. There, they bound him to an altar.

The Demon Lords assembled, their presence suffocating. Marcel stood at their side. As the full moon rose, glowing kantar glyphs spread across their hands.

Realization struck Hanz. They want to turn me into a puppet… like my brother.

Resigned, he closed his eyes. Would he remain conscious, trapped inside his own flesh? Or would his mind fade into nothing?

Seconds passed. Then minutes. Nothing.

When he opened his eyes, a figure stood before him—a man he didn’t recognize.

Clad in a long black leather coat and fingerless gloves, a massive greatsword rested against his shoulder. Smoke curled from the pistol in his left hand, aimed at one of the Demon Lords he had just shot.

The stranger’s lips twisted into a smirk.

“So, you’re the mighty Demon Lords, huh? Honestly… you look like a bunch of edgy emo teens playing dress-up.”