“I’m surprised you made it this far without me noticing... human,” the demon’s voice echoed, deep and mocking, with an almost amused interest as it turned to face him. Its shadowy form was now faintly outlined in the dim light. “Are you, perhaps, one of the angels’ knights? Though... you don’t seem to carry that holy aura they usually flaunt.”

“Who I am is none of your business.”

A low, mocking chuckle came from the creature. “Well, that’s rather rude for an introduction, don’t you think?” Its eyes glinted with dark amusement. “Or perhaps, you’re just a curious feline, driven by that infamous curiosity of your kind?”

“I don’t have a specific reason to be here, and I certainly don’t owe one to you.”

The demon’s smile widened, an unsettling sight in the shadows. “Bold words. Let’s see if they carry the weight you think they do, little intruder.”

Its grin twisted into a wicked sneer as it suddenly lunged, shadows flickering like dark flames around it. In one swift motion, it drove its spear straight toward Arjun, the weapon slicing through the air with lethal precision.

But Arjun was ready.

Anticipating the demon’s aggression, he sidestepped in a fluid motion, narrowly avoiding the spear’s sharp edge. The ground where he’d stood cracked under the impact, shards of broken tiles scattering from the force.

“Predictable,” Arjun muttered under his breath, his gaze locked onto the creature as he circled it, sizing up his opponent.

The demon sneered, pulling back its weapon, the dark shadows seeming to pulse and writhe with its every movement. “Quick on your feet. Let’s see how long that lasts.”

Without warning, it swung the spear again, this time in a wide arc meant to catch him off guard. Arjun ducked low, feeling the rush of air just above him, then retaliated with a swift kick to its side. His strike barely landed, but it was enough to make the demon stumble back, snarling in irritation.

As the demon stumbled back, Arjun quickly pulled out his arming sword from a hidden compartment in his backpack, revealing its sleek, retractable blade. He discarded the backpack to the side, its weight no longer a burden as he steadied himself in a defensive stance, ready for the demon's next move.

"I think it's time we fought fairly," Arjun declared, his eyes flaring up.

"Bold," the demon replied, a twisted smile spreading across its shadowy face. "You intrigue me, human."

With a sudden shift, the demon lunged forward, its spear slicing through the air with deadly intent. Arjun reacted instantly, sidestepping to avoid the thrust and countering with a quick slash of his sword aimed at the demon's side.

The demon anticipated the attack, twisting away just in time, but Arjun pressed the advantage, following up with a series of rapid strikes, each one met with the demon's agile dodges and parries.

"Impressive speed," the demon hissed, its eyes narrowing as it began to adapt to Arjun’s rhythm. "But let’s see how you handle this!"

With a swift movement, the demon spun, hurling its spear toward Arjun in a spinning motion, the weapon cutting through the air like a deadly projectile aimed at his chest.

Arjun quickly sidestepped to the left, narrowly avoiding the spear as it whizzed past him. As the demon yanked the spear back, Arjun seized the opportunity. He lunged forward, bringing his sword down in a powerful arc aimed at the demon's shoulder.

The demon reacted just in time, deflecting Arjun's blade with the shaft of its spear, but the impact sent shockwaves up its arm. “Strange,” it hissed, regaining its composure, “you don’t seem to be using any holy aura. Are you belittling me?”

“Compared to those who have been chosen, I wasn’t blessed with that kind of power,” Arjun replied, “I’m just a normal human.”

"You get more interesting as this fight goes on," the demon chuckled, its voice dripping with malevolence. "But interesting isn't enough to keep you alive."

Arjun chuckled "Say what you want, Malachor, right hand man of Mammon," Arjun shot back, his gaze piercing as if he were staring straight into the demon's soul.

Malachor's eyes widened, momentarily taken aback by the knowledge of its name. "Well, well, seems like this little cat knows my name, not to mention Lord Mammon." A wicked grin spread across its face. "Well, now that you have said that, I suppose I must kill you with no mercy for tainting the name of Lord Mammon."

With that, Malachor surged forward, the shadows swirling around it like a tempest. It thrust its spear toward Arjun, the weapon glinting ominously in the dim light. Arjun dodged at the last moment, feeling the rush of air as the spear grazed past him, narrowly missing its mark.

Using the momentum of his dodge, Arjun spun around, bringing his sword down in a sweeping arc aimed at Malachor’s midsection. The demon quickly manifested a spear made of darkness in defense, deflecting the blow, but the force of the impact sent a jolt through both combatants.

"You'll have to do better than that!" Malachor hissed, pulling back its original spear and twirling it with deft precision before launching it again in a spiraling motion toward Arjun.

Anticipating the attack, Arjun dropped low and rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the spinning spear that sliced through the air. He quickly regained his footing, heart pounding in his chest. “You’ll find I’m not so easy to kill,” he declared, determination rising within him.

