Chapter 54

Sister’s Instinct

“Oh good, you’re awake.” The man slowly lumbers towards me. It was clear that he was injured, yet he wore a smile like nothing was wrong.

“Stay right where you are.” The man froze in place, shock that I was pointing my bow right at him. To be honest, I'm confused too. I woke up a few seconds ago, and in those few seconds I heard what I’m assuming to be thugs talking about my sister, a monster mauling those said thugs to death, and now a wounded man is standing right in front of me. The more I think about it, the more this feels like a nightmare.

“Is something wrong?”

“I said stay back.” I fire an arrow right next to the place he was going to step. “Sorry, I'm really confused right now. So, I appreciate if you keep your distance till I sort my mind out.”

“We don’t have time for that. More bandits might attack us.”

Bandits? Then those guys I heard talking a few second ago, really were bandits? But what about that roar I heard following behind them? There’s no way a human can create such an awful sound. But the merchant told us that there’s no way a monster can enter here. By the way, where is he?

“Aaron!” I was forcefully shoved out of my mind by the Guild Master’s shouting. “Anna might be in danger, so hurry up and tell me where she’s at!” The man continues to walk closer to me, unconcern about the arrow I was pointing towards his face.

I'm surprised to see this man who was treating my sister so rudely show genuine concern for her. Of course, I’m still upset at what he did at the guild, but right now I don’t have time to be petty. I need to find my sister, fast.

“I have no idea where she’s at.”

“Tch.” Clicking his tongue, he storms out the building. I quickly follow behind him, a decision I immediately regret.

Mangled bodies litter the entrance of the lodge. I immediately knew these corpses belong to the voice I heard earlier.

I was barely able to hold the vomit back. After everything, I have been through it seems I'm still not used to human corpses. It doesn’t help that these people were alive just a moment ago. Just thinking how they were standing outside my door screaming for their lives makes this whole thing, even more, stomach churning.

I tried to distract myself by looking towards the emerald light that covers the sky. I have no idea what’s causing the phenomenon nor do I care. I was happy to have something to make me temporally forget the horrible view in front of me.

“Disgusting, isn’t it? If you go to the Monster Den, you’ll see more sights like this, trust me.

Thanks to the skylight, I could now see the man in front of me better. Blood completely cover his chest plate and sword. I already knew he was the one that killed those people, so seeing the evidence didn’t surprise me. What did catch me off guard was his left arm.

His entire left arm was completely burnt. Black vapor rose from his burnt skin and slowly spread to his shoulder, eating his clothes and flesh that got in the way. That’s isn’t a wound a human can inflict.

“Your arm, how did it end up like that?” The man looks down at his arm and smiles like that horrible injury was something to be proud of.

“Your sister packs quite the punch. I was barely grazed yet she was still able to do this much damage.”

I figure as much that black vapor coming from arm gives off that same eerie feeling my sister’s power gives off.  What don't I understand is why did she use that power on him? Corruption eats away at her when she uses it. There’s no way she’ll use it on a lowlife like this.

“What did you do to my sister?”

“What if I said I did something bad? What will you do?”

“I would kill you?” I once again point my bow directly at him.

“Really? You’re going to kill me?” He takes a step towards me while still wearing that creepy smile. I quickly take a step back before he could get any closer to me.

“You’ve been pointing that bow at me for a while now. Are you ever going to shoot me or is this your way of scaring me off?”

“I fully intend on killing you, but first, I want to know what you did with my sister.”

“I didn’t do anything to her. I was just minding my own business, and then suddenly she comes out of nowhere and attack me. I’m the victim here.”

While I admit, my sister can be a bit of a hothead. She won’t attack someone without reason. This guy must be working for the bandits. If he was working with the bandits, why did he killed them? Did they have some falling out? I guess it doesn’t matter. That scar my sister left on him is enough for me to know he’s the bad guy.

