Nearly a year had passed since the crisis in Heaven.

  The Purge had been suspended.

  Not out of mercy.

  But because Heaven needed time to restructure…

  To reorganize ranks…

  To replace those who had failed.

  Inside the cold white hall of Heaven, a voice echoed.

  “The Purge operation will resume in two days.”

  A nearby angel chuckled.

  “Finally. It’s been a whole year.”

  Another angel asked:

  “You missed the killing that much?”

  The first one shrugged.

  “It’s not about missing it.”

  “Order simply needs to be maintained.”

  Another voice spoke.

  “Who is commanding this operation?”

  The answer came immediately.

  “Dai Shireikan… Albedon.”

  Silence fell across the hall.

  No one objected.

  That name alone carried enough weight.

  In Hell.

  Four figures stood around a cracked black stone.

  Ren crossed his arms.

  “Listen up.”

  Aoyama frowned.

  “Say it quick. I’m not here for philosophy.”

  Ren smirked.

  “This time, the angels will descend with a Dai Shireikan leading them.”

  MISAKI folded her arms.

  “So?”

  Ren stepped forward.

  “We kill him.”

  Silence filled the air for several seconds.

  Aoyama burst out laughing.

  “Are you serious?”

  Ren’s expression didn’t change.

  “When the angel army lands, I’ll drag their frontline into a prepared zone.”

  Takamiya asked:

  “And then?”

  Ren replied calmly.

  “Albedon will descend personally once he sees the chaos.”

  “He’s not the type who commands from afar.”

  MISAKI narrowed her eyes.

  “You sure about that?”

  “I am.”

  Aoyama crossed his arms.

  “And if we kill him?”

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  “What do we gain?”

  Ren looked straight at him.

  “There’s a noble who placed a bounty on a Dai Shireikan’s head.”

  Aoyama went silent.

  “How much?”

  Ren answered.

  “Enough to erase your massive debt.”

  Aoyama grinned.

  “Now that… sounds interesting.”

  MISAKI sighed.

  “Killing a Dai Shireikan won’t be easy.”

  Ren nodded.

  “That’s why we’re not fighting the whole army.”

  “We’re only killing him.”

  Takamiya asked.

  “What’s the plan?”

  Ren glanced at the ground.

  “I’ve been carving a formation beneath this area for months.”

  “The moment he steps onto the center… the barrier will activate.”

  MISAKI asked:

  “Only him?”

  “Only him.”

  Aoyama shrugged.

  “Fine.”

  “I’m in.”

  Takamiya nodded.

  “As long as there’s a real fight.”

  Ren looked at all three of them.

  “Remember your positions.”

  “One wrong step…”

  “You die.”

  Two days later.

  The sky of Hell was torn open.

  The Gate of Heaven appeared.

  Ten thousand angels descended in perfect formation.

  Ren stood at the front.

  “Prepare.”

  The moment the vanguard lowered—

  The ground exploded.

  Black chains burst from beneath the earth.

  Dozens of angels were dragged down and slammed into the ground.

  “Counterattack!”

  The angel army quickly stabilized their formation.

  But Ren didn’t care.

  He was waiting.

  One year.

  An entire year carving every single rune beneath this battlefield.

  All for one moment.

  To drag one man into the trap.

  Suddenly—

  An overwhelming pressure descended.

  The air froze.

  Albedon landed.

  The moment his foot touched the ground—

  The atmosphere grew heavy.

  Even nearby angels unconsciously stepped back.

  Not because of the enemy.

  But because of their own commander’s pressure.

  Albedon looked around at the fallen bodies.

  “How pathetic.”

  His gaze stopped at Ren.

  “You did this?”

  Ren answered.

  “I dragged you here.”

  Albedon vanished.

  BOOM.

  His fist crashed down where Ren had stood.

  But Ren had already stepped back—

  Exactly half a step.

  Albedon’s foot landed directly on the ancient rune carved into the ground.