Malachor sneered, its malevolent aura intensifying. "Then let’s see how long you can last!" It lunged forward once more, shadows coiling around it like a living shroud as it prepared for another strike.

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And so, Malachor charged his malevolent aura for a finishing blow. The shadows flickered, and a massive spear formed from the darkness, appearing behind him.

“Little human, you will be crushed beneath my power!” Malachor shouted, its voice echoing with a terrible authority. "Spear of Desolation!" It commanded the spear, thrusting it toward Arjun at blistering speed.

“I knew you were going to do that, Malachor—your magnum opus,” Arjun taunted, a smirk forming as he anticipated the attack. “Too bad I already saw it coming.”

Arjun took a steady breath, raising his sword. "Advanced Sword Technique: Blade Flurry"

Just as the massive Spear of Desolation closed in, a sudden gust seemed to explode around Arjun. But it wasn’t air. No—the space before him erupted with rapid, precise slashes, each one slicing through the shadows as if they were mere fabric. Blades upon blades materialized with a blinding speed, forming a wall of relentless, razor-sharp arcs that met the incoming spear head-on.

The air crackled as Arjun’s flurry of strikes tore through Malachor’s spear, splintering it into fragments of dark energy that scattered into the void. The demon reeled, momentarily disoriented by the unexpected counter.

Without hesitation, Arjun seized the moment, lunging forward to strike while the demon was off-balance. "Let’s end this now," he said, his voice cold and steady. His blade flashed in a lethal arc, severing Malachor’s arm which held his spear cleanly at the shoulder.

The demon staggered back, crimson blood pooling at his side as his severed arm fell to the ground. His twisted face contorted with rage and agony. "You...!" he hissed through gritted teeth.

But Arjun’s gaze was unyielding, his voice cold as steel. "It’s time to rest now."

But was the battle truly over? Or was there something more lurking in the shadows?

A low, unsettling chuckle escaped Malachor, one that echoed through the shattered atrium, sending a chill through the air. "Don’t think you've won just yet," he sneered, an ominous gleam in his eyes. "I didn’t think I’d be forced to this," he continued, "but a true predator never relents, no matter how small its prey."

Suddenly, the shadows around Malachor pulsed, thickening and darkening until they swirled up around him like a cocoon of darkness. Energy radiated from the bubble-like shell forming around him, a wave of pure, malevolent power that sent tremors through the ground. Arjun instinctively leaped back, putting distance between them as he watched, eyes sharp, waiting for whatever horror lay inside to reveal itself.

For a tense moment, silence reigned, the darkness of the shell seeming to swallow all light and sound. And then, with a piercing crack, the shell shattered—exploding in a burst of shadowy fragments. Where Malachor had once stood now emerged a towering, monstrous form. Sharp wings, like jagged blades, stretched wide from his back, slicing through the air as they unfurled. A long, barbed tail whipped behind him, and his skin pulsed with dark energy, red veins of hellish power tracing patterns across his body.

Malachor’s form was now a true demon, a vision of destruction. His eyes blazed like molten coals as they fixed on Arjun, his once-smug expression now twisted into a look of pure, predatory malice.

Arjun’s heart pounded in his chest, each beat a thunderous reminder of the monstrosity before him. I didn’t know demons could transform like this, he thought, the realization crashing over him like a cold wave. The creature that had once taunted him was now a towering embodiment of chaos and destruction, radiating a hatred that threatened to suffocate him. Even the aura surrounding Malachor felt like a crushing weight, testing his resolve with every second.

But despite his uncertainty, Arjun steeled himself. Well, that was unexpected, he thought, his grip tightening on his sword. “You may have changed, but I’m not backing down.”

Malachor’s laughter filled the air, a guttural rumble that reverberated through the shattered atrium. “Then come, human,” he spat, stretching his wings wide. The shadows they cast loomed over Arjun, threatening to envelop him. “Show me your defiance!”

“Gladly,” Arjun replied, charging forward.

His blade gleamed in the dim light as he launched into a flurry of strikes, each one aimed to pierce through Malachor’s defenses. Steel clashed against flesh and shadow, but the demon was faster than he had anticipated, blocking and countering with unnerving ease. The demon’s tail lashed out, narrowly missing him, while Malachor’s spear arced through the air, leaving scorch marks on the ground where it struck.

Shit, that was close. I have to be faster, Arjun thought, adrenaline coursing through him.

One by one, his attacks were parried, each exchange chipping away at his stamina. Malachor grinned, relishing Arjun’s diminishing resilience. “Is that all?” he mocked, deflecting another strike before lashing out with his wing. The blow caught Arjun off guard, sending him sprawling across the ground. “For all your bravado, you are still just a frail human.”

Arjun grunted as he forced himself to his feet, blood dripping from a gash on his forehead. His vision blurred, yet he pushed on, charging again. This time, he managed to land a solid hit, slicing through Malachor’s side. But instead of recoiling, the demon sneered, the wound closing before Arjun’s eyes.