“I’ll admit, I originally planned on putting you kids out of your misery when you told me you were going to the Monster Den. I didn’t want you guys to suffer the same fate as me.”

“Wait, you've been to the Monster Den? I thought you said no come out of that place alive.”

“I don’t consider myself a survivor.” That annoying smile he was wearing vanish. He must be remembering something horrifying.

“So you plan on killing us, just because you fail to conquer it?!”

“That was the original plan. But after I saw that power of hers, I decided to protect her.”

This man killed his entire team just to protect someone that tried to kill him. There’s clearly more wrong with him than the wound my sister gave him.

“That power of her. I wonder what will happen if the world finds out about it.”

“Are you threatening us?” The man lets out a cold laugh and dashes towards me. Before I could react, his sword was already near my neck.

“I’m not threatening you at all. I’m just wondering if you’re capable of handling such a huge secret.” He pushes his sword dangerously close to my neck. “While you were sleeping peacefully. Your sister was fighting for her life. Don’t you think that’s kind of pathetic?”

“Why the hell do you care?! Your nothing more than a bandit!” Enraged, I grabbed his sword and pushed it away from my throat. My heart skips a beat when saw blood fly off his sword.

I patted my body down looking for the wound. The man lets out another bitter laugh as I panic.

“Relax, you cut your hand when you grab my sword.” The moment he pointed it out I notice blood was dripping from my hand. The cut didn’t seem deep, but it’s going to be hard holding my bow properly.

“That wasn’t a bright move. I could’ve easily slit your throat before you grab my sword.”

“Well, why didn’t you do it? Aren’t we enemies?!

“I don’t think of you as an enemy, more like an obstacle. When Anna gets back here, she’ll immediately think that I’m attacking you, and all my efforts will go to waste. But if I can somehow make it look like the others kill you, the distraught Anna will come crying into my arms.”

He’s clearly not right in the head. Even if he somehow manages to make my death looked like it was the bandits doing. My sister still will kill him since she saw him working with the bandits.

“Enough with the chitchat. Anna should be here shortly, and only one of us will be greeting her.”

“And it won’t be you.” I once again aim my bow at his head. The man responds by pointing his sword at me.

He’s waiting. The moment I fire my arrow, he’ll dodge it and then close the narrow distances between us. If he can kill three men while corruption is eating away at his body, then I stand no chance against him in close combat. But no matter how I look at it, I have no choice, but face him up close. I can’t outrun him, and I doubt my arrows are fast enough to hit him.

What would sis do?

If she were facing someone stronger than herself, she would use repel to stop their attack then quickly finish them off with a powerful counter-attack.

If only I had a sword. Repel is a simple technique. Even though I never use it before, I’m sure I can use it. The problem is that a sword or a shield is required to use the technique.

A sword….

I narrow my eyes at the bloody sword the madman was pointing at me.

It could work, but I might lose my arm. Well, that’s better than letting him have his way with my sister.

I fire my arrow directly at him. Just like I expected, he easily avoided it and lunged at me with his sword. I throw my bow on the ground reach for the sword he thrust at me.

His blade sinks into my arm. For some reason, I didn’t feel any pain. All I felt was something cold draining the heat from my arm. Ignoring the strange sensation, I pour the magic I gathered into the blade that pierces my arm.

(Command: repel)

Hell yea!! I nearly shouted when I saw the man sword and hands went flying in the air.

I grab his sword from the air and plunge it into his shoulder. The man screams in pain and fell backward. Because I threw my whole body into the attack, I ended losing my balance as well. As I fell I grab an arrow from my quiver. I was about to impale him with my arrow until I realize where I was aiming.

I was inches away from stabbing his neck. I shiver slightly at the thought of watching him choke on his own blood.

“You never killed a human before, have you?” Despite his serve injuries, the man didn’t show even a hint of concern.

“Since you’re having such a hard time, I guess I’ll help you.” The man suddenly grabs my arm, forcefully making me shove the arrow into his throat.

