"Why are you here?" Daji clutched her chest in pain, her breaths ragged as she rested near the familiar tree where she had once taught Luka.
A shadow fell over her as a figure approached. "I could ask the same question," the voice echoed, metallic and cold, as if resonating from within a hollow container. "But I suppose it doesn’t matter."
Daji looked up, squinting through the pain. “You have nothing to gain from this…” she pleaded, her eyes searching for his. “Please… Stop…”
The figure turned away, his gaze fixed on the distant silhouette of the castle. "I have gone too far already," he replied, his tone laced with a somber finality. "Retracing my steps would change nothing."
Daji’s breath caught in her throat as she struggled to find the words. She simply stood there, helpless, as her heart sank further.
“Besides," the figure continued, pressing each word with cold determination, "I am not wrong.” He paused briefly, his expression as unyielding as his voice. “Goodbye, Goddess.” With that, he turned toward another figure standing nearby. “Korver, you go first. My spell isn’t ready yet.”
A pair of wings stretched to its full extent, covering the whole place in shadows. “Right away, boss,” the creature said, casting a wicked grin at Daji. “Goodbye, Goddess.” With a single flap of its wings, the creature flew off towards the castle.
Clutching her chest, feeling more powerless than ever, Daji softly muttered a prayer.
“Please… Everyone…”
“Run away.”
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Hurry! Hurry! Darian Galterr’s mind raced as he charged forward, his footsteps echoing in the empty streets. Clad in a full set of armor and clutching both shields firmly in his hands, he ran with all his might toward the castle. The air was thick with the scent of burning ozone, and the sound of crackling lightning mixed with flashes of light at the castle's peak told him the worst had already begun.
He and Jason had made quick work of the soldiers who had invaded the city, cutting down the threat with ruthless efficiency. But if even one intruder managed to reach the princess, it would be a catastrophe—a failure he could not afford.
The castle loomed closer with every step, but the dread in his chest only grew. “Hold on, Your Highness,” Darian muttered under his breath, his jaw set with determination. “I’m coming.”
But as soon as he reached the castle grounds, a shadow zipped through the sky, diving straight toward him. Darian squinted, raising his shields in preparation for an impact, but as the figure grew closer, recognition dawned.
“Saki?” he whispered, thinking for a moment that his mind was playing tricks on him. The dancer and singer who had been living in his tavern for a while was now descending from the air, wings beating steadily, a wispy tail flicking behind her.
The succubus landed gracefully in front of him, her expression a mixture of relief and urgency. “I’m glad you’re here Darian, things are going to get worse.”
He took a step back, eyeing her transformer appearance in shock. “What… what are you?” the words slipped out before he could stop himself, his gaze darting from her wings to the tail. “Don’t tell me you’ve betrayed us too—”
Saki met his eyes, a hint of remorse crossing her features. “No you big goof!” she replied, crossing her arms. “But there are bad demons coming, so you need to—”
“To what?” a deep voice echoed from above.
Darian and Saki both looked up as a large figure descended, its wings casting a shadow over the courtyard. The being was massive, its leathery wings spread wide, and its eyes glowed a malevolent yellow as it landed with a thud that shook the ground.
It was a demon, towering over Darian with leathery wings spread wide and glowing yellow eyes. It landed heavily, shaking the ground. Its bulky arms had blades jutting from the forearms, and its green, scaly skin looked tough and rough. Horns protruded from its head, and a thick tail flicked behind it, ready to strike.
The demon grinned, revealing sharp, jagged teeth. “My, my…” the demon licked his lips, a giant tongue running over it. “I found a toy to play with.”
Darian readied his shields, his eyes locked on the creature. “Are you… with Saki?” he asked quietly.
But Saki stepped forward, putting herself between Darian and the demon, casually summoning a whip out of thin air.
"Go, Darian," she said firmly, stretching out the whip. "I'll take care of this."
Darian hesitated, his gaze shifting between Saki and the demon. "You sure about this? Aren’t you the same as—"
"Don't lump me in with these savages," Saki interrupted, her eyes never leaving the demon.
“Wait, you’re serious?” the demon raised an eyebrow at the defiant tiny succubus standing in front of him. “Why do you protect this guy? You can join our army, you know—”
“I couldn’t give a damn about Kaeris,” Saki shot back, her voice cold and unwavering. “I would never join a fight against humanity.”
