The building shook again.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
The people inside the room were terrified.
Nobody knew what was standing outside.
The old politician looked at the security team.
"Get everyone out."
"Yes, sir!"
The guards quickly moved toward the doors.
Aiona remained beside Alexander.
She looked at him.
"Do you know what that is?"
Alexander shook his head.
"No."
"But it knows your name."
"I know."
Another loud sound came from outside.
BOOM!
The windows cracked even more.
The soldiers raised their weapons.
The old politician shouted,
"Do not fire!"
One of the soldiers looked at him.
"But sir"
"Don't!"
The old man knew something was wrong.
If that creature was strong enough to shake the entire building, normal weapons might not do anything.
The room became silent.
Then...
The shadow outside disappeared.
Everyone froze.
"Where did it go?"
One soldier looked through the window.
"I don't see anything."
Another checked the cameras.
"Nothing."
The old politician frowned.
"Find it."
The soldiers spread through the building.
Aiona suddenly grabbed Alexander's arm.
"Wait."
He looked at her.
"Something is wrong."
"What?"
She looked around.
"I don't know."
She closed her eyes.
For a moment, everything around her seemed to slow down.
Then she opened her eyes.
"It isn't outside."
Alexander looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
"It's already inside."
Everyone became silent.
The old politician turned around.
"Inside?"
Aiona nodded.
"I can't see it."
"But I can feel something."
Alexander suddenly looked toward the hallway.
"Over there."
Everyone turned.
Nothing was there.
Then...
A black figure slowly appeared.
It looked like a man.
Tall.
Thin.
His entire body was covered by a long black coat.
His face was hidden.
The soldiers immediately raised their weapons.
"Stop!"
The stranger did not move.
The old politician stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
The stranger ignored him.
His eyes remained fixed on Alexander.
Then he smiled.
"There you are."
Alexander stared at him.
"Who are you?"
The stranger laughed quietly.
"Don't worry."
"You are about to find out."
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
"No."
The stranger slowly removed his hood.
He looked like an ordinary man.
But the moment his face became visible...
Alexander felt something inside his mind.
A strange pain.
A memory tried to return.
It was dark.
There was war.
There was destruction.
People were running.
Buildings were falling.
Something was burning.
Alexander grabbed his head.
Aiona quickly held him.
"Alexander!"
The stranger smiled.
"Yes."
"Remember."
"You were there."
Alexander looked at him.
"Where?"
The stranger pointed toward the sky.
"Where everything began."
Alexander's eyes widened.
"Who is this person?"
The stranger's smile disappeared.
For the first time, his face became serious.
"You don't remember his name?"
"No," Alexander said.
"But one thing I am very certain of..."
He slowly looked at the stranger.
"We are facing a real demon."
Silence filled the room.
Then...
The stranger smiled.
A strange sound came from his throat.
"Now you understand."
His eyes suddenly changed.
His body began to change.
The black coat tore apart as dark energy spread around him.
His skin became darker.
Sharp horns slowly appeared on his head.
His fingers became long and dangerous.
The soldiers stepped backward.
Someone whispered,
"A demon..."
The demon looked at Alexander.
"Now..."
"Why don't you come quietly?"
"No one will be harmed."
Alexander stared at him.
Then he shook his head.
"I don't think so."
The demon smiled.
"I was hoping you would say that."
Suddenly...
The floor exploded.
BOOM!
Thick black roots burst from the ground.
Aiona jumped backward.
"Alexander!"
The roots rushed toward him from every direction.
Alexander moved quickly.
One root passed beside his face.
Another came from behind.
He jumped over it.
Another came from the wall.
He twisted his body and avoided it.
Then one root came straight toward him.
Alexander grabbed it.
"I've got you."
For one second...
Nothing happened.
Then Alexander's eyes widened.
The root began to grow.
A smaller root came out of it.
Then another.
Then another.
The new roots wrapped around his arm.
Alexander tried to pull away.
More roots appeared.
They wrapped around his legs.
His chest.
His shoulders.
Within seconds...
Alexander was completely trapped.
Aiona rushed toward him.
"Alexander!"
The demon laughed.
"You should have listened."
The roots suddenly tightened.
BOOM!
Alexander was thrown across the room.
His body crashed through one wall.
Before he could recover...
Another root grabbed him.
BOOM!
He was thrown through another wall.
Then another.
The entire building shook as Alexander was dragged through different rooms.
Aiona stood frozen for a moment.
Then her expression changed.
Her eyes became cold.
Nobody had ever seen that look on her face before.
The demon slowly turned toward her.
"You..."
He smiled.
"You are next."
Aiona looked at him.
Then she smiled.
"Try."
The demon's smile disappeared.
And for the first time...
He wondered if he had chosen the wrong people to attack.
The demon was not there by accident.
He had been sent by the higher demons.
Their goal was simple.
They wanted Alexander.
If they could capture him and take his power, they believed nothing in the world would be able to stop them.
They would become unstoppable.
The demon looked at Alexander as the roots continued to cover his body.
"Don't worry," he said with a cold smile.
"I won't kill you."
"I need you alive."
Alexander struggled against the roots.
The demon laughed.
"You are too powerful."
"So I will have to weaken you first."
The roots suddenly became thicker.
More roots came from the walls and floor.
They wrapped around Alexander's body and began draining his strength.
The demon watched carefully.
"Yes..."
"That's it."
"Keep fighting."
"Every time you fight, you lose more strength."
Around them, people were running for their lives.
Some screamed at the top of their voices.
"It's a real demon!"
"Run!"
"Get out of here!"
"Someone help us!"
Guards dropped their weapons and ran.
Politicians rushed toward the exits.
People pushed each other as they tried to escape the building.
Nobody wanted to stay near the demon.
Aiona looked around at the frightened people.
Then she looked at Alexander.
She tried to move toward him.
But before she could reach him...
A root suddenly burst through the floor.
It struck her with incredible force.
BOOM!
Aiona was thrown across the room.
Her body crashed into a wall before falling to the ground.
"Ah..."
Her eyes slowly closed.
Everything became dark.
She had passed out.
The demon looked at her for a moment.
Then his attention returned to Alexander.
"One down."
He tightened the roots around Alexander.
"Now..."
"Let's see how strong the great Alexander really is."
Alexander slowly raised his head.
His eyes were still filled with power.
Even while being weakened...
He smiled.
"You made..."
"...one mistake."
The demon frowned.
"What?"
Alexander's smile became wider.
"You thought..."
"...I was already using my full power."
The demon's expression changed.
For the first time...
He felt fear.
To be continued...