The next morning, at exactly ten o'clock, Blake exhaled deeply, his crystalline blue eyes flickering with satisfaction. The divine energy within him had grown significantly—about half the strength of a low Class Devil. In less than four days, he had achieved what would take others weeks, a testament to just how extraordinary his unique technique was.
"Ten already? That means it's the weekend," he muttered, glancing at the clock. "Might as well take Airi and Marina out shopping. Marina's been through a lot—she could use the distraction."
With that, Blake hopped out of bed, ran through his morning routine, and got dressed before heading straight to the Akizuki household.
Standing at their doorstep, he knocked lightly. Through his heightened senses, he could tell both sisters were in the same room, their heartbeats slow and steady. A small smile tugged at his lips.
"Still sleeping, huh? Lazy little kittens," he murmured, amused.
He decided to wait rather than knock again, enjoying the quiet morning. But then—
A sharp, oppressive presence hit him from the distance. A wave of malice, thick and suffocating.
Blake's gaze sharpened.
Just as he tensed, footsteps echoed down the street, and a familiar voice—one dripping with venom—cut through the air.
"Well, well. If it isn't the silver-haired brat standing at my doorstep. How convenient."
Kouzou Akizuki stepped into view, his once-commanding presence now a shadow of itself. His face was gaunt, his expression twisted, and his voice... off. There was a high-pitched, hollow quality to it.
Behind him stood three men dressed in sharp black suits and dark sunglasses. Their very presence reeked of blood and violence. They weren't ordinary thugs; they were predators. Each carried a gleaming machete at their side.
"He's the guy you needed backup for?" One of them scoffed. "Kouzou, you really are pathetic."
"Takahashi, don't underestimate him!" Kouzou snapped, panic flashing in his eyes. "Last time, he kicked my door down with one hit!"
The man named Takahashi—clearly the leader of the trio—snorted. "Kicking a door? That's it? You're wasting my damn time."
Blake crossed his arms, his icy gaze scanning the group before landing on Kouzou.
"If you're done with your little villain monologue, I'd appreciate it if you took this outside," he said coolly. "I don't want you waking up my girlfriend. Otherwise, I'll make sure you're the ones crawling out of here."
The street fell silent.
The gangsters stiffened, their faces darkening at the sheer confidence in Blake's voice.
"You've got a death wish, kid," Takahashi sneered, lifting his machete. "You really think you can stand up to the Black Blade Gang?"
The name sent a ripple of unease through the nearby onlookers. The Black Blade Gang was no small-time crew. Three years ago, they were nothing but a ragtag group of criminals. But under their ruthless leader, Hideki Nozaki, they had absorbed rival factions one by one until they ruled the city's underworld with an iron grip.
There was even a saying: "It's better to piss off the mayor than cross the Black Blade Gang."
And Blake? He'd just crossed them.
Kouzou's lips curled into a twisted smirk. His life was already in ruins, his pride shattered. All he had left was revenge, no matter the cost.
His eyes gleamed with hatred.
"I don't care what happens to me. I just want you dead," he spat. "And as for my daughters? Well, the boss only takes virgins, so I'll be taking Airi first. He won't mind."
A crack filled the air.
Blake's fingers clenched so tightly around the hilt of his blade that the air itself seemed to vibrate. His expression darkened to something unreadable.
A gust of wind blasted through the street.
A wet, meaty sound followed.
Takahashi's machete hit the ground. His right hand followed right after, severed clean at the wrist.
A stunned silence fell over the street.
Blake stood just inches away, his Ice Whisper Sword gleaming, freshly painted red.
For a moment, Takahashi didn't react. His brain refused to process what had just happened. Then—
A bloodcurdling scream tore from his throat as he clutched the stump where his hand used to be.
The remaining two gangsters snapped out of their daze, rushing Blake in blind fury, their machetes flashing in the morning light.
Blake barely even acknowledged them.
Two clean, precise strikes.
The blades clattered to the ground, followed by two more severed hands.
The gangsters staggered back, their faces contorted in agony, clutching their bleeding stumps. Their earlier bravado was long gone—replaced by sheer, unfiltered terror.
They had underestimated the wrong man.
"Shut up, or I'll take your heads next," Blake muttered, his voice carrying the weight of a death sentence.
The two gangsters bit down on their screams, sweat pouring down their faces as they fought to stay conscious.
Takahashi, despite his injury, gritted his teeth and forced himself to speak. "H-Hah... If you kill us... a hundred of our brothers will come down on you. You and those two women will be chopped to pieces by morning!"
It was a desperate threat. A final attempt to scare Blake into letting them go.
Blake sighed, shaking his head.
"Are you really that stupid?" he asked.
Then, without hesitation—
He drove his sword straight through Takahashi's chest.
The gang leader gasped, his eyes going wide. He stared at Blake, his lips moving soundlessly.
This guy... is a demon...
Then, the light faded from his eyes, and his body slumped to the ground.
The remaining two gangsters watched in silent horror.
They had killed before. Many times. But even for them, taking a life had always been accompanied by adrenaline—fear, excitement, something.
He had just killed a man as easily as someone swatting a fly. No hesitation. No emotion.
It was the first time in their lives they had looked into a person's eyes and seen absolutely nothing.
And that was more terrifying than anything they had ever known.
Blake slowly turned to them, tilting his head.
"Well? Do you still want to test your luck?"
Both men dropped to their knees, their bodies trembling.
They didn't dare answer.
Blake scoffed. "Smart choice."
Sheathing his sword, he finally turned his attention back to the Akizuki household, exhaling slowly.
"...Guess that ruined the peaceful morning I had planned."