Shock, I tried to back away, but the madman tightly grips my arm and pulled me closer as if he wanted me to see every gruesome detail of his death. I couldn’t break free from his grip no matter how hard I tried. His strength betrayed the fatal injury he inflicted upon himself.

The black vapor surrounding his arm suddenly grew larger. In an instant, the black cloud consumed us.

The world around me turns pitch black. I can’t even see the dying man in front of me anymore, although I can still feel his hand crushing my arm.

“Let go of me! Can’t you see we’re both going to die if we stay here?!!” I throw my fist into the darkness hoping it’ll hit his face.

“Huh? Where is he?” I fell into confusion when I felt my hand hit the ground.

I fell on top of him. There’s no way he can escape without me noticing, especially with that injury.

Did the mist consume him? He was near death, so I guess it wouldn’t take that long for the corruption to devour him. If that’s the case, then what’s holding my arm?!

My mind swirls endlessly trying to figure out what was next to me. A part of me truly wanted it to be the psychopath. Because if it isn’t him, then that means something else was watching us the entire time. Waiting, for the right moment to strike.

For some reason the moment I thought about a second assailant, that terrifying noise I heard when I woke up came to mind.

I’m just imaging things. There’s no way a beast can enter this area. If it did, it would’ve immediately killed the guild master, then me. Which means the person holding my hand is human? Perhaps one of the bandits survive. If that’s case, then all I have to do is overpower them.

I tried to jerk my hand free. Whatever was holding me responded to my resistance by pulling me deeper into the darkness.

“Let go of me!!” Unable to break free from its grip, I started to punch it with my injured arm. Surprisingly, the thing stops. Although not for long. Before I had a chance to move, I was lifted off the ground.

I gave up on resisting the moment it lifted me off the ground. If it can easily pick me up, then it can easily rip me apart. With that thought in my head, I dangle helplessly in the air waiting for my assailant to reveal itself to me.

Thanks to the mist I had no idea how far off the ground I was. All I know is that I’m being pulled higher up until I rose above the fog.

A large set of sharp teeth was the first thing I saw when it pulled me out the fog. I desperately tried to shake myself free knowing full well it was impossible. There’s no way I have the strength to break free from such a huge creature.

“What’s the matter? You were doing so well before.”

I completely froze when I heard the beast speak. At least I think it was talking. Its voice was so low that it kind of sound like it was growling.

“C’mon, don’t give up on me now. You manage to take my eye the last time we fought. I’m sure you can do it again if you try hard enough.” The beast raise me higher in the air making sure I could get a good look at it. I immediately recognized it the moment I saw it disfigured horns.

“Behemoth,” I whisper underneath my breath terrified. This creature was the one that attacked us the moment we left Athens. Did it follow us just to get revenge?

“Looks like you remember me. Good, let’s finish what we started.” The beast tightens his grip on me. I poured every bit of strength and magic I had into breaking free from his grip.

“Is this all you got? How pathetic.”

Of course, this all I got! How can a human like me overpower an impossibly giant beast?!

“Sis! help!!” Unable to break free from the monster’s grip, all I could do was cry for help.

I know it’s pathetic, but I didn’t care. The pain was too unbearable. I just simply couldn’t endure it.

“How cute. You really think she’s going to save you? Even if she was here to stop me, I doubt she would. A weakling like you isn’t worth saving.”

Why would she save me? Even if she’s my sister, she’s still the Demon King. She’ll never be able to conquer this world with somebody as useless as me. I’m sure she’s aware of that. That’s why she didn’t bother waking me up to help deal with the bandits.

A complete failure, that’s all I am.

“C’mon scream a bit louder she might hear you.” The beast to continue to squeeze my body, enjoy every bit of my suffering. I didn’t bother crying for help anymore. I bit my lips to stop myself from screaming. If I’m going to die, I should at least do it with some dignity.

