UNMASKED

CHAPTER 15

THIRD PERSON'S POV

“Demon has been spotted,” an underling reported, his voice tense as he opened the feed to the large screen. The room fell silent as Demon appeared, standing atop a rooftop in the center of the city. 

“Should we attack now?” one of the national leaders asked, gripping the edge of the table in anticipation. 

“Yes, we sho—” 

“NO!” Ice’s sharp voice cut through the room, halting the discussion. The leaders turned to him in shock. 

“She’s here for Venom,” Ice said with a sly grin. “Let her come closer to the border. We’ll wait for her… three days is all it’ll take. She can’t keep this charade up forever.” 

Loyd stared at the screen, his fists trembling. “She’s alone… how can she fight all of that?” 

John wasn’t much better, his voice a quiet murmur. “How is she going to survive this?” 

Venom, however, leaned back against his restraints, a bitter smile playing on his lips. “I didn’t think I’d see her again… she’s still reckless as ever.” 

On the screen, Demon stood tall on the edge of the rooftop railing, her cloak billowing in the wind. Her arms spread wide, her eyes closed, as if embracing the chaos around her. The leaders and soldiers watching tensed, unsure of her next move. 

Suddenly, she jumped. 

Gasps filled the room as they anticipated her fall, only for her to land gracefully on the second floor, flipping mid-air as her cloak fanned out dramatically. 

“That was extra,” Venom said with a chuckle, earning surprised looks from Loyd and John. 

For the first time in hours, the tension among them eased. 

“+100 aura points for the flip,” Loyd joked, grinning despite himself. 

“That’s so theatrical,” John muttered, shaking his head. 

---

*BOOGSH*

Demon kicked a log out of her path, only to stumble and nearly fall. She cursed under her breath, rubbing her foot in irritation. Her eyes wandered to a nearby pile of books, one catching her attention. 

“Oh, the latest edition!” she exclaimed, brushing off the dust and finding a seat to read. Not content, she ventured into an abandoned house nearby, returning with a jar of preserved food. Sitting cross-legged, she opened the jar and continued reading, her expression calm and focused. 

Inside the enemy’s headquarters, confusion and frustration mounted. 

“Is she serious?” one of the neighboring leaders growled, glaring at the screen. 

“She’s just sitting there… reading?” another leader spat. 

Venom, bound and bloodied, grinned. “I told you. You won’t gain anything by killing us.” 

Ice, seething, slammed his fist on the table before marching to Venom and choking him. 

“Shut up!” Ice growled, tightening his grip. 

Venom leaned in despite the pain, a defiant smile still on his lips. “She knows you can’t kill me… so she’s playing with you.” 

While tension rose in the enemy’s camp, Demon was engrossed in her book. She muttered loudly, intentionally letting her voice carry to the cameras monitoring her.