Just as the Virtues hurried to find the demon, he began to step forward, his metallic boots clicking and clanking against rocks. He faced the rising sun, just as the gleaming orb of light began to climb into the horizon, with golden rays beginning to pierce into his line of sight.

The demon of Greed stood atop a short mountain, a hill, doing nothing more than gazing down at the massive city, the cluster of endless and silver and golden lights.

He slowly began to think to himself. The lights before him, the massive sea of structures... 'These are all people?...' Mammon asked himself.

His breaths grew shaky as he began to tremble. He gripped his shoulders, just as a crooked grin grew plastered on his face of dull gray skin. His azure eyes began to twist, swirl with mirth as he spoke to himself.

"Marvelous..." he muttered. "What a wonderful age this world hath brought!" he shouted out, spreading his arms wide as he began to cackle.

"There's so many of them!" Mammon cried out. "So many humans! All over the place, as if it's a breeding ground for cattle! Spawning like maggots!"

He gripped the sides of his face, his talon-like nails gently rubbing against his coarse skin. "Marvelous..." he repeated.

"It'll be a massacre!"

- - - - -

Alexander's feet were planted atop a stone hill, nothing more than a pile of rocks. But he wasn't staring down at the grand city. His eyes were shut, his lips pressed together. He was hardly breathing.

Alexander was waiting alone. Waiting for the demon, waiting for the Virtues. All he had to do was sense their energy. The Demon-Born wore a simple, black hoodie, much like the one Anastasia had given him. But other than that, he wore dark sweatpants and sneakers.

As always, his appearance wasn't one for battle. His hood sat atop his head, keeping his hair barely flowing in the wind.

In his hands, he held a simple plastic water bottle. It was nearly empty, even after the many times he had filled it from a stream he kept returning to over the night. He had tried his best to preserve water as efficiently as possible, but even then, he couldn't resist the thirst that killed his throat.

He took a swig of water, downing the rest in the bottle and leaving it empty. Alexander grit his teeth and crushed the bottle in his hands. The plastic was crumpled, just as he threw it into his black bag at his side.

It was then.

Demonic energy finally sprung into the air. Alexander's eyes widened in an instant, leaving him to suck in air as he nearly lost his balance. He spun his arms until he could steady himself, before turning his head to the side.

His eyes followed the demon's movements. Rather, the movements he could sense.

"There he is!" he spoke to himself, his obsidian eyes gleaming as he readied himself.

Alexander tilted his neck to the side. With his crackling bones, Alexander took in a deep breath.

His mind and body were prepared.

Alexander gripped a weapon that sat behind his belt. Alexander quickly unsheathed a silver-blue dagger and twirled it in his hands. He sheathed it again as soon as he inspected it. And with that, he let a soft sigh leave his lips.

"And here we go."

Those were the only words he uttered, before springing forth and becoming nothing more than a dark blur.

It wasn't long before he reached the demon. And with no time to waste, he launched himself at his enemy with a single strike to his head.

Alexander fell from a tree and as he descended from above, his energy-dense fist exploded against the demon.

Mammon immediately crashed to the ground, his head cracking apart the stone ground with his impact. A thin cloud of dust rose as Alexander's feet once again grazed the ground. But before he could take a step towards the demon...

He arose.

Mammon stood at nearly eight feet tall, which wasn't so unusual for demons of his caliber. If anything, he was too short. Belphegor and Asmodeus were taller. And they looked far more devilish.

The demon of greed had quite the human appearance. The other two Princes were practically personifications of what demons and devils looked like. But this one...

His skin was a dull grey. His nose was straight, perfectly human, just as his lips were. He had no horn, only beady blue eyes that glowed like the skies. Mammon was muscular, fitting for a warrior, but nothing special.

Had it not been for a handful of specific details, he would be nothing more than a tall human. One in armor. One who moved with the intent to kill.

"Now, there..." he began to say. "You barely gave me a moment to get used to this new form."

Alexander clenched his jaw and raised his fist.

"The air pressure, the gravitational force, even the smell of the air and of the wind! It's all different. It all takes getting used to."

With a sharp breath, Alexander dashed at the demon. His feet were pressed against the stone ground and launched him forward. Alexander drew his fist back, and just as he unleashed a strike...

Mammon opened his hand and unveiled his palm.

Alexander's fist crashed into Mammon's chest, striking him just below the ribs.

"Ah..." the demon uttered. "I had intended on catching your fist. But it seems you're faster than I expected, boy."

Once again, Alexander wasted no time. He jumped up, swinging his leg directly at the demon. The impact forced him back, his feet sliding back under the cracked ground and rock.

"See, I think I'm getting it," Mammon mumbled. "Yes, I was here on Midgard just a couple of centuries ago. Things haven't changed much. So..."

Just as Alexander prepared himself for another attack, Mammon grabbed his wrist.