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“Silent treatment? How boring. I guess there’s no point and playing with you anymore.” The beast opens its mouth revealing endless rows of teeth.

“Aaron!!”  The loud cry temporarily distracted me from the terror in front of me.

“Sis?” I looked around the area trying to find the person that screams my name. The little I hope I manage to obtain from the voice quickly vanish when I failed to find them. Was I just hearing things?

With my last hope crush, I turn back to my captor, who was for some reason looking up at the sky. I unconsciously followed his eyes. In the brighten the emerald sky a girl with scarlet eyes slowly descended.

I was so taken aback by what I saw that I completely forgot I was in danger.

(Enhance: Rend)

As she fell, sis swung her sword downwards. The behemoth quickly moves his arm out of my sister’s path. With her target gone her sword cuts the air and cleanly cleaves the mist in half.

“If only that hit,” I whisper to myself. If I’m this agitated over her miss strike, then I can’t even begin to imagine the mental torment she’s going through right now.

“Drop him, now.” Sis wearily points her sword at the behemoth in front of her. I couldn’t stand seeing her like this. Her clothes were ripped, and there was a large wound on her leg. It was obvious that she wasn’t in any condition to fight. And yet she continued to make her way to the behemoth, prepared to fight him.

I’m sorry for doubting you. Is what I wanted to say to her, but the giant tightly held my body, squeezing all the air out of me.

“Stop right where you are, or I’ll crush this boy.” She immediately froze in place. I felt a bit of regret watching her follow its order.

“You arrive earlier than I expected. I wanted to kill everyone before you got here. Oh well. Since you’re here, I might as well ask you.” The behemoth lowered its body just enough so she wouldn’t have strained her head to look at him.

“Tell me, Anna. How do you have full control over corruption?”

“What?” Sis' eyes widen in surprise.

“There’s no point in hiding it. In our last fight, you showed me your mastery over that vile and uncontrollable power.”

“I see… so you’re the guild master, aren’t you?”

Huh, he is?! I guess that explains how the giant beast manages to sneak up on me. But how did he turn into a beast? And why is he so interested in my sister?

“I get it now. You’ve been corrupted, haven’t you?” While I dangle in the air confused about what’s going on, my sister giggles to herself like she finally just understood a joke.

“I get it now! You got corrupted while trying to claim Ragnarok, didn’t you? That’s why you attack us earlier right? You wanted to stop us from retrieving Ragnarok right?!”

Besides her torn clothes. There was no longer any sign that she was near death. I guess finding out that Ragnarok is nearby revitalized her.

“True. I was one of those idiots that thought I could conquer that damn place. But now I know that’s impossible. After finding out that you two were going to that accursed place, I planned on killing you two, until I realize you’ve already been corrupted.”

“I wouldn’t say I’ve been corrupted, but yeah, I can use that power.”

“And that’s exactly why I’m interested in you!” The ground shook slightly from the behemoth’s excited voice. “Tell me, Anna. How do I control this maddening power?!”

“You can’t.” She said coldly “The moment you get corrupted its over. There is no cure or way to control it. The only thing you can do is go mad or die.” The entire time she looked at me dead in the eyes as if she was speaking to me through him.

So this is what happens to people who get corrupted? If my sister listened to my request and gave me a portion of her power, would the same thing happen to me? Would I become a beast?

“But what about you? You have the same problem as me, how do you have it under control?!” Sis let a small sigh, completely unfazed by the massive beast shouting.

“I told you before, I’m not corrupted. Or perhaps I should say I can’t be corrupted. Unlike you, I was born with this power, so I have a natural immunity to it.”

“So, there’s no hope for me then huh?” The behemoth dropped his head and despair. I started to feel sorry for him. Until he began to laugh.“Fine then. Since I’m doomed, I might as well enjoy myself.” The behemoth squeezes my body tightly. Caught off guard by the sudden attack, a scream of pain and confusion escapes from my mouth.

