Demon Lord Aberis had defeated our strongest attacks. However, we couldn’t give up just yet. As he was taking care of the meteor, Terra attacked, using the full weight of the golem to slam down on him. He caught her hands just as he finished disintegrating the meteor. There was a booming sound as they collided, but Aberis managed to hold back the golem. His feet sunk into the loose ground, but he otherwise held her back.

“Attack!” Lydia led the charge.

A dark shield suddenly formed around them, and as everyone’s attacks landed, they were deflected. Cracks started to form on Terra’s golem. They rose from her arms and started spreading across her body. He suddenly spun, throwing Terra toward several of the other girls, forcing them to dive away. The shield dissipated and he exploded out. His direction was Miki!

“You’ll die first!” He shouted, his voice sounding crazed.

“No!” The girls cried out.

The fastest one, and closest to Miki, was Celeste. She let out a cry, and then her wind-like body started to spin. Her body erupted with power, and she flew at Aberis like a spear.

“Out of my way!” He slashed down with his blade.

It cut through Celeste, but her body still slammed into him. The Demon Lord was blown back twenty feet. He landed, kneeling slightly. He spat out blood, his clothing torn in several spots. Celeste’s body tried to reform, but it seemed like it just couldn’t do it.

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“I’m sorry… Master… that’s all I have…” Celeste’s weak voice could be heard.

Fairies were made out of mana. Once they consumed all mana, it was the same as death. Celeste had put everything into that one attack, even her life. Although her soul would live on, her body slowly faded away. All of the girls looked at the Demon Lord, conviction forming in their expressions. The Demon Lord raced forward again.

“Protect Miki!” Lydia cried out.

Terra and Carmine jumped in front of her while the others launched attacks on Aberis. He sneered at them like they were nothing. Lydia attacked first, using a sword attack I had never seen before. It seemed to be extremely powerful, and she plunged at Lord Aberis. She struck him, but he struck out at the same time. It wasn’t until she suddenly stumbled away, holding her stomach, that what he had struck with was revealed.

“No!”

It was the malacrum dagger. He had stabbed Lydia with it. This was a soul reaving dagger. While Celeste and Shao could be reincarnated when the time came, if Lydia died to this dagger, then her death would be permanent. The black infection began to spread from her wound, and she collapsed to the ground. The girls all let out shouts and began to race at him. They were wary of his dagger now, so Salicia and Bernice kept her distance, and Terra and Carmine were much more difficult to cut through.

“We have to end this now.” Deedee spoke up.

“You mean… that?” I cried out.

“It looks like… you’ll have to carry on from here.” Deedee declared. “I’m going for it! Go, try to help Lydia.”

I pulled out the sword and handed it to her. As the bright sword shone in the darkened sky, Aberis grinned.