"W-WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO YOUR SOUL? YOU DAMN ACOLYTEEEE!!!!"

The scream was so loud that Klein instinctively covered his ears ’God damn, she is breaking the sound barrier with that scream.’

"You don’t need to scream, I am right in front of you."

Her face twisted in anger "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"

With a soft sigh, Klein placed his hand on his chest and muttered "As you can see... I bargained my soul to ’death’ "

"Not just you, but all three Fallens of the Underworld."

"My soul carries all three of your names... but according to rules, a soul can only be claimed by one ’death’ "

A faint smile appeared on his lips "So, to claim my soul... You three would have to fight each other."

"A massive war will break out in hell to decide who owns me."

The woman stared at him in horror "You... madman. You absolute lunatic."

Klein’s gaze narrowed ’Azara Vhorin Malvek. The eldest of the Fallen. She knows the consequences better than anyone.’

If she tried to forcefully claim his soul now, the other two Fallens would sense it immediately.

A soul marked by all three is an unprecedented prize. None of them would back down without bloodshed.

’However, she can actually get my soul if the other two agree to work together and let her take the soul.’

’But those arrogant pricks will never allow that. Not over a soul like mine.’

’They are too prideful.’

Azara’s hands clenched into fists so tightly that red cracks appeared in the air around her fingers.

"Do you have any idea what kind of chaos you’ve created?! A war between the Three Fallens could destroy entire realms! Countless souls would be consumed in the crossfire!"

Klein shrugged with an unbothered expression "I did what I could do at that moment."

The grin on his face widened "So, don’t let me die, Azara Vhorin Malvek."

The moment her full name left his lips, Azara’s face twitched violently.

Her crimson eyes blazed with murderous rage, and the red aura around her exploded outward, cracking the balcony railing and shattering several windows in the building behind Klein.

"You dare to call me by my name?!"

The temperature around them dropped sharply as pure death energy leaked from her body.

Klein didn’t back down as his eyes gleamed with provocation.

"Oh? What are you gonna do if I call you by your name?" he asked mockingly. "Kill me?"

He spread his arms slightly in a taunting gesture.

"Go ahead then. Kill me. Take my soul right now. But we both know what happens if you do. Your sisters will sense it instantly. And then the real war begins."

Azara’s entire body trembled with barely restrained anger.

For a being as ancient and powerful as her, being spoken to like this by a mere reincarnated mortal was an insult beyond measure.

"You insolent little worm," she growled as crimson energy crackled around her.

"I have existed since the dawn of creation. I have devoured gods, kings, and entire civilizations. And you are... a pathetic Acolyte who died once already... daring to threaten me with my own sisters."

Klein’s grin didn’t falter "Because it’s true, isn’t it?"

"You may be the eldest, but you’re not the strongest when all three of you are involved. If you kill me now, the other two will descend upon you like starving wolves."

"And you know better than me how arrogant your sisters are and that they will go to any lengths to get the soul that has their name."

Azara stared at him for a moment and her beautiful yet terrifying face twisted with conflicting emotions, but there was quiet amusement in her eyes.

"You’ve grown quite the sharp tongue in this new life," she said as her voice regained its cold elegance.

Descending down, she stepped onto the balcony.

She reached out and grabbed Klein’s chin with her slender fingers, forcing his face upward to meet her gaze.

Klein looked straight into her glowing crimson eyes and a faint, teasing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"What? You’re going to kiss me?"

Azara’s gaze condensed into a dangerous glare.

Her grip on his chin tightened, nails digging slightly into his skin.

"I really wish I could kill you right now, just so I could shut that foul mouth of yours forever."

Klein’s smirk widened. His eyes flicked down to her full, blood-red lips for a brief second before returning to her eyes.

"You can do that by kissing me too," he replied smoothly. "I don’t mind."

A visible nerve popped on Azara’s forehead.

Her eyes flashed with murderous intent, and the red aura around her flared violently, cracking the balcony tiles beneath their feet.

"...You insolent brat,"

Klein raised an eyebrow, "Huh? Who are you calling a brat? I have lived for centuries."

Azara stared at him for a moment, then let out a cold, mocking laugh.

"And I have lived for far longer than that. So yes, you are still a brat. A foolish, reckless, loud-mouthed brat who thinks he can toy with Death herself."

Klein: -_- "Well... that’s true, you are way older than me, Azara."

Azara’s anger flared again and she yanked him closer by the chin until their faces were mere inches apart.

"You dare to speak to me with such disrespect?"

"I am Azara Vhorin Malvek, the First Death, the Eldest Fallen. I have ended civilizations older than your pathetic little planet. And you are a reincarnated worm, teasing me like we’re equals."

Klein met her gaze without blinking "Right now, we’re not equals,"

"You need something from me. My soul. And as long as I hold that leverage... I can speak however I want."

Azara’s eyes narrowed dangerously. For a long moment, the two of them stared at each other in tense silence.

Finally, Azara released his chin with a sharp push, forcing him back a step

"You’ve changed," she murmured. "The old Irakiel was quiet and devoted. Almost pathetically loyal to that ruined goddess. But this new version of you is far more irritating."

Rubbing his chin, he muttered "Well, I didn’t reincarnate with all of my memories intact."

"I just awakened my memories, so my personality before awakening my memories is influencing me a bit, I guess."

Her gaze narrowed slightly "Enjoy your little time, Klein Faress... or Irakiel."

As she was about to leave, he reached out and grabbed her hand "Wait, what about the kiss?"

What? She turned to him in anger "...Did you really just stop me to ask that?"

With a dry chuckle, he shook his head "No, I actually stopped you so I can ask for a contract with you."

She looked genuinely surprised for a moment before her expression twisted into disdain.

"Don’t lump me together with those pathetic gods who sit in their lofty realms, watching the [Towers] like some twisted form of entertainment."

"I am not like them. I do not hand out contracts to mortals for amusement."

Klein let out a sigh "Oh come on, I need some powers to live in this new world."

She stared at him for a moment and replied "You are bold. Foolishly so. You already have a contract with that dead Goddess and the blood of another Goddess flowing inside you."

"Also, you are not powerful enough to bear my contract. So stop being foolish, little Acolyte. You’ll only end up destroying yourself."

He slowly let go of her hand, and her body began to disappear into red mist.

The crimson color over the world instantly disappeared, and the time flow returned to normal.

A deep breath escaped Klein’s lips ’Haa... that was nerve-wracking.’

’Should I try her sister and ask for a contract maybe?’ he thought, half-jokingly.

’No... that’s even more suicidal.’

But before he could finish that thought, the ground beneath him trembled.

Crack... Crack...

The cracks on the balcony created by Azara widened rapidly.

"Fuck-"

The balcony collapsed.

*THOOM*