“Hey!”

“Stop right where you are, or I’ll crush him!!”

Freezing in place, sis angrily grinded her teeth at the beast.

“So, he’s your weakness huh?”

“Don’t fuck with me! I could care less about hi..” Ignoring my sister, he tightens his hold on me again. I tightly seal my mouth stop myself from crying, but the beast till manage squeeze a bit out of me.

“Talk again, and I’ll kill him.”

“…” Silently, she stares at the beast. Even though her angry wasn’t directed at me, it still feels like my life is in danger. Unfazed by her angry glare, the behemoth grins at her. Satisfy with her obedience.

“You know Anna; I was interested in you the moment you walk into the guild. I love strong and confident women like you. There’s nothing more satisfying than crushing prideful people like you.

“…” Sis remain silent and continue to shoot daggers at him. I expected her to retort or say something that would shut him up. But I knew that was impossible. As long as this beast holds me captive, my sister won’t be able to do anything.

“Not going to say anything? Good, it looks like you finally know your place. Now then, drop your sword and start stripping.

“….” Her body trembles slightly from the beast’s demands. Feeling the intense bloodlust coming from my sister, I held my breath in anticipation. Any second now she’s going to cut him down.

Taking a quick glance at me, she closes her eyes and drops her sword. The same time her sword hit the ground, I felt my mind descent into chaos.

“Sis don’t….” The beast presses his large finger into my stomach, forcing all the air out my body.

“Shut up and enjoy the show.” Unable to speak, all I could do was watch her follow his order.

While still giving the beast a hateful glare, she peeled her jacket off revealing a white shirt drench in sweat. The damp shirt clung to her body outlining every gentle curve and even her small shapely breasts. She wasn’t the flat chested girl that raise me anymore. While her body isn’t voluptuous like most men desire, she wasn’t lacking at all. Perhaps that’s why she wears that jacket and other thick clothing all the time. To hide her development from curious men, no, knowing her and her past, it’s probably to stop herself from noticing she’s becoming a woman.

“You were hiding a sexy little body underneath that jacket huh?” The loud and obnoxious noise snap me back to reality. Remembering the situation, we’re in I grew more irritated with myself.

Not only did I get my sister in this mess, but I’m even staring her body. This is beyond disappointing.

“C’mon, don’t be shy. keep going!”

“Don’t listen to him!” Is what I wanted to say, but this irritable beast continuously kept squeezing the air out of me.

While grinding her teeth in fury, she slowly lifted her shirt exposing her smooth white skin and little belly button. Her hands started to tremble as she continues to lift her shirt.

“Hurry up and take it off already!” The behemoth grew more excited as my sister exposed herself. He was so fixated on her that he started drooling.

“C’mon already!!” His loud and impatient voice cause the drool that was dripping from his agape mouth to fly from all over the area

“No.” She said softly almost to the point it was inaudible.

“Huh? What did you say?” Not bothering to repeat herself, she lowered her shirt and walked towards us.

“…. Are you trying to say your pride is more important than your brother? Or perhaps you don’t believe I will crush him? I guess I need to prove it to you by crushing his skull.”

“Go ahead, do it.”

“What?!” The behemoth and I said in sync. Well, at least that would be the case if I could speak.

“Well come on, I’m waiting.”

“….” Speechless, the behemoth back away from my sister. I’m not sure what was happening, but I could tell she was gaining control over the situation.

“Yea, just like I thought. You’re afraid of me, aren’t you?” A wicked grin spread across my sister’s face. Seeing that iconic smile of hers, I was now fully confident she was in control now.

“What makes you say that?”

“It’s pretty obvious. People usually don’t take a hostage unless they’re in trouble. If you really had any balls, you would’ve killed him and then come over here and strip me personally. And yet here you are, hiding behind a boy while barking orders at me. I don’t know about you, but to me, that’s the definition of a coward.”

