A powerful aura exploded outward from the clash, forcing both Shin and the man to stagger back from the impact.

"You're not half bad," the man said.

"I sensed you a long time ago," Shin replied coldly, "but I thought you were with Ms. Fiona's group, so I held back. Now, tell me—who are you?"

The man chuckled. "I am with the group, but don't assume we all see you as an ally."

"Then why are you attacking me?"

"For a demon, you're surprisingly civil. Don't worry, it's not out of spite. I just want to see if you're strong enough to fight by my side."

**He's definitely crazy**, Shin thought. "Good, then I’ll also find out if you’re worth fighting alongside."

"Tch, big talk." The man lunged forward, thrusting his spear toward Shin’s abdomen.

Shin sidestepped, dodging the attack as the spear plunged into a nearby shelf, blowing it apart.

"Maybe I should clear some space." The aisles around them shimmered in a golden glow before vanishing, leaving the two alone in the now-empty mall.

"You're using Angelic Void Distortion, aren’t you?" Shin asked, recalling a distant memory. **It’s decent, but nowhere near as strong as his.**

The man smirked. "Oh, you recognize it? Seems Fiona's been sharing a bit much with you. Hard to believe the most reserved in our group opened up to a demon. What spell did you put on her?"

**I could easily negate it with Demonic Void Distortion, but who knows if this lunatic would still attack in public view.** Shin lunged forward, his claws glowing with aura.

**He’s closing in. He’s skilled.** The man sprang back, thrusting his spear with rapid, precise movements.

**Tch, I can’t close the distance like this. He’s fast, and every movement is exact—not even a nanosecond wasted. I need an opening.** Shin channeled aura into his feet, increasing his speed severalfold.

Surprised, the man barely managed to guard himself as Shin swiped, sending him sprawling across the floor.

The man quickly stood and deflected Shin’s next attack with difficulty. "Nice tricks, but don’t think you’re the only one with aura." His feet and spear glowed brighter with golden energy.

**He’s really good—precise, quick, and fully in control. I had one chance, but he recovered too fast. Wait... why am I even taking this so seriously? These battle freaks— their fighting spirit must be contagious.** Shin steadied himself, ready for the next strike.

The man rushed forward at blinding speed, his golden aura sparkling, spear poised to pierce Shin’s heart. Shin barely dodged, but the spear grazed his shoulder, staining his white shirt red with blood.

“Keuk!” Shin gritted his teeth. **He’s fast, and every move is calculated. I didn’t want to go all out against an ally, but if he’s treating me like an enemy, then…**

Shin retracted his claws and focused.

"Giving up already?" the man taunted, lunging forward. But Shin was ready; as the man approached, Shin’s aura surged, and he seized the spear tightly.

The man looked shocked. Shin’s left hand had morphed, muscle clustering around it, radiating a blood-red aura five times his normal size. His right hand, however, was nearly ten times larger, a massive blood-red glow surrounding it.

"It’s over," Shin said, prepared to strike.

“Is it?” The man let go with his right hand, gathering a massive amount of golden aura around it.

They both threw punches, the clash of golden and red auras creating cracks in the air itself. Energy leaked from the fissures as the two men screamed at each other, their powers colliding in a storm of violence.

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*Boom.*

A massive blast sent blood-red and golden auras scattering. The Angelic Void Distortion shattered, and they returned to the real world, where a handful of shocked customers stared at the two men who had seemingly appeared from thin air. A few seemed to recognize Shin, who staggered to his feet, his body aching, his clothes singed and torn from the impact. He hurried out of the store, hoping to avoid further suspicion.

As he walked down the sidewalk, the man’s voice called out behind him.

"Hey! Don’t you think it’s rude to leave me behind like that? Planning to abandon me on the mission too?"

"If you attack me during the mission, then yes."

“Look at you, all hasty. I can’t let an incompetent partner watch my back during a dangerous mission, can I?”

"Exactly. Someone who can't handle allies should stay out of the mission."

“Now you’re getting it.” The man smirked.

“So, when are you heading back?” Shin replied mockingly.

"You—" The man paused, controlling himself. "Anyway, let’s head to your place. My disciple’s probably already there."

Annoyed, Shin muttered to himself. **Great, now his disciple is at my house.** "You know, it’s rude to enter someone’s house without permission."

“Hey, we’re allies, aren’t we?” The man grinned.

