The creature rose from its chair, unfurling its long, lanky limbs as it grabbed hold of the casino's machine to help itself up from its seat. Its skinny but large hands dug deep into the metal, causing it to scream from stress as it ripped apart. Asura watched, paralyzed by the unnatural sight of its movement. Its limbs and body moved like a marionette, with a master pulling at its limbs as if it had no control over its own body.

As it stood at its full height, the creature's crown of horns nearly touched the ceiling, causing it to tilt its head slightly. The ogre did not realize the actual size of the raggedy black trench coat it wore until it stretched out before him. The coat was almost a dress on the figure, a shadow seeming tangible as it extended to the floor.

The figure twitched unnaturally as it stared at the ogre with its empty face, its muscles spasming uncontrollably. Asura's eyes widened at the surreal sight, his instincts warning him that the creature was unreal. No scent drifted from its horrific body, and no noise emitted as it moved. It remained completely silent unless it engaged with an object.

It felt like he was staring at a visual void in reality, an existence that the world tried to erase but could not. The creature's words echoed in Asura's ears as he stared at the polished marble face empty of features. "Mr. Smiles, " he thought while frozen before it. The ironic name contrasting its appearance left him curious about why the creature chose such a title.

Before he could ask, a female voice roared out in rage behind him.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

Asura's eyes widened as he processed its familiar tone. It was Mel. He tried to turn to warn her about the creature, but his voice fell short, and a shot rang out without warning. The loud bang echoed throughout the casino. Asura expected an uproar, believing the people on the machines would race out in terror after realizing what was taking place.

Yet, the crowd stayed, leaving Asura momentarily puzzled. He furrowed his brow, but he couldn't linger on his confusion for long. Another gunshot echoed, drawing his gaze to Mel, who held a large shotgun firmly in her grip. Her face was filled with a rage he hadn't seen since he arrived in this realm.

It was the expression she wore when he took the kids to the cathedral after their kidnapping. A face contorted in rage, marked by deep lines and a tightly clenched jaw. Her face twitched as she forced her muscles to stay tense.

Normally, the Paladin would have cast an incantation to strengthen her attack, but her rage blinded Mel as he walked toward the creature. The large silver shotgun engraved with the depiction of roses along its barrel was shoved deep into her shoulder. Her unruly holy mana flared dramatically, erupting in vibrant amber flames from the engravings and barrel as she fired.

Asura expected one shot or two before she rested the gun at her side, but his eyes lingered on a large drum magazine resting underneath the shotgun's body. Having seen countless shows, he realized that no one armed with such a gun would fire only a single shot.

Mel fired rapidly, drilling round after round into the creature without considering whether it was necessary. Where the shell would usually eject from the gun, fire exploded out in its place as if excess mana was being released. Its ejection port flashed open dozens of times before Asura realized she had no intention of stopping.

The heat was immense as the flames spewed out as the holy mana torched the air around her. Mel's furious expression lit up as each shot burst into amber flames, making her look like an action movie star working a shot.

Asura was left in awe, finding the sight thrilling as she walked forward against the intense recoil. The ogre glanced at the creature, which was being bombarded with flaming rounds repeatedly.

Asura expected chunks of tissue to be ripped from the carcass of the creature as its body was peppered by buckshot, but he watched as its trench coat only caught aflame. The relentless barrage was a spectacle as the creature's body was completely covered in amber flames.

It recoiled silently, resigning itself to fate as it crashed onto its back. Its massive body toppled to the ground like a chopped tree. If not for Mel's onslaught, Asura felt as if the fall would reverberate throughout the casino. Dozens more rounds followed after, drilling into its chest as she approached and passed Asura.

Asura looked at Mel and then back at the creature, his heart sinking into his stomach. His legs moved forward, and he reached out for Mel's shoulder as he pursued after her. He tried to speak but the continuous gunfire drowned out his words,

"MEL! STOP!"

"MEL! FUCKING STOP!"

Mel stood above the creature, aiming down at its chest while holding the trigger with such force it felt as if it would snap apart from the gun. Eight deafening booms roared out as the gunfire intensified as Mel's rage fed into her mana.

The gun's form began to shift as she fired, a sight that left Asura speechless. His eyes widened in astonishment as he realized the extent of her anger. "She's so pissed she's maintaining gunfire as she transforms it." he thought as he watched her accomplish a feat she had never performed before.

Mel's mind raced as she looked down at the creature being dowsed with buckshot and amber flames. She screamed,

"FUCKING DIE!"

The constant flames, burning away at their surroundings, formed a large cloud of smoke. Every shot thickened the smog that veiled Mel and the creature. Asura pushed forward, trying to grasp for her.

Her hands trembled, not with fear but with untamed fury. Her gun shifted under her will like molten liquid molded into polished steel. Although her breaths were ragged, she trained her mind to focus on the transformation to prevent it from spiraling out of control.