The behemoth chuckles softly at my sister.

“That’s a quite the theory, but with if I’m holding him just to torture you? There’s nothing more painful than hurting a loved one.”

“Yea, that’s what I thought you were doing at first until I looked at your arm.” While still wearing her confident smile, she pointed towards the behemoth’s motionless left arm.

“That’s the arm I struck with lighting, isn’t it? It seems the injury I inflicted on your human body transfer to your monster form too. And given the nature of corruption, the damage the injury left is spreading throughout your body, weakening you by the second. I bet soon you won’t even be able to hold that boy in your hand.

“….” Once again, the behemoth fell silent. It was satisfying seeing my sister wipe that grin off his face.

“Oh, don’t look so down. Even though I know your weakness, it’s not like I have an advantage over you. I bet you're still strong even after being infected with corruption. Honestly, I don’t want to fight you, since I have no idea what you’ll do when trapped in a corner, and I’m sure you don’t want to fight me either. So, let’s make a deal. Drop Aaron, and I’ll forget everything you did we’ll go our separate ways, and we’ll all live happily ever after. But!” She paused and made sure we were paying attention.

“If you kill him, or don’t drop him in ten seconds. I will kill you, regardless if you’re still holding him as a hostage or not.”

Amazing. Using nothing but observation, she managed not only to devalue me as a hostage but completely turn the tide in her favor.

I looked up at the behemoth. That disgusting smile of his was completely gone and was replaced with a sour look.

He can’t use me a shield anymore, so he has no choice but to drop me, and even if he does kill me, he’ll still have to deal with my sister’s wrath. He’s been checkmated. At least that’s what I believe until I saw a small smile form on him.

“Anna~ you’re, you’re too good~.” Salvia flowed from his mouth endlessly as he stares at my sister, lost in ecstasy.

“You broke out of my trap with pride alone. I never saw someone as strong-willed as you before! You’re simply too good!” My sister takes a step back from him for the first time. I guess that’s really isn’t a surprise. I’m sure, no, confident that if everyone would run with their tail between their legs if they saw a giant beast breathing heavily while drooling at them.

“Anna~ I really, really, really want to break you.” My heart skips a beat when looks at me with that drooling smile of his. “You said, that you would kill me, if I killed him, right? I doubt that. I bet if he dies, you’ll fall into despair. But don’t worry, once he’s gone I’ll comfort you.”

Once again, he started to squeeze my body. Although this time he wasn’t simply torturing me. I could feel him pouring all his strength into his hand, trying to crush every bone in my body.

“Oh, no you don’t!” Covering her hand in a black aura, my sis slams her hand into the ground.

(Summon: Defiled Prison)

Black tentacles suddenly burst out from underneath the ground. The tentacles quickly circled around us and stretch themselves in the air creating a weird dome.

“You think trapping me in a cage is going to stop me from killing him?” The behemoth continued to pour all his strength into crushing me. Although this time I didn’t feel anything. I could tell he was trying his hardest to crush me, but he simply couldn’t. Is the wound my sister afflicted upon him before starting to affect his strength? Or is the tentacles somehow preventing him from crushing me?

“Fine then, if I can’t crush him, then I’ll eat him!” Pulling me closer, he opens his giant mouth once again showing me his deformed disgusting teeth.

Green rays of light pour into the dome, as a small hole formed in the ceiling. A small black figure stood on top of the dome. It was obviously my sister, but because how dark it was I could barely see her. After analyzing the situation below for a few seconds, she jumps into the dome.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Anna.”

Crap, he noticed her! run…

Before I could say anything, he quickly turns his head around snatch my sister out the air with his mouth.

…He, he ate air? My mind went blank. Even though I saw what happen, I simply couldn’t understand it. Or more like I should say refuse to understand.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to eat you.” The behemoth said with his mouth full. “I’m just going to hold you until I deal with your brother.” The behemoth turns back to me with a satisfied look on his face.

