The darkness faded, and the subspace returned to its normal state.

A few dozen meters to his right, Malina lay on the dark ground, her body battered and bloodied. Crimson streaks flowed from her wounds, mingling with the tattered feathers scattered around her. Her spear lay a few feet away, abandoned. And a similar distance to his left, Tamamo-no-Mae was also injured, breathing heavily as she struggled to stand.

"I told you fighting him was a bad idea," Tamamo-no-Mae said weakly. "Look how easily he took us down."

"No... I'm not done yet," Malina replied, struggling to her feet. Her wounds, once severe and bleeding, started to close as if healing on their own. The torn feathers on the ground reattached, and her skin began to knit together with a faint, shimmering light. She made a commanding gesture, and her spear, which had fallen a few feet away, flew back into her hand. "I refuse to be defeated by someone like him. I won't give up until I get my chance to spit on his fucking corpse."

Tamamo-no-Mae slowly rose, her wounds closing as her body's regeneration took effect, mending her torn flesh with a soft, faint glow.

"Why can't you see? This is a suicide attempt; we won't get another chance like this! You can't seek revenge if you're dead!"

"You can go if you want," Malina replied calmly. She flapped her wings and soared gracefully upwards. Raising her hand, she gestured, causing the floating geometric shapes around her to orbit and then hurl toward Satan. "But I'm not giving up, and this discussion ends here."

The shapes spiraled through the air like a storm of jagged stars, hurtling towards Satan with lethal precision. He glanced at them with a weary expression, almost bored, and in an instant, the shapes dissolved into nothingness.

Malina's eyes widened, and her brows furrowed deeply, reflecting her shock. She immediately flew higher, her wings beating strongly as she ascended. Raising her spear, she gripped it tightly as a crimson, fiery aura began to radiate from it. A massive crimson ball of blazing fire formed, illuminating the subspace with its intense light. The sphere grew larger, expanding like a miniature sun, its surface burning with simple yet fierce flares.

The power and heat it radiated were immense, akin to a supernova. The intense energy caused the air around it to ripple and distort, creating waves of pressure that pressed down on everything nearby.

Satan raised his head to observe the spectacle, his hair and cape fluttering in the swirling air. A smile crossed his face; he was finally going to stretch his hand a bit for real.

"I never thought I'd see anyone other than Manorma use this attack," Satan said, recalling his encounter with the second-best player in Dark Descent. "It brings back some unpleasant memories."

"Ah yes, the Evening Star," his consciousness remarked. "It's a special skill for those who've mastered the Spear of Mystra to its second level. You lost that PvP match pretty badly. Manorma thoroughly defeated you after you barely survived her class offensive skills... it was quite embarrassing."

"But this time, it won't be the same. Besides, I've seen just how dangerous Malina can be. I need to take her out quickly—if she's mastered the spear to its third stage, we're in serious trouble."

"True, but what about Tamamo-no-Mae? She's just standing there, observing. She could be plotting something—perhaps a hidden attack."

"She isn't much of a threat right now. We can ignore her."

Malina hurled the ball, her smile fierce as she declared, "Now perish by the flames of the sun itself!"

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The massive sphere drew nearer to Satan, its intense heat and fierce wind creating a palpable tension in the air.

"Oh devourer of light," Satan intoned, raising his hand. "The inescapable end," he continued, pointing his index finger. "Puller of worlds." A small black energy sphere emerged from his finger. "Seventh-tier magic: Black Hole."

As the black hole met the blazing sphere, it began to pull it in rapidly. The sphere's heat and fire were drawn into the black hole, which consumed everything with a ravenous hunger. The intense light and fierce flares were swallowed, leaving nothing behind. Within moments, the once-massive sphere was completely absorbed into the void, vanishing entirely.

"It looks like—" Before he could complete his sentence, Satan felt a searing pain unlike anything he had ever experienced. He looked down to see a spear had pierced him from behind, its sharp tip jutting out of his chest. Blood spilled from his mouth, dripping down in thick rivulets. Each drop from the spear's tip splattered onto the ground, forming a crimson pool at his feet.

Malina twisted the spear. The movement sent a fresh wave of agony through him, causing more blood to gush from his mouth and down the spear's shaft.

"You moron, how could you make the same mistake? Do you have the slightest idea of the pain I am suffering due to your mistake?"

"Hehehe… Hehehe...."

"Have you lost your mind?! Why are you laughing like a lunatic?" his consciousness demanded. "Do something!"

"So my theory is correct. You do feel pain if I feel it as well; it makes perfect sense with the reaction you made a few moments ago."