The gun's barrel stretched, thickening as it elongated into two rather than one barrel. Bursts of amber flames shot out as if the gun resisted her command. Even the gun wished to stop firing as it transformed its body, but Mel refused. Her vision blurred at the edges, and her heart pounding in her ears.

Suddenly, the shots ceased. A metallic cry from the gun's stressed metal was released before settling into its new shape- a massive silver elephant rifle with a wooden stock now rested in her hands. Mel stared down its long barrel and at the creature lying against the ground,

"Burn in hell."

Mel squeezed both triggers simultaneously, unleashing the elephant rifle's unbelievable power. Twin explosions of amber flames billowed out of its barrel, roaring outward as they engulfed Mel's lower torso and the monster below her. The force trembled the air, completely dispersing the smog surrounding them.

In an instant, the scene transformed from a hazed and cloudy area to a crystal-clear image. The enormous rounds struck the creature, causing shockwaves to ripple through the ground as it cracked from the stress. A crater formed beneath her as the ground gave way.

She paused, her ears ringing from the last shot. As she looked down at the creature, her unfocused eyes were left searching for any sign of movement. However, panic clawed at her throat from what she saw. Its marble skin remained untouched, unscathed, just as Asura's had when she fired at him.

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Her eyes frantically drifted down its body, finding the long trench coat unblemished. There wasn't a single new tear or burn throughout its surface. She sucked in a breath as she took in that her effort was utterly useless.

"MEL GET THE FUCK OFF OF IT!

Mr. Smiles irritating, static-filled voice scraped the inside of her ears as it spoke,

"Hello, little red flower. Have you missed me?"

Its unnatural laugh erupted throughout the casino. Mel's eyes burned with fury as it mocked her with its statement. Her vision tinged with red as she bit down on her lower lip.

"I'll fucking kill you."

She raised her gun once again, but the creature raised its hand and pointed at Mel with its index finger. The Paladin prepared to fire once again, but a sudden, surprising force impaled her side as Asura tackled her. The force caused Mel's eyes to widen in shock as she was thrown to the side alongside Asura.

Asura lunged at her without regard for her safety. He knew it might hurt Mel as he slammed with unregulated force into her side, but he understood one thing. It was a far better outcome than letting it strike her.

Gabe, Tristen, and Rose watched as the events unfolded, their faces painted with shock. Mel and Asura tumbled sideways, rolling across the ornate carpet and crashing into the machines. The ogre's back hit a machine, toppling it onto him with a loud crash as it broke apart.

Before any of the Paladins could question Asura's decision, a gigantic explosion ripped through the casino. The force of the blast unleashed a gale so fierce it felt as if they stood at the apex of a monstrous tornado. Its wind poured through the building and pushed away all that dared to try to stand in its path.

A cloud of dust and debris covered their vision as the sudden burst tossed Gabe and Tristen backward. However, Rose held her ground briefly before being forced to jump to the side as a large machine emerged through the cloud.

In an instant, the tumult quieted, giving way to tranquility following the storm. The dust cloud settled and cleared sufficiently for them to see again. Mel's eyes widened as she rose from the ground and stared at the destruction left in its wake.

Where she once stood, she was gone, and only Mr. Smiles remained. The entire center of the casino had vanished, as though the explosion had erased it from existence. The once plentiful spot filled with machines was empty, and the carpet was torn from the ground. A perfect circular ring had been created as the boundary of the destruction, showing the spot where the force originated.

Within the center of the circle of desolation stood the creature, swaying eerily with joy. Above, the shattered ceiling was ripped open into a makeshift skylight, revealing the stormy grey sky. As Tristen stared up at the cloudy, unwelcoming sky, it seemed like a grim testament to their fate that was to come.

Mel watched as Mr. Smiles grabbed hold of its face, rubbing its cheeks as if it was relishing in the pain she felt from being in its presence. Even without eyes, Mel could tell it was looking at her. It was mocking her as it bathed in the gloomy light.

It began cackling, which quickly turned into uncontrollable laughter. Its jester-like laugh roared out as it progressively worsened into a deformed, horrific gargle. The sound of ripping flesh and bones breaking left the group with chills. To their horror, its face's pale flesh started to rip apart on the sides of its head.

The tearing started from the sides but traveled across to his cheeks. Its flesh dangled, and pitch-black sludge that refused to reflect light began to spill out from the torn open wound. However, the tearing had not ceased, continuing to where a person's mouth would reside on their face.

The two sides tore open and merged as they reached the center of its face, opening a large wound that continuously poured out the black sludge onto its body. As Asura watched the horrific sight unfold, he frowned and nodded his head in acknowledgment,

"Now I know why you're called Mr. Smiles."

The large wound curved at its edges, and as its ripped and torn flesh dangled over its wound, it was evident it had created a large, toothless, inhuman smile that plagued its face. The disgusting sight left Gabe nauseous. His stomach twisted so much that he couldn't imagine ever eating again after witnessing its face open up.