“Now, to deal with you.” Heartbroken, I prepare myself for the final strike. Just when I thought everything was lost. My sister lands on top of the beast’s head and plunges her sword directly in it.

“You let your guard down.” She said with a cruel grin.

“!!!” The behemoth opened his mouth and screamed in pain. In between his teeth was my sister’s jacket with a detached tentacle inside of it.

Seeing her jacket, I fully understood what she’s done. This cage she created not only stop him from killing me, but it also stops him from seeing the decoy she created, which allowed her to safely approach him. For her create such a complicated plan in such a short amount time, shows just how experienced she is.

“Amazing, you’re still alive even though I stab your head. You really are a tough bastard!” Wrapping her legs around his neck, she repeatedly stabs his head.

“!!!” While screaming in pain, he shook his head fiercely, trying to shake my sister off him.

Watching the violent scene play out, I almost felt sorry for him. If I had no idea who this man was, I honestly would’ve thought my sister was the villain. The way her eyes lit up as she mercilessly stabs him, made it look like she was enjoying his pain.

Unable to shake her away, the behemoth finally drops me to ground. I guess I should’ve been happy that he freed me, but all I felt was dread because I know what this meant. The only reason he couldn’t attack her was because he was holding me, now that his hand was free, he can finally stop here.

“Sis! Watch out!” Before she could heed my warning, the behemoth swatted her off his head. The tentacles surrounding us, quickly wrap themselves around her. Gently, they lower her to the ground. She sank to her knees the moment she touched the ground. The scarlet glow her eyes gives off was gone.

“Sis! I scramble to my feet and ran towards her, before I could reach her, the behemoth slam his large hand in front of me. Cutting off my path.

“Get out my way!” I punch his arm as hard as I could. Of course, all I ended up doing was hurting my own fist. As if to mock weakness, he flicks me away with his finger. My body roll uncontrollably on the ground until one of the tentacles my sister created grab me.

“Fuck!” I slam my fist into the ground out of pure rage and frustration. Not only did he send me flying with nothing but a finger, but I can’t hurt him at all. If only I had my bow. No, even if had it I doubt I can kill him. My sister inflicted so many terrible wounds on him, and yet he still managed to beat her. If she can’t do it, then how can I ever beat him?

Suddenly the world around me grew blacker. I look up to see the behemoth’s huge hand was hovering over me. Before I could move, his arm came crashing towards me.

“Stop.”

 The tentacles that were surrounding me suddenly sprang to life and wrap themselves around the behemoth’s arm.

“I’m not sure what Aaron did to piss you off, but it must be bad since you’re ignoring the person that literally left a huge hole in that empty head of yours.” Sis said as she struggled to pick herself up off the ground. It was obvious that she wasn’t in any condition to fight.

“You still plan on fighting me Anna? Is he really worth all this pain?”

“I think your misunderstanding my intentions. I’m not fighting you to protect him, I’m fighting you because I simply don’t like you.”

“Because you don’t like me huh?” Chuckles a little. “How cute. If you don’t want you to admit you care, that’s fine, but it’s obvious you’re going to keep getting in my way if I attack him. So, I guess I have no choice but to knock you unconscious.”

“Knock me out? Coming at me with half-assed resolve like that is the best way to end up dead. If you really want to beat me, then you better try to kill me.”

” Alright, I won’t hold back. Just do me a favor and try not to die!” With a slight tug from his massive arm, he easily rips the tentacle that held him. Now free from his shackle he charges straight towards my sister.

“Good, I’m glad you’re such a simple-minded beast. Because I barely have the strength to move.” Black aura wrap itself around my sister's arm, unlike the usual black energy I see come from her body, this was much thicker than normal. I’m not sure what she’s doing, but I know it’s not good for her. Blood drip from her eyes and flow from her nose. She’s been using corruption throughout this entire fight, which means she’s been slowing killing herself this entire time.