The demon laughed, whistling slightly in respect. “Well, I’ll be damned! To think a tiny imp would actually challenge me. Do you even know who I am?”
The demon laughed, whistling slightly in respect. “Well, I’ll be damned! To think a tiny imp would actually challenge me. Do you even know who I am?”
“Korver, second in command of the demon army,” Saki replied, holding her ground. Playing his game was enough to buy time, and she hoped it would keep Darian safe.
As soon as she said that, the knight saw an opening and dashed toward the castle.
Korver’s grin widened. “You’ve got some guts, I’ll give you that.” He glanced at the knight from the corner of his eye, not even attempting to intercept him. His focus remained locked on Saki, and he deployed the blades on his forearms. “I’ll make sure to take a good look at them.”
With a powerful leap, he lunged forward, his massive wings unfurling behind him.
Saki snapped her whip, aiming for his face. But as soon as the whip connected, the demon effortlessly caught the end of it, yanking it toward him with a swift tug.
“Got you!” Korver snarled, pulling Saki off balance and yanking her closer.
As he swung his right forearm, the blade protruding from it gleamed ominously. Saki ducked slightly, a strand of her hair sliced clean as she narrowly avoided the slash. Just in time, too, because as soon as his movement halted, it was as if space itself had been cut. Everything behind her—trees, debris, and part of the castle wall—was slashed in two, collapsing in a shower of stone and dust.
Saki’s eyes widened, and a cold sweat trickled down her forehead.
If she hadn’t avoided the strike, the fight would’ve already been over.
Korver grinned wickedly, yanking on her whip once more. Saki released her grip and held her hand toward him. “Balweiln!”
A blade of wind surged toward the demon, slicing through the air. But as soon as it made contact with his skin, nothing happened. The blade of wind dispersed, dissipating into nothingness, leaving Korver unharmed.
“Is that all you’ve got?” Korver mocked, a cruel laugh escaping his lips. “You really think a little breeze can hurt me?”
Saki gulped, feeling the weight of his words. Clenching her teeth, she flew upward, narrowly avoiding another slash from the demon, which shattered windows and tore through the castle wall behind her.
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With a swift motion of her hand, she summoned her whip back into her grip and flicked it toward him. But Korver spun backward, launching his tail toward her with blinding speed. The tip of his tail struck her torso, sending her crashing down to the ground with a painful thud.
Dazed, Saki struggled to rise, her breath coming in quick gasps. The impact left her momentarily disoriented, but she forced herself to focus. She couldn’t let him see her weakness. Looking up, she saw Korver approaching, a sinister grin on his face.
Saki barely had time to register Korver’s approach before a painful jolt struck her stomach. With a swift kick, he sent her flying into the stables, where she crashed into a haystack, the soft hay providing little cushion against the impact.
Splinters of wood scattered around her as blood trickled down her legs. Saki groaned in pain, struggling to rise when she heard the sound of his massive wings hovering above her.
Korver extended his hand, mana crackling in his palm, the air shimmering with heat.
Her eyes widened in fear as she realized what was coming. Gathering every ounce of strength she had left, Saki summoned her wind magic, propelling herself forward just in time to dodge the incoming fireball. The projectile erupted upon impact, engulfing the stable in flames and reducing it to ashes in mere seconds.
She landed hard but managed to roll back onto her feet, her heart racing as she glanced back at the inferno. The heat seared her skin, and she could feel the heat waves distorting the air around her.
Korver's laughter echoed in her ears, taunting her as he stepped through the flames unharmed, his eyes burning with a sadistic delight.
“Nice movements for a succubus,” he said, clapping his hands slowly. “Now, when do you give up?”
Saki's mind raced for a plan as she steadied her breathing. The demon clearly wasn’t taking her seriously, and that was a mistake she intended to exploit. She couldn’t let him find Luka—no matter what.
Sora can fall, but Luka cannot, she resolved, her gaze fixed on Korver with cold determination. With a deep breath, she stood tall, suppressing any hint of doubt.
Korver raised an eyebrow, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. He halted his advance, muscles tensing instinctively as he studied her. “What are you doing?” he demanded, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Saki murmured something under her breath, and the wind in the courtyard began to stir, picking up intensity.
“Wait, you’ve been holding back?” Korver exclaimed, disbelief evident in his voice. A chill ran down his spine as he felt a surge of energy emanating from her—something that clearly shouldn’t be present in someone like her.
