Summon the Twelve Kizuki at the Start!

"How is it possible..."

"Clearly..."

Nyau stared in disbelief at the scene before him.

He couldn't comprehend how something so bizarre had occurred.

Just moments ago, he had personally peeled the skin off Spear alive.

Even if she hadn't died, there was no way she could have been saved.

But now, right in front of him, Spear had already stood up, her face showing no signs of injury.

If it weren't for the human skin still clutched in her arms, Nyau would have suspected it was all a hallucination.

"Nyau! Nyau!"

"Calm down!"

With Liver's repeated calls, Nyau, who had fallen into a state of dazed panic, finally snapped out of it.

As a soldier, he knew how dangerous it was to lose himself like that.

He had nearly been consumed by his own fear.

"No matter how you came back to life..."

"I'll make sure you experience that thrill again!"

"I'll add a new, unique piece to my collection!"

The fear in Nyau's eyes faded, replaced with twisted excitement.

He knew that his collection was about to gain an incredibly rare and precious addition.

On the other hand, Spear, who had just become a demon, had a flash of hatred in her eyes.

The horror she had just suffered was still seared into her mind.

And now, she didn't intend to let any of it go.

She wanted Nyau to experience it all—the pain, the fear, everything.

The two quickly clashed in battle.

Meanwhile, Akaza slowly walked toward Liver.

"You're different from the other two."

"I can feel that your fighting spirit has been forged over many years."

"Even if your body has aged and is no longer at its peak..."

"I can still feel the power within you."

A glint flickered in Akaza's eyes. From the very beginning, he had set his sights on Liver.

As a former general of the Empire, his strength was nothing like the other two.

"I'm Liver," he responded.

"One of the Three Beasts under General Esdeath of the Empire."

"You must be one of the Twelve Demon Moons that have recently become known in the Imperial Capital."

"Upper Rank Three—there should be two others even stronger than you among the Twelve Moons, right?"

Liver wasn't in a rush to fight. He chose to gather intel first.

Even though he'd been in Esdeath's army all this time, he hadn't neglected information gathering in the capital.

Naturally, he'd heard the name of the Twelve Demon Moons.

"No. Only one is stronger than me."

Akaza's eyes narrowed slightly. Liver had touched on something unpleasant.

It made him think of someone he despised, and it soured his mood.

"You really have that kind of personality—refusing to admit defeat."

"I was the same when I was young. Back when I was still a general of the Empire, I couldn't accept losing either."

A slight smirk appeared on Liver's lips. He knew he wouldn't get any more answers.

He extended both hands and took a combat stance.

"Become a demon, Liver."

"Become like me—forever young, eternally alive."

"In that form, you can continue chasing strength, without ever worrying about age, illness, or death."

"As long as you pledge your loyalty to my master, he will grant you eternal life."

Instead of attacking, Akaza reached out his right hand toward Liver.

He had a deep respect for the strong.

He didn't want to see someone so powerful wither away because of human limitations.

Only by becoming a demon could one cast off the chains of mortality, transcend life and death, and continually hone their strength.

"Your master?"

"Sorry, but I already have a master to whom I'll be loyal for the rest of my life."

Liver shook his head and replied calmly.

Although the promise of eternal youth, no aging, no illness, and no death was enticing—

His loyalty to Esdeath made such betrayal impossible.

What truly puzzled Liver now was the meaning of this "demon."

His gaze shifted toward Spear.

He saw that although her arm had been cut off by Nyau, it had already healed.

At that moment, Liver understood—

To become a demon meant becoming a creature like that.

"A shame..."

"But, I've never killed an Imperial General before."

Akaza sighed with slight regret—but his fighting spirit had already ignited.

In the next instant, his figure dashed toward Liver at high speed.

He was so fast that even Liver couldn't help but be impressed.

He immediately took up a defensive stance.

"Destructive Death: Air Type!"

Just two or three meters from Liver, Akaza's charging figure came to a sudden stop.

He unleashed a six-hit combo into the air—so fast it was nearly invisible.

These long-range strikes, launched purely from the force of his fists,

Made Liver momentarily hesitate.

His hands flew up, blocking each blow one after another.

But the terrifying force behind the strikes was impossible to absorb fully.

His hands began to tremble, and he could no longer raise them—only shake faintly.

"See? If you were young again, you wouldn't have been paralyzed by my strength."

"If you became a demon like me, you could definitely become stronger!"

Akaza still didn't want Liver to die so easily.

Looking at Liver's trembling arms, he felt a sense of pity.

Someone strong enough to make him feel challenged deserved his respect.

"Sorry. The older you get, the more stubborn you become."

"And besides... I haven't lost yet."

Liver inhaled deeply, then exhaled sharply.

His gaze changed instantly, heat radiating from his body.

His aged frame became noticeably more vital and youthful in an instant.

This was the secret art of the Assassins' Chamber—

It allowed the user to push their physical body to its peak for a short time.

As an Imperial General, Liver might not have been the strongest—

But as a warrior from the Assassins' Chamber, he was formidable.

By pushing his body to the absolute limit,

He could regain the combat strength of his youth for a brief period.

"Interesting!"

"So this is the strength you had at your peak?"

"Don't die, Liver!"

Watching Liver's surging aura, Akaza's face lit up with manic fighting spirit.