"What do you—" The consciousness fell silent as realization dawned. "You motherfucker! You purposely let her stab you just to make me suffer!"

"It's payback for all the trash talk and criticism you gave me."

"What happened, so-called 'Satan'?" Malina mocked. "Too stunned to even scream?"

"Stunned? No, I pity you," Satan said. In an instant, he appeared behind Malina. With a swift, precise motion, he thrust his hand through her back. Blood flowed freely from the wound, trickling down Malina's body.

The crimson stream pooled on the ground below.

Malina's scream pierced the air, her body arching in agony as the pain intensified. Her grip on the spear faltered, and it fell to the ground with a clatter.

Satan pulled his hand out with a slow, deliberate motion. As he withdrew, the wound gaped open, and more blood spilled out, cascading down Malina's back. The crimson streaks painted her skin as she slumped, her strength draining away. She fell to her knees, barely able to support herself.

"I trust this makes it clear that all your efforts have been in vain," Satan said, watching as his wound began to heal. "Now, let me cleanse this tainted blood from my hands and clothes. First-tier magic: Clean Fire." A swirling flame surrounded Satan for a brief moment, swiftly removing the blood from his hands and garments. "This is the end of this fight."

"No…" Malina muttered, her voice barely audible.

"What did you say? I didn't hear you," Satan said, raising his hand as if to deliver a karate chop.

"I said no!!!!!" Malina shouted. A burst of white crimson aura exploded from her, strong enough to push Satan back several steps.

Malina stood up, her chest wound healed, and her spear back in hand. She gripped her weapon tightly, the aura around her intensifying. With fierce speed, she charged at Satan, her spear aimed directly at him.

Satan sidestepped quickly, avoiding the thrust. In one swift motion, he landed a powerful punch to her gut, making her choke on her own blood. Before she could react, he appeared behind her and struck her head with enough force to knock her out.

"Well, one down, one more to go," Satan said as he began gathering fire in his hand. The flames twisted and coiled, growing brighter and more intense. They elongated, taking the shape of a javelin, its surface flickering with fiery energy. "Seventh-tier magic: Fire Javelin!" He hurled the blazing weapon toward Tamamo-no-Mae.

Tamamo-no-Mae's eyes glowed, and a thin blue barrier appeared in front of her. The javelin collided with the barrier, splitting into two streams of fire that licked and crackled against the shield. Tamamo-no-Mae stood firm, her body trembling as she gave her all to withstand the attack.

When the firestream finally ended, Tamamo-no-Mae leaped back in alarm. Her eyes widened as Satan soared towards her, wielding an axe forged from pure darkness. The axe collided with her barrier, and both shattered like fragile glass. Shards of the barrier reflected brief glimpses of Satan's face before vanishing into nothingness.

"Kōsokudō no hana!" Tamamo-no-Mae cried out.

Shimmering petals swirled around Satan, each one aimed at slicing him with deadly precision. Yet, the petals had no effect on him; he effortlessly redirected their path, sending them towards Tamamo-no-Mae. The petals cut through her, leaving thin, red trails of blood as they tore into her flesh.

Despite the pain, Tamamo-no-Mae's lips curled into a smile. With a flick of her wrist, she used blood manipulation to craft a bloodied replica of herself. As her real body mended the wounds, she commanded the blood copy to charge at Satan, while she focused on her own rapid recovery.

Satan flicked his index finger, and the blood copy of Tamamo-no-Mae halted mid-charge. The blood began to morph, solidifying and stretching into the shape of a massive sword. The transformation was quick, and soon a huge, crimson blade was in Satan's hand. He swung the sword at Tamamo-no-Mae with a powerful motion, the blade slicing through the air towards her.

Tamamo-no-Mae swiftly dodged the massive sword attack, leaping into the air. As she did, she fired a large energy ball at Satan. With a casual motion, Satan threw the energy ball back at her, moving it with twice the speed. The blast struck Tamamo-no-Mae hard, sending her flying into one of the floating geometric shapes before she crashed to the ground.

Struggling to rise, Tamamo-no-Mae saw Satan materialise right in front of her, his index finger aimed directly at her.

"Do not move. Unlike your companion, I find you more reasonable. Surrender, and perhaps we can strike a compromise. After all, both of us have questions that demand answers," Satan declared grandly. "I grant you thirty minutes," he lowered his hand with a flourish, "and do not waste your time attempting to escape. It is utterly futile."

"No need for that. There is only one answer. I accept your offer," Tamamo-no-Mae replied.

"Finally. Now, let us begin."