As the wind swirled around Saki, she began to float, hovering above the ground. Too much has happened for it to just go to waste, she thought, her concentration deepening. She still felt a pang of guilt over Viktor’s death, but there was no time for regrets now.
I need Luka to survive at any cost.
Blades of wind formed around her, this time far more powerful and ready to strike. With a flick of her wrist, she sent them hurtling toward Korver. The demon’s eyes widened, and he barely managed to raise his arms in defense as the blades closed in.
But even with his defenses up, it wasn’t enough. The blades sliced through the air, managing to cut into his skin, drawing dark blood. Korver let out a roar of frustration and pain, stumbling back. “You little—!”
Fueled by his reaction, Saki flew forward, her feet glowing slightly as she prepared a reinforcement spell. With a powerful swing, she aimed a kick at his head, which he barely managed to block. Still, the impact was enough to strain him, and Saki could see the surprise in his eyes.
“Not so confident now, are you?” she taunted, a playful smirk crossing her lips. Korver snarled, regaining his balance and glaring at her with refound curiosity.
“Now it’s getting fun. I almost thought it would be too easy,” he smiled, shifting his stance as he spread his wings.
With a swift motion, he blocked her kick and grabbed her leg tightly, slamming her body into the ground. Saki yelped in pain as a sharp crack echoed through her. The kick had barely moved him, and even with her full power, the difference in strength was staggering.
With a sudden inspiration, she used all of her strength to push him back with her wind while rolling backward to regain her footing.
Once done, she found herself gazing at the front of the castle, flashing lights coming from the top floor. The hair on her arms stood on end as the air seemed to be more and more charged with od, an ill omen that she couldn’t shake.
Something was happening while she fought this demon, and an uneasy sense of dread settled in her stomach. She couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever was going on might be far worse than her fight with Korver.
“I have to end this quickly,” she thought. But as soon as she uttered these words, the demon in front of her smiled, gazing at the cloudy sky. Lightning struck the ground and rain started suddenly pouring.
“Looks like Boss is coming,” the demon said, smiling before turning towards Saki.
As the rain began to pour, Saki’s heart stopped. “B-Boss?” she stammered, fear creeping into her voice.
He couldn’t mean…
There was no way. Why would he come here, himself? But realization struck her. This was the place where he was defeated last time. The same country that ended his rampage hundreds of years ago.
Of course he would come here first. He wanted to get rid of the largest threat from the beginning.
Her thoughts raced with images of the impending destruction, but she didn’t have time to dwell on it. Suddenly, a beacon of light descended from the sky, a lightning bolt striking the castle with a deafening crash. Stone and shards of glass exploded in all directions, showering the area with debris.
“What are you looking at?” Korver’s voice, muffled by the thunder, snapped her back to reality.
But it was too late. The blade on his forearm lashed out, cutting through the air and striking her head-on. Pain surged through her as the blade slashed from head to toe, a torrent of blood spilling from the wound.
Saki gasped, her body stumbling backward as she could feel the warmth of her blood pooling beneath her, mixing with the rain that continued to fall.
Saki’s breath hitched as a blinding light flared to life between Korver’s horns, crackling ominously with energy. The demon's expression shifted to one of cruel delight as he lowered his head, aiming at her.
“Drakin barst!” the demon shouted. A blast of raw mana, pure energy that could even melt the hardest metal was unleashed towards her.
A gaping hole was left in the wake of the blast, stretching endlessly as the raw mana carved a path of devastation. Like a laser, it had obliterated everything in its way—walls disintegrated, the paved ground was scorched and shattered, leaving only a trench of molten earth. There was no trace left behind.
Not even of the succubus.
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Luka took slow, deep breaths as he stared down at the unconscious man sprawled on the ground. There was no sign of life left in Julius; the assassin lay motionless, his jaw shattered from Luka’s punch. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, staining the cobblestones beneath him.
Luka's hand trembled slightly as he withdrew it, the rush of adrenaline still coursing through his veins. His knuckles throbbed, and his mind was a whirl of conflicting emotions—relief, rage, and a cold emptiness that lingered after the violence. He hadn't meant to hit so hard, but there hadn’t been time to hesitate.
He slowly sank to the ground, leaning against the wall, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The echoes of the thunder had faded, but his concerns for Kanami lingered, gnawing at him. He clenched his jaw, willing himself to move, but his muscles refused to cooperate. The battle had taken its toll, leaving him spent.