“Ugh, I can’t take this anymore.” Shin quickly slipped into a secluded alleyway, disappearing from the man’s sight. The man tried to follow, but Shin had vanished completely.

“Damn demons and their teleportation magic,” the man grumbled, hurrying toward Shin’s house.

Shin reappeared near his home. **I can’t teleport directly in because of the demon protection. Maybe I should add wards against angels too.** He entered quietly, hearing muffled voices and Fiona’s angry tone.

Entering the living room, he saw Fiona tying Ryan up with duct tape.

“You little brat! So, you thought you could challenge me? You’ve got some nerve.” Fiona sounded furious.

“What’s going on, Ms. Fiona?” Shin asked, confused.

“Oh, Shin.” Fiona turned to him. “Not much. I assume you taught this idiot’s mentor a lesson?”

**So Fiona dealt with the disciple.** Shin sensed lingering aura in the room. **Seems this guy is almost on par with her.**

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY DISCIPLE?” The man shouted, already standing beside Shin in the room.

“Come on, Alex. If you’d taught him manners, I wouldn’t have to. Don’t worry, I’m just helping with his education.” Fiona smirked.

“H-help me, Master!” Ryan pleaded.

“You idiot. After all my training, you still got beat? Don’t ever call me ‘Master’ again if you end up like this.” Alex sounded disappointed.

“Sorry, Master. I’ll do better,” Ryan mumbled.

“Release him,” Alex ordered.

“Tch.” Fiona reluctantly sliced through the tape with her sword.

“Thank you, Master!” Ryan hugged him, but Alex shoved him away with a smack.

“If you ever embarrass me like that again, don’t call me ‘Master’!” Alex scolded.

Fiona exchanged a glance with Shin, and in that moment, they shared the same thought: **They’re both insane.**

“Anyway, if you’re here, I assume you have news.” Fiona redirected the conversation.

“Yeah, I do,” Alex said as they all settled in the living room to discuss the mission in the Jinnestein Forest.

“First, the demons. As Fiona mentioned, there are 15: ten low-grade, four mid-grade, and one high-grade, plus three demonic hounds. But there’s something special—all of them are under soul contracts.”

“Demons typically possess humans to do their bidding. But with a soul contract, they’re far stronger than regular possessions. The contract allows them to bond with their host’s soul, making exorcism nearly impossible.” Alex explained.

“Are angelic contracts similar?” Shin asked.

“No, not quite. Angels don’t possess contractors—only in rare cases requiring divine intervention. But demons in a soul contract can merge symbiotically with their host’s soul, sometimes even sharing characteristics. Occasionally, the host’s consciousness can resurface,” Alex continued.

"Right. We need to be cautious; they aren’t just vessels—they’re fully aware,” Fiona added.

“Tough mission,” Ryan muttered.

“Already scared?” Fiona teased.

“Shut up!” Ryan retorted.

“Enough, both of you,” Alex commanded. “Now, let’s discuss the target in the Jinnestein Forest.”

“Our target is the high-grade demon with knowledge of the cult’s main branch, right?” Shin asked.

“No, he doesn’t know the main branch’s location,” Alex said.

“What?” Shin asked, confused.

“They may know where to go but they can never know where it is, even if we get the branch leader we will never get the cult leader’s exact location. He resides in an alternate space created by void distortion,” Alex replied.

“What does that mean?” Fiona inquired.

"Well as you know about the Angelic Void Distortion creates an alternate space for the demon hunter, it's a space where they can control everything just like that demon's use Demonic Void Distortion to create their own alternate space, but there is a big difference, the Angelic Void Distortion is cancelled as soon as the caster is exhausted or killed since they didn't create it with their own power but with powers which the angels lent them." Alex explained.

"But it's different for demons, since they possess their hosts their alternate space can remain even after they are exhausted or killed since the demon created it with its own power, ofcourse even that is something very rare as it requires a high level of coordination with their host and a huge amount of aura but since the cult leader is the highest even among the high-grades it isn't impossible." Alex continued.

“Great, so how do we find the main branch?” Shin asked.

“We’ll need a demonic artifact that locates demons. If what that Valcoris demon said was true, then the branch leader of Morville likely possesses it,” Alex said.

"A demonic artifact which helps you to figure out a demon's location, are you possibly thinking about it?" Shin asked.

"Yes" Alex replied "an artifact which helps you locate a demon's location."

"The soul sigil compass."