The sky howled with wind as Kayen Telani hurtled through the clouds, clutched in the talons of the same monstrous demon that had snatched him from Sector 7. Its claws dug into his shoulders, drawing hot blood that soaked into his school jacket. Pain throbbed through every nerve as Kayen writhed in its grip, punching, twisting—biting even. Nothing worked.
His breaths were ragged, brain scrambling for an idea. Think... think!
With a final surge of desperation, Kayen drove his fingers into the demon's glowing red eyes. The creature howled in agony, flailing midair. "Aaargh!" it shrieked, releasing Kayen.
The wind screamed past his ears as he plummeted from the skies. Trees raced toward him—green giants with outstretched limbs. He crashed through them violently, bones cracking with each impact, until he slammed onto the forest floor of Kakamega.
Silence.
Then, darkness.
High above, the demon steadied itself. Its shredded eyes began to reform with slow regeneration. It sniffed the air, catching nothing. "That bastard is gonna kill me..." it muttered, trembling. Then, with a grunt, it sent a telepathic pulse.
—Kakamega. He's in the forest. Escaped.
At the Abyssborn headquarters, a slick man in a black suit was seated behind a polished glass desk. He didn't flinch when the demon's voice echoed in his head. Slowly, he set his pen down and sighed.
—Return to base. I'll send the hounds.
He stood and whispered to the still room, "Even after a thousand years, they're still clumsy. Guess I'll have to do something myself."
He pressed a buzzer. "Aahliya. Come in."
Moments later, Aahliya Shenati stepped in. An unnervingly beautiful girl—sculpted features, dark velvet skin, violet eyes glowing faintly. Two stubby black horns peeked from beneath her red bandana. She wore obsidian armor molded to her form and slung a spiked mace lazily over her shoulder.
"I need you to retrieve the boy. He's in Kakamega," the man said. "Take the hounds. Alive."
Her lips curved into a chilling smile. "Finally. Something fun."
Back near the forest's edge, the demon hovered, about to turn back, when it caught another scent.
"...A Skyborn," it hissed, fear flickering across its monstrous face.
Too late.
A sonic boom cracked through the air as a figure struck the demon's torso, launching it into the canopy. Leaves exploded in all directions.
Floating in midair with her wings fully extended, Selasi adjusted her grip on her sword. Her armor shimmered—lightweight, futuristic, silver trimmed in gold, forged from rare skyborn alloy. Her sharp eyes locked onto the demon, now crawling upright.
"You're not leaving until you talk," she said coldly.
The demon grinned, broken teeth glistening. "You'll never get your hands on him, b—"
Shffft!
With a single stroke, Selasi decapitated the beast. Its body turned to ash before it hit the ground.
Breathing in slowly, she drew out her spirit detector—a Skycore Tracker—but it buzzed wildly, the readings distorted.
Kakamega Forest… a place of ancient spirits and untamed energy, she thought. The energies were too wild, too thick to navigate digitally.
She sat down cross-legged on a high branch and closed her eyes, letting her spiritual energy flow outward like waves in a still lake, sensing.
Where are you…
Back in Sector 7, Zemo Roka stood stiffly in the Telani family's dining room, facing Nia and Elvira. Leila had been put to bed.
"So, you're telling us a demon snatched Kayen?" Elvira said, arms folded, glaring daggers.
Zemo nodded, trembling slightly. "I saw it… I swear on my—"
"Bullcrap," Nia interrupted. "What kind of story is that?"
Zemo clenched his fists. "I know how it sounds. But I'm not lying. Please—"
Before he could finish, their mother entered, her eyes unreadable. She listened silently as Zemo repeated the tale. Nia and Elvira scoffed, but she only nodded slightly.
Inside, her heart was thunder.
Demons… could it be happening again?
Memories crashed into her—
A sky lit ablaze.
Her husband's blood.
That anniversary night…
She'd been pregnant with Leila, laughing with her husband when the demon descended—pursued by the Skyborn Order. It spotted them.
Her husband pushed her aside to shield her. He fought back.
But didn't survive.
Back in Kakamega, Kayen stirred. He groaned, blinking against the sunlit canopy. His wounds… healed?
Before him stood monstrous creatures—massive, rippling with muscle, thick black skin with bones piercing through, eyes glowing like molten lava. Hellhounds. Five of them,snarling.
Then came the girl.
Aahliya Shenati.
Dark skin, hourglass figure, armor with Abyssborn insignia, bandana covering her horns, and a wicked smile.
"Look who decided to wake up," she said playfully, spinning her mace once.
Kayen staggered to his feet.
"You're far from home," she added. "Lucky I found you. I can help."
He saw through her words. Her smile was sweet, but her aura screamed danger.
"You're lying," he muttered.
She tilted her head. "You wound me."
Before Kayen could respond—
"Don't listen to her," came a voice behind him.
He spun around. There stood Selasi.
Sharp eyes. Neat black locs. Wings furled, shimmering armor, a sword glowing with celestial energy.
Aahliya's eyes narrowed. "Skyborn brat…"
"Demon whore," Selasi replied, steel in her tone.
The air tightened. Power clashed like colliding oceans.
Aahliya grinned. "You'll regret this."
They lunged.
The ground cracked beneath them. Kayen was flung aside by the blast, hitting a tree with a grunt. Dust swirled as the hellhounds roared and moved to circle him.
He looked around, heart pounding. He was trapped.
And two demi-goddesses were about to tear the sky apart.