I looked at him, his arm missing, both legs cut off. He was in agony, clenching his teeth as if trying to appear unaffected. But his bravado couldn’t hide the reality—he was defeated, completely at my mercy.

We had managed to bring down Zero, one of the main leaders within Perdere.

His mask still covered most of his face, concealing his features except for his eyes, which were burning with anger, the whites slowly filling with red. His mouth, once twisted into that overconfident smirk, was now frozen in a grim, emotionless line.

“If you kill me… you will never survive. M-My brothers… they’ll kill you with their eyes closed,” Zero finally muttered, his voice strained, as I held his gaze, unmoving.

I thought carefully about my next words as I watched the blood draining from his body. If I stood here long enough, he would die within minutes. The steady loss was already taking a visible toll, sapping his strength and his defiance.

Without replying, I turned to Amelia. “Can you freeze his wounds? Stop the bleeding, so he doesn’t die too quickly. There’s a conversation I need to have with him first.”

My words sent a shiver through Amelia; she clearly sensed the nature of this “conversation” I intended to have. This wouldn’t be a casual interrogation. I was determined to get answers—and I wouldn’t accept a simple “no.”

Amelia approached, hesitant but efficient, freezing the blood flow around Zero’s wounds. As I neared him, I could feel his weakening aura, his breath ragged and shallow.

“How about we start this talk by removing that mask of yours?” I said with a smirk, reaching for the black mask covering his face.

I tugged at the mask slowly, savoring the moment. I wanted to see every detail of his face. First, his sharp jawline emerged, pale as death. His teeth, which I’d already glimpsed, were pristine and white. Then, as I pulled the mask further, his features emerged, one by one. His skin was flawless, a reflection of the divinity that ran in his blood as a son of the Demon King.

When the mask was fully off, I saw it: his look of pure hatred. Far from intimidating me, his glare only fueled my satisfaction. Here was a demon, stripped of his power, a powerful creature brought low. If I wanted to, I could end it all with a single swing, severing his head from his body.

“What’s your real name, Zero?” I asked, enjoying the defiance flickering in his eyes.

For a moment, I considered severing his remaining arm, but I decided against it. He was no longer a threat.

“You think I’m going to tell you?” he sneered, spitting on the ground at my feet.

“Hm…” I looked down, noting the spit. “You know, it’s not polite to spit on someone else’s shoes.”

Clack!

I slapped him hard across the face, leaving a sharp, red imprint of my hand. The sight brought a twisted satisfaction.

“Apologize,” I commanded.

He only glared, lips curled in a mocking smile.

Clack!

Another slap echoed in the air.

“Apologize,” I repeated.

A thin trickle of blood began to seep from his mouth, the metallic tang visible on his bruised lips.

“Apologize.” My voice was cold, unyielding.

He stayed silent, defiant to the last. So, I kept going, striking him again and again, each slap stripping away his arrogance. His face was now a canvas of bruises, his lips split and swollen. By the end of it, he was barely recognizable, his features distorted beyond recognition, his pride battered along with his flesh.

Finally, his voice broke. “I-I’m sorry… please don’t hit me anymore.”

His voice was trembling, the fear unmistakable.

Had I broken him? Perhaps. But a trace of defiance remained, buried beneath layers of fresh pain, only barely masked by fear.

“Tell me about Perdere. Who’s the leader?”

He chuckled weakly, though his smirk barely held. “My father.”

‘The Demon King,’ I realized, my frown deepening. ‘But how could he be involved in events on Earth? It doesn’t add up.’

I kept my tone steady. “And what’s your role, along with your brothers and sisters?”

“To execute his orders.”

I nodded, the answer aligning with my suspicions. The Demon King couldn’t interfere directly, so he was using his children to enact his will on Earth.

“The seven-year war against the demons… what was its true purpose?” I asked, already dreading the answer I anticipated.

A twisted smile crossed his battered lips, now tinged blue. “A distraction. That’s all it was,” he chuckled, wincing as the movement agitated his wounds. “You’ll never win against my father. Why not save yourself the struggle? Join us, and your life would be so much simpler.”

I let him speak, his taunts sliding off me like rain. His arrogance hadn’t waned despite his pitiful state.

“If you thought I was powerful…” he sneered, his bloody mouth twisting in dark amusement. “Then good luck against my brothers and sisters. You’re already fighting a losing battle. We have the Demon King on our side. And tell me—have you seen a single god try to help you? No? Pitiful humans, left on your own.”

He wasn’t wrong. While the Demon King lent his strength to his own, there had been no divine intervention on our side. I had never once heard of a demigod or god aiding our cause.

“Tell me the identities of your siblings. And their locations,” I demanded, cold and unwavering.

He looked at me, that mocking light still dancing in his eyes. It was clear he enjoyed toying with me, even now. But that light couldn’t conceal the fear beneath it, fear of the pain I could still inflict. He knew, without a doubt, that I would not hesitate.

“You really think I’ll tell you?” he spat, his voice hoarse.

“You’re running out of options,” I replied calmly, giving him a moment to consider the weight of his situation. “And frankly, your cooperation is the only thing keeping you alive.”

For a moment, a flicker of fear appeared in his eyes, mingling with the rage and hate. I could see him wrestling with the decision, his jaw clenching and unclenching as he weighed his words carefully.

“Fine…” he muttered, his voice barely audible. “But don’t think it’ll help you. You’ll regret this, Caedrel. Every last word I give you will only seal your fate.”

I ignored his empty threats, leaning in close, my patience wearing thin. “Names. Now.”

His voice was broken, his words coming out in ragged gasps. But I knew this moment was pivotal, that each piece of information he provided would be a weapon in this war—a war now clearer, more personal, and far deadlier than I had ever realized.

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