Chapter Text
Raven, Lars, Jin, and Leifang stood outside the crumbled entrance of Azazel’s temple, now his final resting place. Jin was still explaining himself to the three though it seemed in vain as Lars remained unmoved by him and Raven had yet to say a word.
Lars scoffed, “And you think that justifies all the things that you’ve done?”
“Let me ask you: what have the governments, religions, and people of this world accomplished?” Jin side stepped Lars’ question with one of his own.
“That’s–” Lars began with gritted teeth, but was abruptly cut off by Jin.
“Up until now, people have lived in fear of those with power, and were ruled by an iron fist. Who could possibly save such a twisted world?”
Leifang stepped forward, heart hammering against her ribs, “It’s not your job to fix the world, Jin. That’s not how it works. If there’s a global threat, it’s up to the world’s leaders to stand together and stop it.”
“Exactly,” Lars responded, nodding in agreement to Leifang words, “No one told you to take it upon yourself, Jin.”
Jin looked at them—at her—and shook his head. “I never expected to walk away from this.”
Leifang’s stomach twisted. There was something final in the way he spoke. Something that sent ice through her veins.
“I wanted the two of us to clash and destroy each other.” Jin continued, “Then, I could finally be free of this accursed blood in my veins, and the world would be saved. But there would be only one chance.”
Leifang‘s eyes widened and her breath caught in her throat, “You were planning to kill yourself?”
Jin turned away from her, eyes fixed on the ruined temple as if staring through time itself. After a few seconds, he looked at her, finally meeting her gaze. His voice cracked with weariness. “Maybe I deserve to die.”
“Maybe you think you deserve to die… but I still think there’s something worth saving.” Leifang replied softly, subdued.
Lars shot Leifang an unreadable look before turning to Jin, “Bad news then. I already took him out.”
Jin looked at Lars, “You understand nothing.”
Suddenly, there was a distant rumbling towards the direction of Azazel’s temple. The four turned and stared, Jin appearing the most unperturbed. The fallen rocks of the temple began to shake violently before bursting forth, releasing a blinding light into the air. A golden Azazel arose from the temple depths, his powerful roar echoing throughout the canyon.
“Impossible! We destroyed him!” Raven said in shock.
“Yeah, I don’t understand,” Lars exhaled sharply.
Leifang looked between them, her vision blurring. No. No, no, no—if Azazel was still alive, then that meant—
She turned to Jin.
His posture had changed. This was what he’d been waiting for.
“Jin, no!” She rushed to him, grabbing his arm. Her fingers dug into his sleeve, her grip desperate. “There has to be another way! We’ll find another way!”
Jin stopped. For the first time, he looked directly at her. His dark eyes softened, and something flickered behind them—something real.
“There is no other way,” he said, voice quieter now. “I told you before. Only someone with the Devil Gene can destroy him.”
“I exist in a higher plane than your earthly laws. Now no one can stop me,” Azazel bellowed, his voice carrying and reverberating throughout the canyon.
“No one…” Jin began as he turned from Leifang to the supernatural being, “Except me.”
“Fool! You will destroy yourself as well!” the god returned.
“So be it,” Jin’s lips curled into the smallest, faintest smirk, “Let’s put an end to this!”
Leifang screamed. “Jin, please! Don’t do this!” She turned frantically to Lars and Raven. “Do something!”
“Jin, what the hell are you doing?” Lars called out, stepping forward.
But Jin had already made his decision. He turned one last time to Leifang, his expression unreadable—except for his eyes. They held something deep, something unspoken.
“…I’m sorry, Leifang.”
Her breath hitched.
“…Thank you… for everything.”
Before she could respond, before she could even reach for him, that malevolent, unnatural purple aura exploded around his body. The force knocked her back, sending her stumbling as the energy coiled around him, searing the ground beneath his feet.
“No—Jin!!” She tried to push forward, but the energy repelled her, scorching hot against her skin.
His resolve steeled, Jin started walking towards Azazel, his pace quickening to a full out run. He raised his fist as he approached, a growl rumbling low in his chest. Jin put everything into his attack, knowing that this would be his final act and ultimate sacrifice to rid the world of this ancient evil.
Azazel’s position changed, the being crouching lowly, his monstrously large frame settling into a defensive stance. Suddenly, Jin leapt into the air, his body shrouded by the purple energy, his arm trained into a punch which collided with Azazel’s golden chest plate, cracking the armor. The beast roared and fell backwards into the chasm, Jin following alongside him, a blinding light shooting through the opening
“JIN!!”
Leifang ran. She ran without thinking, ignoring the pain in her body, ignoring the burning in her lungs. She reached for him—she had to reach him.
But before she could, Raven grabbed her.
“Let me GO!” she screamed, struggling against him.
“It’s too late,” Raven said, his grip like iron. “It’s over.”
“No.” The word was barely a whisper. Tears blurred her vision. “Jin…”
The light from the chasm faded, leaving nothing but emptiness.
Leifang collapsed to her knees.
The battle was over. Azazel was gone.
But the world didn’t feel saved.
She stared into the void, hands trembling. Her chest ached, but it wasn’t from her injuries. It was from the unbearable weight of loss, of knowing she had failed to stop him.
She swiped at the tears burning her cheeks, but they kept coming.
Behind her, Lars and Raven exchanged a look. Neither spoke.
The air was still.
Too still.
And for the first time since this all began, Leifang truly felt alone.