Palan burped as he tossed aside the shattered bone in his hands. His tails were plump and bloated, each of them containing the outline of the torso of an angel. In front of him, Michael was laying on the ground with his face staring at the ceiling of the cage he was in. Red manacles bound his waist, preventing him from escaping or using his powers. His expression was vacant, his eyes unfocused. Palan snorted as he turned around, knocking over the small pile of bones that had accumulated by his side, nearly reaching his chest. The orbs that the dwarves had gathered to heal prisoners were all dim, their powers drained during Palan’s feast.

“Satisfied?” Pyre asked, raising an eyebrow. Dinah was in a similar situation as Michael, her mouth half-open with lines of drool leaking from both corners.

“I’ll be satisfied once he’s dead,” Palan said and stared at Michael. The angel hadn’t reacted to Palan’s words. “I dislike leaving problems for myself in the future.” With that, Danger Noodle opened its mouth and swallowed Michael whole, chains included. When the snake’s mouth closed, the red chain snapped with a metallic clang.

“Hey,” Pyre said with a frown. “Didn’t I say he was better off alive?” His brow furrowed at the empty cage Palan left behind. Palan snorted as Danger Noodle let out a light burp.

“And I have to listen to what you say?” he asked. “Don’t forget who’s in the dominant position here. Seven orbs? So what. My satisfaction is worth much more than his measly orbs. I never let any potential threats survive.”

Pyre sighed. “But he wasn’t going to survive,” he said. He gestured with both his arms towards the cages in the prison. “None of these people are going to survive. Not a single one. Once their contributions become lower than the costs of keeping them alive, they’ll become food for the masses.”

“Keeping this many prisoners is just asking for an uprising,” Palan said as his gaze roamed around the prison. His three tails peered at the captives as well, increasing the speed of his examination. “If they’re freed….”

“They won’t be,” Pyre said and patted his own chest. “I’ve already destroyed their wills to live. They’re angels. The whole purpose of their life is to follow their virtues, yet I force them to fill orbs with their corresponding sins. Even if they manage to escape, what’s waiting for them in the outside world? Their homes have been devastated by the war. Their families—if they’re intact—will reject them because they’ve fallen. The only thing left for them is execution. They’re beyond redemption. Like how so many angels turned away my mother, they’ll be rejected by society as well.”

“Regardless,” Palan said and shrugged. “Death is my only guarantee. Even if the chance is one in a million that they’re able to bounce back, that chance becomes zero once they die. The rest of the council members, have you made them fall as well?”

Pyre pursed his lips. “They’re persistent,” he said. “But I never fail except for the times that I do. Given enough persuasion, they’ll break eventually. Besides, isn’t the risk of them breaking out worth the benefits of their powers? You can’t gain anything without giving something up.”

Palan snorted. “Whatever,” he said. “If they break free, the first person they’re going to target is you.” His brow furrowed as Danger Noodle stopped moving. The snake focused on a cage off in the distance.

“What’s wrong?” Pyre asked.

“I think I recognize someone,” Palan said as he walked down the aisles of cages. He stopped in front of a dwarf who was poking a female angel with a stick. “Justitia?” Palan asked as he nudged the dwarf aside with his knee.

The angel shuddered and raised her head. Dark circles ringed her eyes, and her cheekbones were prominent in her pale face. Along the tattered cloth covering her body, there were the outlines of ribs and hip bones. “Palan?” Justitia asked with a hoarse voice. Her lips were cracked with black lines of dried blood divvying them up into pink sections.

Palan grunted. Justitia’s eyes seemed to be staring past him. “You look like shit,” he said and nodded.

Justitia’s mouth widened as she broke out into a laugh. The scabs on her lips ripped, causing fresh blood to flow. “You’ve changed,” she said with a wince. “You’re … an archdemon now?”

“That’s right,” Palan said and nodded.

Justitia pursed her lips. “Then Raea,” she said. “How is she?” The last time she saw Raea, she was running away from Elrith back in the third sector after killing Madison. She didn’t know why, but something inside of her wanted to know Raea’s condition.

“She’s fine,” Palan said. “Really strong too.”

Justitia exhaled. “That’s good to hear,” she said. “Take care of her, okay?”

“You don’t need to tell me that,” Palan said and snorted. The two fell silent. There wasn’t much to talk about. They were acquaintances at best. “Owen. I don’t see him here.”

“He deserted,” Justitia said. A hollow laugh escaped from her lips. “I should’ve left when I had the chance. I’m curious. Why are you standing on the other side of the cage? You’ve joined the rebels? I guess I should’ve known when you kidnapped me that night. I just want to know. Why am I still alive?”

“Did you want me to kill you?” Palan asked and tilted his head. He wasn’t going to mention the fact that she should’ve died of poison, but Melissa saved her in time. No need to bring about unprovoked enmity.

“No,” Justitia said and bit her lip. She flinched at the taste of blood. “Did you spare me because of my relationship with Raea?”

“You could say that,” Palan said slowly. That was the original reason why he didn’t kill her on the wall that night.

“Do … do you think you can free me?” Justitia asked and furrowed her brow. “Whether it’s actual freedom or death. I don’t want to live like this anymore.” Her head drooped, but the chains around her wrists prevented her from falling.

Palan frowned. “Didn’t you just hear my speech to Pyre?” he asked. “Noise travels far in this prison.”

Justitia gritted her teeth. “A contract then,” she said. “I’m willing to sign a contract with you as long as you can bring me out of here.”

Palan’s eyes widened. Why hadn’t he thought of that? A contract with hundreds of angels, all of them supplying him power if he meditated. Wouldn’t he be able to evolve beyond an archdemon? Once he thought about it more, his hopes were dashed. In order for the angels to provide him more power, he’d have to surrender an equal portion in the contract. That wasn’t a risk he was willing to assume. Well, forming a contract with Justitia couldn’t hurt. Besides, after he had been separated from Cleo, he found himself feeling a little lonely. Whatever happened to that lizardman anyway?