The week passed in a blur of warmth and stolen moments.
During the day, Blake accompanied Airi and Marina on dates—strolling through bustling shopping districts, enjoying quiet café conversations, and indulging in the simple joy of companionship.
At night, their connection deepened.
It was a life of comfort, a glimpse of what could be—but never what should be.
Blake knew better than to get too comfortable.
News spread quickly that Masato Oono had died in a car accident and Kouzou Akizuki had been gunned down in a gang shootout.
Airi barely batted an eye, muttering, "Bad people always get what they deserve," while sipping her tea. Blake chuckled softly but didn't comment.
Marina, on the other hand, looked visibly relieved.
The two men had tormented her for far too long. Now, with them erased from existence, the weight on her shoulders had finally lifted.
When the week came to an end, Blake bid them farewell.
"I have business back home," he told them, his words vague but firm.
Airi pouted. Marina hugged him tightly. Neither questioned his decision.
With 30 Luck Points, he adjusted the time flow between worlds before stepping away from the fleeting comfort of peace.
Because no matter how tempting it was to stay, he had unfinished business elsewhere.
His sister, Lia, was still out there, suffering under their family's cruelty. And until he tore down the ones who hurt her...
He had no right to rest.
Blake exhaled, taking in the familiar sight of his dimly lit bedroom. The transition between worlds always left him feeling a little off-balance, like stepping from a dream into reality.
His gaze lingered on his surroundings. The bed, the desk, the faint hum of the city outside—it all felt distant.
For a brief second, he almost expected Airi or Marina to be beside him.
"...Goodbye for now."
Shaking off the sentiment, he focused on the present.
"Sia, retrieve the Judgment Ring and the Body Refinement Pill."
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
"Understood, Master~"
With a faint shimmer, the two items materialized on his bed—a pair of rings, humming with restrained power, and a small porcelain bottle with an otherworldly glow.
He placed the black Sin ring on his left middle finger and the white Punishment ring on his right. A single flex of his hand sent a ripple of energy through his body.
Then, without hesitation, he uncorked the bottle and swallowed the jade-like pill inside.
A firestorm erupted inside him, surging through his veins like molten metal.
His body trembled as black impurities oozed from his pores, coating his skin in a foul-smelling grime. His lips twitched in disgust.
"...I need a shower. Now."
Rushing to the bathroom, he scrubbed himself clean at least five times before finally stepping out, hair damp, muscles feeling light and powerful.
Standing shirtless before the mirror, dressed only in shorts, he flexed experimentally.
His crystal-blue eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
"This is insane. My strength, my endurance... even my Aether reserves feel doubled."
A casual punch into the air sent a sharp crack echoing through the room.
Half a ton of force. Maybe more.
With his full strength?
Easily a ton. Walls? Gone.
"I could probably take on a Mid-Class Devil now."
But High Class Devil?
That was another story. Their magic could level mountains, and while the Judgment Ring could absorb damage, it had its limits.
Still, this was a massive step forward.
He wasn't just surviving in this world anymore.
The sun had long since set by the time Blake decided to head out.
His fridge was almost empty after his extended absence, and he needed to grab some food.
As he walked through the dimly lit streets, the quiet hum of the city felt almost too peaceful.
His mind drifted to his past.
There had been a time when loneliness had been his only companion. If not for anime and novels, for the stories that fueled his escape, he wasn't sure if he would've made it this far.
He had power. He had purpose.
The streetlight ahead flickered... and went out.
A wave of malice rolled over him.
His body froze. Not in fear, but in pure instinct.
Slowly, he reached for Frost Whisper, unzipping the sword bag with deliberate ease.
"Come out." His voice was calm, yet sharp. "I know you're there."
A low, guttural chuckle echoed from the darkness.
"Well, well... you're not an ordinary human after all."
From the shadows, a figure emerged—and it wasn't human.
A creature stood beneath the broken streetlight, holding a serrated blade in one hand—and a severed woman's head in the other.
Its black horns twisted upward, eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger. Blood dripped from its razor-sharp teeth, the scent thick in the air.
The creature stepped forward, grinning.
"Again a welcome from a Stray Devil, this just got interesting."