He yanked Alexander up and spun. The demon let go and launched Alexander into the air.

'How'd he get that much faster?!' Alexander thought to himself. But just as he flew through the sky, he focused back on the demon.

He was gone. Nothing stood at the epicenter of the cracked ground. And so...

"Son of a bitch!" he shouted out.

Mammon reappeared at Alexander's side, his fist clenched, drawn, and readied.

'Dammit.'

That was Alexander's only thought before the hit.

The impact of Mammon's hit forced Alexander to the ground. The stone cracked and shattered with Alexander's fall.

Alexander coughed, spewing spit and saliva into the air as more dust flew up.

"I think I'm starting to get the hang of this!" Mammon said, finally landing on the ground beside Alexander.

"Oh, you are?" Alexander managed to say. "Good for you."

"Thank you. But in all honesty, I didn't expect you to be so quick. Nor did I expect your survival. You're... sturdy."

Alexander stared. And with a grunt, he forced himself up. "...That's kind of my selling point." Dust and crushed stone danced off his clothes as he prepared himself to continue.

"So then why are you fighting against me?" the demon asked. "You should be fighting for me! If we work together- Well, you wouldn't be much help, to begin with, but I'll spare you and-"

The Demon-Born interrupted the Prince. "No, thanks," he muttered. "I managed to kill Belphegor and Asmodeus, so I'm guessing I'll manage to kill you, too."

Mammon grinned, his ivory fangs flashing at Alexander. "Confident, are we?"

"Well, there's no harm in that."

"We'll see."

Mammon began to run towards the Demon-Born. Alexander already understood the demon's immense capability when it came to combat. His gait, the way he carried himself, and the way he decided his actions. Everything.

He was a true warrior.

Their clash resumed with the demon's fist once again crashing into Alexander.

His bones were cracking, groaning under the weight of the demon's fist. But he didn't let himself falter.

Still... What came next was Alexander crashing into a stone hill. Dust and dirt filled the air.

He spat out a grunt and groan, his bloodied saliva dripping down his lip and onto his lap. "Fuck," he grumbled, swallowing the rest of his saliva. His lip remained red with his blood, just as more crimson leaked down the side of his forehead.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

But from the corner of his eye, he saw them.

People.

Just about half a dozen people, standing and staring in silence, in confusion and fear.

The forest, the hills... It was a park, after all.

They were just hikers in the early morning, just an unfortunate few who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. They all understood that as soon as the demon's quaking footsteps echoed on the ground they stood on.

Mammon, the massive being finally pierced their line of sight as he walked through the shadowing underbrush of the forest. He turned to them and stared, a slight smile growing on his lips.

His armor was crumpled in some places, other spots burned with the heat of dense magic energy.

Bystanders stood in a frozen shock. Fear held them with a monstrous grip, keeping them in a slow silence.

An all too understandable feeling to Alexander.

The feeling that tightens your throat, the feeling that drives you to your knees as soon as you take a breath, as soon as you try to take a step.

Alexander forced himself to stand from the rubble of stone. The blood dripping down the side of his head was already cascading over his left eye, leaving a sheet of crimson above him and his sight.

"Run!" he managed to spew out, spit and saliva bursting from his mouth as he shouted.

He forced himself to his feet and shouted once again, "Go!" Alexander quickly clenched his bloodied fist and readied another attack.

Magic energy swirled in the air around him and condensed around his arm. He cocked his fist back and grit his teeth.

"Don't you think..." he began to mutter to the demon. "Don't you think it's better to kill someone worth killing? Instead of the weak rabble?" Alexander asked.

Mammon titled his neck to the side. "You're just trying to protect them. Trading your life for theirs?"

"And?" Alexander asked.

The demon smiled. "Well... No matter. I'll slaughter this entire city right after you."

In an instant, he dashed towards Alexander. The demon laughed out, cocking back his fist and launching it within the same movement.

It only took a single step forward for Mammon to reach up. Alexander couldn't dodge. All he could do was...

'Guard!' he urged himself.

His arms shot up, facing to block the attack. And Mammon's fist collided with Alexander's forearms.

Alexander's feet remained planted onto the ground, just as more and more magic energy condensed around his hands.

But that didn't prevent him from sliding back against the ground, digging into the stone and pushing through it with the impact. With that singular strike, Alexander understood.

Mammon's magic, his power, his enhancement... It was all leagues above his own, as if the demon had spent thousands of years honing such magic.

And with another of Mammon's simple strikes, Alexander was launched back. His body flung through the air, only stopping as his back hit the trunk of a nearby tree.

That impact was all it took to knock the tree down.

Alexander fell back-first into the ground, dust rising from the cracking of the stone.

The boy could hardly breathe. Each hit was strong enough to knock the air out of his lungs. And with that final hit connecting with his chest and bones...

Alexander forced in a breath.