Mr. Smiles's arms abruptly fell to his side, and he dug his hands deep into the pockets of his trench coat. He spread the coat wide, resembling enormous bat wings unfurling to their full wingspan. As he opened to reveal what resided inside, Gabe could no longer hold the contents of his stomach inside.

The Paladin puked profusely as his brother stood beside him. Usually, Tristen would comfort Gabe, but he was frozen in shock. His body crept with goosebumps as he stared into the horrors of the coat. Even Rose, who normally hid her emotion, was unable to mask her disgust as her face twisted into a pucker.

Inside the coat lay bare the skeletal frame of the creature. Its long body appeared malnourished, as if starved for decades and left to wither away as its skin clung to its bones. Although its white, bony, disgusting body was exposed to the world, the horrors lay inside the coat itself.

Inside the coat's lining, grotesque enormous red flowers writhed unnaturally. Their stems were slick and slimy, resembling the intestines of a twisted creature. The flowers slithered against one another, their movements disturbingly organic, as if they were living creatures.

For the head of every flower were black petals that curved up into jaws like venous flytraps, creating teeth that leaked out the same black ooze as if they salivated hungrily like their owner. Some snapped their jaws furiously, letting out a noise of teeth chattering while others lay dormant.

"What a great time! A wonderful, euphoric experience!"

Mr. Smiles turned to Mel, eagerly asking as the static in its voice worsened,

"Oh, have you missed me, sweet child? Do you wish to play with me again?"

Its smile widened, allowing more sludge to roll down its body. However, its voice darkened, and the high pitch tone it once had shifted into a low tone,

"I want to play."

The chattering flowers stretched out their necks, opening their jaws wide. Their stems bulged like snakes who had eaten something larger than their bodies. However, the flowers seemed to gag instead of trying to swallow as the bulges rose to their heads. They thrashed as it traveled through their intestine like stems, only ceasing once it reached their jaws.

Suddenly, their movements ceased, and their heads fell as they vomited out the contents inside. Big black blobs plummeted to the ground, bubbling like the ooze from which Asura emerged into the human realm from. They quickly rose, solidifying into jagged bodies made of dark green chitin.

Although humanoid in appearance, they were vastly different from Asura and his kin. Their hands morphed into three clawed fingers, segmented and sharp, while their feet bore three clawlike toes, one curving behind the heel like a thumb to allow grip. Their bodies were armored with jagged spikes and segmented chitin plates, creating a natural deadly shell.

Seven bright green eyes adorned its head, like an insect. They darted wildly around, scanning their surroundings for food with frantic intensity. Some of them had two arms, while others bore six. A constant chittering sound filled the air as they moved, like a clicking noise echoing from their throats.

Their mouths unhinged into four mandibles as they let out a hiss, exposing their wide open mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth. Asura's brow furrowed as he stared at the creatures that emerged from the ooze.

"Grulls."

Asura knew the monsters all too well. A simple monster that wandered through the fallen realm called Vrothan. They are a plentiful race that travels in packs of hundreds like ants in a colony. To see only a few was uncommon, but it was expected if they were summoned through a rift or gate. The buglike people were not exceptional by themselves, but if they worked together, they were formidable.

Asura managed to sneak back toward Rose without Mr. Smiles noticing,

"We need to leave."

Rose turned to Asura with an eyebrow lifted, slightly in shock because of Asura's statement.

"It's only nine Grulls?"

She had never seen him flee from a fight in the past few months of knowing the ogre. The thought of it felt foreign, as if it were fantastical. Asura was willing to fight an Apocalypse without a second thought.

However, since they encountered the other monster, she realized she hadn't seen Asura engage in a fight with it. The caution on Asura's face left her questioning the difficulty of the situation. He trained his unblinking eyes on Mr. Smiles as if waiting for its next move.

The ogre's holy runes flared up with flames as he clenched his fists tightly, whitening his knuckles with every flex. Asura sternly spoke, his voice calm as he quietly responded,

"It's not the Grulls... It's that thing. We need to leave."

"Why? I know Mel didn't hurt it, but we still need to kill it. Its what we-"

"We can't."

"What?"

"We can't kill it."

Rose froze momentarily as Asura declared he could not kill the beast before them. He hadn't even tried, and yet he spoke the statement with such certainty. Rose inhaled, gulping slightly as she clenched her jaw a little. She asked,

"You know what it is, don't you?"

Asura's head remained fixed on Mr. Smiles, but his serious white eyes looked up at her, sending chills down Rose's spine.

"That's a demon."

It was a word Rose thought she would never hear Asura utter. A word he constantly corrected every human when used to describe him or any other monster they encountered. Asura hated the word passionately, willing to correct even the Archknight without hesitation. Yet, he used it now to describe the existence before them.