“Pathetic,” Malachor sneered, driving his spear down with crushing force. Arjun parried, but the impact sent him reeling, his legs shaking under the weight of exhaustion. His sword felt heavier now, each movement more sluggish.

“No, not now, I still have t—” Arjun was cut off as Malachor lunged forward.

With one final, brutal strike, Malachor’s spear crashed down on Arjun’s blade, shattering it into fragments and piercing straight through his heart. Arjun staggered back, gasping as searing pain radiated from his chest. His strength drained with every beat of his weakening heart. Hands instinctively moved to the wound, fingers stained with blood, vision dimming as Malachor loomed over him, triumphant.

“So pathetic...” Arjun’s voice was barely a whisper, tinged with bitterness. He forced a smile through the pain. I thought I could make a difference. I was wrong.

“I'm very sorry, Rea,” he murmured, the name slipping from his lips like a prayer.

Malachor watched with cruel satisfaction, eyes gleaming as Arjun’s life faded. “Now you see the futility,” he sneered. “To stand against true power is to invite your own end.”

As darkness closed in, a fleeting hope flickered in his heart. *Maybe someone else will finish the fight I couldn’t.* His vision blurred, and as his body slumped to the ground, the shattered fragments of his sword scattered around him like the silent echoes of his resolve.

Malachor looked down upon him, scoffing as he turned away, leaving Arjun’s still form behind.

{You held up well, Arjun, but you will not die just yet.} A deep, growling voice echoed within Arjun's fading consciousness, as he was consumed by the darkness.

“Pitiful human. Did he really think he could stand up to me?” Malachor scoffed, glancing back at Arjun’s lifeless form as he reverted to his human guise. He smirked, reveling in his victory. “Well, I guess I'll return to Lord Mammon—”

But his self-satisfaction was abruptly interrupted.

With a sudden rush, a shard of Arjun's broken sword whizzed past Malachor's side, narrowly missing him. His eyes widened in disbelief. “You! How are you still alive!?” he exclaimed, shocked to see Arjun’s body still standing, albeit limp and swaying. Yet something was different—an unsettling, malevolent aura emanated from him, sending shivers down Malachor's spine.

Arjun lunged forward once more, propelled by a force beyond his own will. The demon recoiled instinctively, dodging to the side as Arjun's broken sword slashed through the air with surprising ferocity. The remnants of Arjun's strength merged with the dark energy swirling around him, creating a storm of lethal intent.

With a grunt of frustration, Malachor retaliated, spinning his spear in a deadly arc before thrusting it toward Arjun. But the attack passed harmlessly through the space where Arjun had stood moments before. He had vanished, only to reappear behind Malachor, eyes lifeless yet somehow imbued with a chilling determination that contradicted his battered state.

“Is this all you have, human?” Malachor taunted, but uncertainty crept into his voice as he felt the intensity of the aura enveloping Arjun. He braced himself, deflecting another desperate slash from the broken sword, the clash of weaponry echoing through the ruined atrium.

Arjun struck again, movements fueled by raw, untamed energy. Each attack resonated with a power that was not his own, a force awakened within him. Malachor's frustration mounted as he found himself on the defensive, struggling to comprehend the sudden shift in their battle.

As the fight escalated, Malachor began to realize something unsettling. This was not merely Arjun fighting for survival—it was something far more ominous. What is this malevolent aura from this human? He shouldn’t be exuding this!

With each passing moment, Arjun's strikes became more relentless, a symphony of rage and desperation that left Malachor scrambling to maintain his footing. The shadows danced around Arjun, their dark tendrils curling and weaving as if answering his call, amplifying his strength with every blow.

“What are you?!” Malachor shouted, desperation creeping into his voice. He twisted his spear, attempting to regain control, but Arjun surged forward once more, and the darkness surrounding him roared in response.

Malachor barely dodged the strike, instincts kicking in as he realized the danger of underestimating his opponent. He could not tap into his demonoid form again for some time, having exhausted most of his energy in that transformation. A cold dread settled over him; he had no choice but to retreat, a sliver of uncertainty gnawing at the edges of his mind.

As Malachor stumbled back, he felt the weight of Arjun's aura pressing down upon him, a reminder that the human he had dismissed was now a formidable force. The shadows that cloaked Arjun pulsed with life, urging him onward, promising power with every swing of his blade.

“This isn’t over,” Malachor hissed, eyeing Arjun with a mixture of fear and contempt. He turned, retreating into the depths of the shattered atrium, but not without casting one last, wary glance back at the defiant figure standing amid the chaos. Arjun, now more than just a human, was a harbinger of something darker—something even a demon like Malachor could not ignore.

As Malachor faded into the darkness, Arjun stood quietly, his body trembling as the mysterious force began to drain away. The shadows that had once surged around him receded, leaving only the oppressive weight of exhaustion in their wake, before finally... collapsing.