  Ren slammed his staff down.

  One year.

  One year waiting for this exact moment.

  “Lock.”

  A black circle erupted.

  Thirty meters wide.

  Ancient runes ignited.

  The barrier closed.

  Angels outside rushed forward.

  But the moment they touched it—

  Their magic was repelled.

  “Break it!”

  They attacked relentlessly.

  The barrier trembled violently.

  But it did not break.

  Inside the barrier.

  Albedon looked around.

  His eyes scanned the ancient runes beneath his feet.

  “You separated me from my army?”

  Ren replied.

  “Yes.”

  Takamiya rushed forward with a kick.

  Albedon blocked.

  The collision exploded the air.

  MISAKI and Aoyama attacked simultaneously.

  Three directions.

  Three strikes.

  Albedon dodged two.

  Blocked one.

  “You think that’s enough?”

  He waved his arm.

  Divine power swept across the area.

  MISAKI slid back.

  Aoyama skidded across the ground.

  Ren remained standing.

  Albedon looked at him.

  “You haven’t attacked.”

  Ren replied.

  “Not yet.”

  Takamiya drew two swords.

  He grinned.

  “Haven’t used this in a while.”

  Then—

  He stabbed both blades directly into his own chest.

  Blood sprayed everywhere.

  But Takamiya didn’t fall.

  Albedon paused for half a second.

  Dark energy erupted from Takamiya’s body.

  Black currents flowed into the ground…

  Connecting to every rune in the formation.

  Ren spoke.

  “Phase two.”

  Outside the barrier.

  The ground trembled.

  Cracks spread across the battlefield.

  From the darkness below—

  The souls of those who had been purged began to rise.

  Tens of thousands of vengeful spirits crawled out of the earth.

  Twisted bodies.

  Shattered forms.

  Marked by the massacres they had suffered.

  Their screams filled the sky of Hell.

  They couldn’t enter the barrier.

  But they surrounded it.

  Their hateful gaze fixed on the angel army above.

  Their resentment gathered like a storm.

  The pressure inside the barrier began to rise.

  Albedon frowned.

  “You’re using vengeful spirits as fuel?”

  Ren nodded.

  “It won’t kill you instantly.”

  “But it will wear you down.”

  Albedon’s divine power began to drain—

  Slowly.

  But constantly.

  Ren added quietly.

  “Out there… they’re killing your army.”

  Albedon stepped forward.

  Black spikes erupted from the ground.

  He shattered them all.

  Then—

  A black chain pierced through his shoulder.

  Angelic blood fell onto the ground.

  Silence.

  Half a second later—

  Albedon laughed.

  “Now this is finally interesting.”

  He charged at Ren.

  His fist came down.

  Ren blocked with his staff.

  The collision shook the barrier.

  Outside, the angels attacked even more fiercely.

  Ren whispered.

  “They’re not getting in.”

  Takamiya roared.

  MISAKI dashed forward.

  Aoyama descended from above.

  One against four.

  Albedon blocked three attacks—

  But MISAKI’s blade sliced across his side.

  More angel blood spilled.

  His eyes changed.

  Ren stared at him.

  “You stepped into the trap the moment your foot touched the ground.”

  The vengeful spirits screamed.

  The pressure kept rising.

  Albedon clenched his fist.

  Divine power exploded.

  All four were blown backward.

  A small crack appeared on the barrier.

  The angels outside saw it.

  They poured in all their power.

  Ren stood up, leaning on his staff.

  Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.

  Yet he still smiled.

  “Not enough.”

  The runes beneath the ground ignited another layer.

  Takamiya released even more dark energy.

  MISAKI and Aoyama returned to position.

  Albedon looked at the four of them.

  “You truly intend to kill me?”

  Ren answered.

  “I’ve waited an entire year for this moment.”

  Outside — war.

  Inside — a trap.

  And this time—

  The Dai Shireikan was no longer the hunter.

  The battle of one versus four…

  Had officially begun.