Back on his feet, he continued the supply of energy into his body, activating the torrent magic, all to destroy the demon.

They moved at each other in unison... And as Alexander launched his strike, their fists collided.

Alexander's arm trembled from the blowback from their impact, the sheer force strong enough to blow apart his sleeve in an instant. But he didn't waver. And he wasted no time with a follow-up.

The same happened as his left fist collided with Mammon's right.

But Alexander only grit his teeth and commanded himself. 'Faster! Faster! Go faster!'

All while he threw a volley of his punches.

Their fists continued to strike into each other's. But even then... Some managed to get through to the demon and into his armor. The same was in reverse.

Mammon quickly noticed the boy's attacks and how they worked on him. Or rather, there was a slight sensation of pain to be felt under his armor.

As for Alexander, that pain wasn't so slight.

He clenched his jaw and grit his teeth more and more with each of Mammon's attacks that landed. Blood began to force its way into his mouth, his tongue once again tasting crimson and liquid iron.

But when the demon's fist suddenly struck Alexander's liver, his mouth exploded open, the blood bursting out of his teeth like water from a dam. He was seconds away from collapsing to his knees.

The next fist connected with Alexander's side, hitting his liver. And the only thing the boy could do was keep himself from screaming out in pain.

But... Despite the gargantuan pain that reverberated through his body, the pain that burned in his clenched jaw and grit teeth... Alexander's eyes only flared with a smile of determination.

"You've been staying close for a while, haven't you, Mammon?" Alexander muttered through his grit teeth.

Energy was already concentrated onto his fist, building up at the same time as his physical enhancements. It was only an instant, only a blur as Alexander let out his fist and drove into Mammon's gut.

What Alexander let out... was the single strongest strike he had unleashed.

His fist collided square onto the demon's chest, crushing the plate of armor he wore and sending him flying.

'Finally...' Alexander thought to himself, staring at the ground and letting out a breath. He didn't have to see to understand what he had just done.

Droplets of blood fell from his chin and onto the ground.

Just as Alexander wouldn't waver, neither would Mammon. He was the demon of Greed, he was the one who sought conquest and chaos. And so, he wouldn't yield. Not until he got what he wanted.

Not until he won.

And even though Alexander's attack had crushed part of his armor, and had made him feel pain he hadn't known for centuries... Mammon smiled.

After all...

Alexander can't win like this. His arms were drooping over, his body leaning forward and his vision focused on the floor. There was burning, singeing pain in his arms, his breaths were shaky and his vision bloodshot.

'This boy will soon collapse.'

Mammon began to walk over towards Alexander. 'Even so... This is so fucking pleasant!' he thought with a crooked grin. 'I'll have to make the most of this experience.'

His pace began to quicken. And Alexander sighed.

Even if he tried, he wouldn't have been able to dodge that strike. Nor the one that followed. Nor any of the next three.

And it was with that fifth bullet of a kick that flung Alexander's body's into the air.

Just as he tumbled over the ground and through the dirt...

A pair of arms, swathed in white cloth opened up and caught Alexander.

Lumiel had touched Alexander for just a second, but her hands were already painted with blood. She was quick to act, quick to heal, and only smiled at Alexander as their eyes met.

Alexander's feet skid across the ground. "You guys are late."

"You're just early."

"Where the hell even were you this whole time?!" Giovanna shouted out, running up and smacking the side of his head.

Alexander's head didn't budge. "Had to focus. Sorry," he said with a laugh. "Hope you guys don't mind that I went along first, though."

"We don't mind," Lumiel told him, her green eyes lighting up with her smile. "Although... I'm sure he does."

"Yeah," Alexander said, smirking as he once again fixed his sights on the demon. "Where is Gabriel, by the way?"

"Circling around."

Spikes shot up from the stone ground the instant Giovanna slammed her palm into the ground. She winced as sharp rocks began to pierce her skin. But she wasted no time.

With more magic, more energy built up into larger and faster attacks, finally encircling the demon, even as he moved back to evade the spikes from impaling him.

But he was trapped. And Leonard's bright and crimson magic burst up into the air, flames engulfing the Prince.

And without a moment to spare, Gabriel shot up from behind, Excalibur in his hand. All he needed was one clean strike, one swing to sever the demon's head. His blade was brandished, glimmering and glowing in its silver beauty, ready to kill.

The demon instinctively moved. He ducked his head and whirled around, jumping up and grabbing Gabriel's head within the same motion. In the air, he smiled, his ivory fangs twisting and flashing, just as he pushed his arm down and slammed Gabriel's head into the ground.

Once again, the stone cracked under the weight. And Gabriel's head was once again swirling and dazed with the impact. The stone spikes cracked and splintered with the sheer force.

Excalibur clattered onto the ground and bounced meters away, falling in between the demon and the Virtues.