“Haa, how exhausting. Hey, do me a favor. When I throw this attack, don’t fucking dodge. If you really love me, you wouldn’t do it.”

“Is that the last bit of your strength? Fine, I’ll gladly take it on and destroy that pride of yours!” Letting out a battle roar, he throws his gigantic arm at my sister. Not backing down she takes a step towards his fist while a throwing a wild punch of her own.

(Element: Ruin)

The moment their fists collided, the black aura surrounding my sister's arm, burst into a ball of black flames. The explosion blasted the behemoth into the air, sending him flying out of the dome she created.

I was in complete shock. She just sent a beast that was as big as a house flying with only her fist. There’s no way she’s physically strong enough to perform such a feat even with magic. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain she feeling forcing herself to do that.

“I’m glad you were a sadist.” A wide grin form on my sister, completely betraying the unimaginable pain I thought she would be in.

“There’s a time and place to torture your victims, the battlefield isn’t one of them, asshole.” The wide grin immediately faded as she drops to the ground coughing up blood.

“Sis!” I quickly rush to her side to check on her.

“Heh, now I done it.” She tries to laugh but it ends up turning into another coughing fit.

“Don’t talk. Just save your breath and relax, I’ll take care of you”

Thankfully mom taught me how to treat injuries. Although I don’t know how much of that knowledge will be useful to her. Due to the corruption in her body, she doesn’t heal the same way everyone else does. Medicine either has no effect on her or does more harm than good.

Well, I guess the first and obvious thing I should do is examine her.

I place my hand on her forehead. I reflexively pull it back upon contact.

Her skin was ice cold, it doesn’t even feel like she’s alive.

“It’s that bad huh?” Sis look up at me. The cold glare she usually gives me has become somewhat softer.

She knew this was going to happen. She knew that using that power would put her in this pathetic state. And yet despite knowing the risk, she did it anyway to save me.

“What the hell?” My vision became blurry as tears started to form in my eyes. “What the hell is wrong with you?! Aren’t you supposed to be the villain?! Why?! Why the hell did you go so far to save me?!”

“I’m still trying to figure that out myself.” I wipe my tears away to see that she was smiling at me. “I find it funny. I used to make fun of people that sacrifice themselves for others, and yet here I am, doing the same dumb thing they did. Blood continued to flow out her eyes as she laughs weakly.

“I still don’t understand why people risk their lives for others, but I guess someone like me will never really understand…” Her voice faded away. Slowly, she leans towards me, realizing she was falling, I catch her in my arms.

“Sis?” I waited patiently in painful silence for her to say something snarky, or to snap at me for touching her.

Unable to bear the silence anymore I wrap my arms tightly around her. Her ghostly pale skin and cold body made it feel like I was hugging a corpse.

“No, you’re not dead, I know you’re not.” Shaking that dreadful thought out my head, I pulled her closer and strain my ears.

After another painful moment of silence, I could hear her heart beat. I nearly jump for joy when I heard it. It was incredibly faint, but it means she’s alive, of course, it also means she can pass away any second. I need to get her in the lodge and treat her from there.

“!!!” My body froze in place. The immense joy I felt turn to terror when I heard the awful screeching.

Even though I didn’t want to look. My head slowly turns towards the scream. What I saw was something out of a nightmare.

The behemoth, slowly crawls towards us, with half of its body engulfed in black flames and blood endlessly flowing from where its arm use to be.

This thing should not be alive and here it was, crawling towards us while wailing. There were no longer any signs that this beast was once human.

Is this what a demon looks like? How did humans even manage to beat these things in the past?

I look back at my sister who was resting in my arms.

Right now, I really want to run away. I’m sure you felt the same way when you realize the only way to defeat this thing was to use corruption.

 I reach down and grab my sister’s sword that was laying by her side.

“Don’t worry sis, this time I’ll protect you.”