9 grades of hell

They arrived at Renny's apartment so fast it felt as if they were fleeing some unseen danger.

Renny paused as she drew close, her eyes burning with intent. "Are you sure about this?" he asked quietly.

Myla nodded, not hesitating for even a breath. "I don't care if you're ready or not," she said, voice trembling between want and certainty.

She stepped into him, closing the distance completely. The air between them shifted , heat, tension, and all the unspoken things that had followed them through their time together. When their lips finally met, It was fierce, desperate, like something inside both of them had finally given way.

Renny tried to resist, but instinct took over. In one swift motion, he turned her, pressing her back against the bed. For a moment, everything else, hell, contracts, and destiny disappeared. All that remained was the sound of their breaths and the rhythm of hearts finding each other.

That night, for the first time, they let the walls between them fall completely.

***

The next morning, Renny's phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number, instructing him to come. He immediately understood what it meant. Rolling out of bed, he began preparing to leave.

Myla stirred, wrapping her arms around him from behind. "Where are you heading?" she murmured.

"I have some important matters to attend to," Renny replied.

"Oh, another adventure?" she teased, nuzzling closer. "Can I come?"

Renny shook his head gently. "No, this one I have to handle alone. Besides, you have your own contract to worry about. I wouldn't want you repeating."

Myla smiled softly, touched by his concern. "Aww… my boyfriend's looking out for me."

"Of course," Renny said, turning to face her. Their eyes met, and they shared a brief, tender kiss.

"I need to freshen up and get going," he said, stepping back. "You can stay if you want."

She stretched out across the bed, arms and legs wide, taking up the space with a relaxed grin. "I think I'll stay," she said lightly.

Renny showered and got dressed while Myla was already preparing for hers. Before leaving, he pecked her on the cheek and said, "Leave the key under the door mat."

With that, he slipped into the Shadow Realm. Almost instantly, Oliver appeared, leaping onto him with uncontainable excitement. The brief, chaotic greeting left Oliver nuzzling and licking him until he finally pulled back, panting and satisfied.

Renny chuckled, straightening his clothes. "We're heading to the garden," he said.

Oliver gave a gleeful whinny in response, anticipation written all over him, as they began their journey through the Shadow Realm, moving swiftly toward the garden.

***

By the time they arrived at the garden, they stepped out of the Shadow Realm and saw Tela waiting at the gate. Renny's face lit up with a smile.

"Long time no see," he said.

"Oy! Glad to see ya looking well," Tela replied.

Renny asked, "How've you been, with your fellow Rotmen after your life?"

Tela shrugged. "What can say? Ya get used to it. Don't even feel like running no more."

Renny nodded in understanding.

Tela opened the gate, and they walked inside, making their way toward the trunk.

"So, how have ya been? Completed ya contract?" Tela asked.

Renny nodded. "Yes."

Tela's eyes gleamed. "Ya name's spreading fast. They're calling ya the Demon Slayer now."

"Really?" Renny asked.

Tela nodded. "Three demons, all grade fives. They're weary of ya now."

Renny smirked. "They should be. Gives me some breathing room."

"Oy! Don't get comfortable," Tela warned. "And I hear ya have a girlfriend now… she could be working for the royals."

Renny nodded. "I know."

Tela raised an eyebrow. "Then why?"

Renny smirked. "How does that saying go? Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. Best if she's closer to me."

Tela laughed. "Ah, a true Ezraphor! Thinking like him too, I see."

"So, what are ya going to do now?" Tela asked.

"I'm focused on my contract," Renny said. "But I need new demon abilities."

Tela tilted his head. "Going to the MOC?"

Renny shook his head. "Not yet. The time isn't right. First, I need to analyze my contract and see if it's possible to finish this before December. That way, I can graduate with my fellow grade mates."

Tela whistled low. "Oy, that would be something."

Renny asked, "How about you?"

"I'll lay low here for a while," Tela said. "The heat outside's too much right now. I can rest easy for a bit."

Renny nodded. "You deserve it. I can't imagine what you're going through… someday, I'll relieve you of this torment."

Tela agreed solemnly.

***

Renny then made his purchases. He now had a total of 7,250 CP, an insane amount compared to what he had when he first arrived. His Mark Points had risen to 1,300 MP, which was even more satisfying. With them, he searched for a new spell to master, aiming to expand his repertoire. He had grown confident in his fracture spells; doubling down on them now would only narrow his abilities.

Instead, he set his sights on Fragility, a cause tied to Loss and Destruction that he had been eyeing for a while. The spell he chose was Arvoth Shen — Point of Collapse, a skill that instantly drives a fragile cause to its breaking point, the literal moment of "snap." Unlike fractures, which had a variety of spells available, this was the only one affordable at his stage; the rest were far beyond his budget.

The spell cost 500 MP, which was almost his entire Grade 1 budget. He shook his head but purchased it anyway, leaving him with 800 MP. The sudden drop in numbers made him frown slightly, seeing his resources shrink was never a pleasant feeling.

He then moved on to the contract point store, searching for a weapon suitable to complement his new Fragility spell. Unlike the fracture dagger, nothing immediately caught his eye, which frustrated him as he scoured the options.

Then, his gaze fell on a magnificent weapon that reminded him of the Marvel character Thor from Earth. This one, however, was called Ashrann, meaning Breaking Foundations. According to the details, its main function was to cause destruction of any kind, perfect for both fractures and fragility. If his dagger wasn't strong enough, the hammer could take over. Renny was pleased; such a versatile weapon would give him plenty of options.

The price, however, made him pause: 4,000 CP. Purchasing it would drop his balance to 3,250 CP. You make points and then you lose points… maybe humans learned the money concept from Hell. What's all this? he thought bitterly. Shaking his head, he closed his eyes and bought it anyway.