Though he wasn’t one to pray, his thoughts strayed to a silent plea—for Kanami’s safety and for Archibald to hold his ground against the demons. The weight of his exhaustion settled over him like a heavy shroud, and Luka felt a pang of frustration at his own helplessness.
As he closed his eyes for a moment, trying to steady his mind, a distant sound caught his attention—an eerie silence, almost unnatural that seemed to hand in the air.
The body of Julius suddenly jolted, its limbs flailing awkwardly as the od in the air gradually increased.
With a surge of adrenaline, Luka stood up again, staring at the flailing body. There was no natural explanation for what he was witnessing; it was as if something had latched onto the remnants of life in Julius, warping it into a grotesque mockery of motion.
Julius’s head snapped upright, and his eye opened. His mask fell off the ground, revealing that half of his face was scarred and burned, his left eye missing. The skin of the man turned a deep blue as a strange liquid coursed his veins, visible even from where Luka stood.
Luka’s heart pounded in his ears as he clenched his fists. “What the fuck is this…?” he whispered under his breath.
Luka’s breath caught in his throat as he saw the transformation unfold before him. Julius’s body seemed to liquefy, his arms morphing into a blue, gelatinous substance that pulsed and shifted as if alive. The veins beneath his skin glowed with an eerie luminescence, and the runes carved into his flesh flickered erratically, casting strange shadows on the cobblestones.
But it was the stone that seized Luka’s attention—the gem embedded in Julius’s chest, now glowing with an intense, otherworldly light.
“An… Eternaüm?” he murmured, his voice filled with a mix of awe and dread. The gem was gradually transforming the man’s body, melting into a grotesque alien-like form. His limbs were now tentacles made of this jelly substance and his head was now devoid of hair, eyes, or even any facial traits.
He had become something else than human.
“Kekeke… That’s enough.” a shrill voice stirred Luka from his thoughts and the sound of a cane slamming against the ground echoed in the backyard.
Without another word, the grotesque creature stopped in its tracks, its body trembling violently. The blue jelly that formed its limbs and features seemed to wither, evaporating into thin air in a cloud of shimmering blue particles. Within seconds, the abomination had vanished entirely, leaving behind only the man’s tattered clothes and the stone that had been embedded in his chest, now lying on the ground, still pulsating with a faint glow.
Luka’s eyes darted back to the figure with the cane, it was the same voice he heard back when he saw Archibald in the woods. The little green creature stepped forward, eyeing Luka with a grin.
“Who are you?” Luka demanded, his hands already ready to take the talismans in his jacket.
The small creature chuckled, tapping its cane on the ground once more. “My name is Kiku. General charged with the research and development of weapons within Kaeris’s army. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Luka.”
Luka’s eyes narrowed and his muscles tensed. “You’re one of them…”
Kiku chuckled again. “Surprised? I understand. I do have a rather unconventional appearance for someone in my position.” The little creature’s grin widened, revealing sharp teeth. “After all, how did a goblin make its way to the top?” The question hung in the air with an almost mocking tone.
Luka took a cautious step back, glancing at the glowing stone left on the ground. “It wouldn’t be the weirdest thing I’ve seen,” he replied, keeping his voice steady.
“Don’t worry about Julius,” Kiku said, as if reading Luka’s thoughts. “It was just a little experiment. I managed to recreate the king of mages’s glorious creations. Still, I didn’t want it to kill you, otherworlder.”
Luka’s jaw clenched, his heart beating faster at the mention of ‘otherworlder’. “You know me?”
“But of course,” Kiku replied, its voice almost reverent. “You are a precious source of information for a seeker of truth like me. My master may be a lunatic, but I am more than willing to cooperate in order to gain more knowledge.”
The goblin’s eyes narrowed, and a thin smile played on its lips. “And you, my dear otherworlder, have already been quite troublesome. You killed two of my assistants—quite impressive, really.” There was a touch of genuine admiration in its voice, as if Luka’s actions had been nothing more than an interesting footnote in a grand experiment.
“I shall be watching you with great interest,” the creature concluded. “If you survive, that is.”
With that, rain began to pour, drenching the cobblestones around Luka as sudden crashes of lightning lit up the sky, illuminating the dark clouds that had gathered overhead. Luka looked up in confusion, surprised by how quickly the weather had turned ominous.
When he turned his gaze back down, the creature had vanished, leaving no trace of its passage whatsoever, including the eternaüm.
When suddenly, lightning crashed into the roof in an ear-piercing crash.