Lumiel's magic energy was doing enough to heal Alexander. His pain was already slipping away. Alexander clenched his jaw just as his sight found the holy sword.

Giovanna and Leonard began to rush in on the demon, on Gabriel. But in the next instant, as they moved, as the demon looked up with a grin...

The sword began a blur in the air, flinging back and sliding into Alexander's hands.

Alexander firmly grasped Excalibur, preparing for Mammon's next attack.

But even with the silver holy sword, it wasn't enough to change the flow of the fight.

Alexander was still getting beat. Fists were still flying and striking into Alexander's bruised bones.

Their battle raged on, pushing them back and away from the other Virtues, even as the humans scurried with them and threw whatever they could at the demon. But Mammon didn't care.

Alexander was the only one capable of hurting him. His battle with the dangerous one, his battle with the one who held Excalibur... was far more entertaining than anything the others could produce.

And so...

"Come on!" Mammon shouted, as Alexander blocked and struggled against each of his strikes. "Give me more! Make this worth it, boy!" the demon cackled.

This time, his palm was open, his fingers wide and spread apart with a dense orb of pure magical energy.

'What the hell?...' Alexander thought.

The demon was moving, heading right for the sword. And that momentary confusion, that lapse in judgment was enough to slow Alexander down.

And with a single exhale from the demon, with a single second and a slight burst of light...

The demonic magic energy slid into Excalibur's grand blade. Mammon's movements were rapid enough to pull his hand back before touching the holy sword. But his magic had already seeped in.

And in the next second...

Excalibur cracked.

The battlefield itself froze for a moment. And in the next, in only an instant, those thin cracks exploded and burst throughout the sword, breaking apart its blade, exploding it into dozens of thin silver shards.

And that single thought of confusion echoed once again in Alexander's mind.

Time itself seemed to slow down. It seemed to fall still.

Excalibur had been destroyed. Shards of shattered silver steel danced in the air like leaves in the wind.

The blade had burst like glass. And how?

That wasn't supposed to be possible. Was it?

Was it the demonic energy?

No.

The sword itself would negate the demon's magic. The problem was...

The amount of magic energy.

That massive orb of condensed magic energy in Mammon's palm was too much. Too much for any existing object or being. The gargantuan amount of energy was all it took to overflow the sword with magic, down to each molecule.

And under that grand pressure, it cracked. It burst. It exploded.

Alexander still held the hilt in his hand. He stared at it, and the thin pieces of metal that remained attached with the handle.

"What... What the hell did you-"

Another of Mammon's strikes flew out into Alexander's chest.

The boy was knocked back, his back colliding with the trunk of a tree.

More blood burst from his mouth, from his teeth like a cracked dam. He fell to the ground, down to his knees and elbows in an attempt to stay up.

But the very strength of his body was stripped away. Staying on his elbows was all he could manage.

Blood didn't leak from his body like it had within his other battles. He was bruised and battered, but his blood remained inside. His bleeding was internal, and that crimson fluid began to seep into his throat, even as he struggled more and more to take in air.

He slowly raised his head and forced in a breath. That alone was a struggle. And the aching of his heart only worsened with the sight of the tornado of flames around Mammon.

Leonard and Gabriel's attacks were powerful, but meaningless to the demon of greed.

That devil did not stop moving forward. A mere thrust of his arm disrupted the energy in such an attack. Flames and wind and magic itself burst into the air and dissipated in an instant.

And he kept moving.

'Run.'

That's what Alexander wanted to say as he tried to stand. He forced himself onto one of his feet, stamping onto the ground to get the other up. But he couldn't speak for that matter. His throat was filled, caked with blood. Oxygen was hardly reaching his brain as he continued to struggle for breath.

And yet, he continued. Clawing at the ground and gritting his teeth, he forced in another breath.

'Run,' he told himself.

'Just run,' he tried to tell his friends. '...while you still can.'

There was no way to win. Especially with Alexander choking on his own blood.

His throat was already closed up. And with his hands wrapped around his neck as he gasped for air, he fell back to his knees.

This awful feeling... It was unlike any other, unlike anything else he had felt before.

But... But what was it, he asked himself. There was a toxic feeling in his mouth. There was the hideous urge to throw up, the desire to burn and accept the death to come.

Was this true fear? Was this despair?

His body was chilled to the bone. And his mind slowly went blank, his vision beginning to fade. Everything... was going dark.

His vision faded away to pure blackness, and nothing else outside of that infinite darkness. No sounds, no sights, no sensations or feelings of any kind. Beyond and within the endless night he stood within, there was no pain.

There was nothing, except for him.

And yet, everything was clear.

A deep, distorted voice echoed throughout the black serenity of his fearful mind.

"Let the demonic power flow through you, boy."

That strange calling was the only command it took for Alexander's body to heat up, overflowing and surging with pure energy.

The voice spoke once again. "And become its vessel."