The arena still smelled of blood and ashes. The cries of the fallen echoed faintly in Zaigar's mind as he lay unconscious in the center of the battlefield. His body was broken, but his victory against the golden-armored demon warrior had been undeniable. For a moment, silence reigned.
Then the ground trembled. A suffocating pressure swept across the field, stronger than any aura the warriors had ever felt. The remaining soldiers and spectators froze in terror as a tall, beautiful yet terrifying woman stepped out of a dark rift. Her eyes glowed crimson, and her hair flowed like ink in the wind.
"It's her…," someone whispered with a trembling voice.
"The Fifth Demon Lord…"
Celia's breath caught in her throat, and even General Allen's hand tightened around his sword. None of them had expected that one of the Five Great Demon Lords would appear in person.
The Demon Lady's cold gaze fell on the unconscious Zaigar. Her lips curved into a cruel smile as she drew a wickedly curved blade. Slowly, step by step, she walked toward him, her killing intent suffocating everyone present.
"I see…" she whispered. "So this is the so-called champion who caused such a disturbance. Pathetic. I'll end his life before he wakes up."
She raised her sword, ready to strike down at Zaigar's defenseless body.
But before the blade could fall, a voice roared across the arena.
"STOP!"
Kael, the half-demon swordsman, broke free from his restraints and rushed forward like lightning. His eyes blazed with fury as he shouted at the king seated upon his throne.
"King Aldebran! Release us at once! He is the victor of the trial—by your own decree, he cannot be slain like this!"
The king, startled by Kael's sudden defiance, hesitated. For a brief moment, silence fell. Then Aldebran sighed, his stern face showing both annoyance and admiration.
"Very well," the king said. "You and your companions have earned your freedom. Guards, unseal their weapons."
Chains and magical binds shattered. Kael immediately grabbed his swords. Without hesitation, he dashed across the arena, intercepting the descending strike of the Demon Lord with a ringing clang. Sparks flew as steel met steel.
The Fifth Demon Lord's eyes narrowed. "You dare oppose me, half-breed?"
Kael's voice was steady. "If you want to kill him… you'll have to go through me."
The Demon Lady sneered. "You? You're barely even worthy of my attention. Do you truly believe you can stand against me?"
"Less talking," Kael said coldly. He shifted into stance, both blades glowing faintly. "More fighting."
With a snarl, the Demon Lady lunged. Their swords clashed again, sending shockwaves rippling through the arena. The audience gasped as the two warriors moved so fast their figures blurred.
Kael fought with ferocity he had never shown before. He ducked under a slash and countered with a sweeping strike, managing to cut across the Demon Lord's arm. For the first time, her expression twisted in surprise.
"Hmph. Not bad… for a mongrel."
Her wound closed instantly, dark energy knitting flesh and bone back together. She smirked. "Why waste your strength, swordsman? Why not join me instead? With your skills, you could serve under my banner. You wouldn't even have to die here."
Kael's grip tightened around his swords. His lips curved into a grim smile. "You think I'd join a monster like you? Save your breath."
And then, without another word, Kael performed a technique no one in the group had ever seen before. He raised his sword high, letting it hover in mid-air. With a flick of his hand, the single blade split into two, each glowing with equal force.
The crowd gasped. Even the Demon Lady's eyes flickered with intrigue. "Interesting…" she muttered. "Perhaps you are worth killing after all."
The duel escalated into chaos. Kael unleashed a technique called Blazing Twin Dragons, slashing in arcs that lit the air with searing trails of fire. The Demon Lady countered with dark energy blasts, the collision shaking the arena to its foundations.
Still, Kael did not falter. His determination burned brighter than the flames around him. Each strike carried the weight of his promise—to protect Zaigar, to protect the team, and to fight without hesitation.
Finally, Kael roared, channeling all his energy into his strongest technique: Hellfire Dragon Fang. His twin blades erupted with crimson fire, taking the shape of a massive dragon that lunged at the Demon Lady.
Her eyes widened. She raised her blade to block, but the sheer force of the technique was overwhelming. The explosion that followed shook the heavens themselves. When the dust cleared, the Demon Lady stood trembling, her body split in two from shoulder to hip.
Her final scream echoed across the battlefield before her form disintegrated into ashes.
Silence fell. The impossible had happened—the Fifth Demon Lord had been slain.
Kael staggered, his body nearly broken from the battle. He dropped his swords and fell beside Zaigar, his chest heaving. With a weak laugh, he muttered, "Looks like… I finally get to rest too…"
Before his vision darkened, he saw a fleeting memory—himself as a child, speaking to the ancient talking tree that had once guided him. Its voice was gentle, telling him to protect those precious to him. Then the memory faded, and Kael fell unconscious.
The group rushed forward. Celia's face was pale as she knelt beside the two fallen warriors. "Zaigar! Kael!"
Lord Elyan clenched his fists, while General Allen barked orders to secure the area.
For three days, both Zaigar and Kael remained unconscious. The group set up camp in a forest, building a protective barrier around a large tent. They took turns keeping watch, waiting anxiously for their companions to wake.
On the morning of the third day, Zaigar finally stirred. His stomach growled loudly. "Ugh… food…"
The group burst out laughing in relief. Kael awoke soon after, groaning as he sat up. "Still alive… huh?"
Celia immediately punched both of them lightly on the head, tears in her eyes. "Don't you ever do something that reckless again! Do you even realize how worried we were?!"
The two exchanged sheepish looks but smiled nonetheless. That night, the group held a small celebration around a fire, eating, drinking, and laughing until exhaustion carried them into sleep.
But Zaigar could not sleep. Guided by a quiet voice in his mind, he slipped away from the camp with his mysterious pen in hand. Under the moonlight, he whispered, "Pen… during the fight, I saw someone. Someone who looked like me."
The pen's voice echoed in his mind. That was not a man… That was the Goddess of Demons.
Zaigar froze. "What? The Goddess of Demons actually exists?"
Yes, the pen answered solemnly. I was there at the dawn of the Demon Realm. I once served only one master—the Goddess herself.
Zaigar's heart raced. "Then… she's alive?"
No, the pen said. The Goddess was slain long ago by the other gods. I never learned why. But I swear, I never saw her commit evil or cruelty. She wielded great power, yet treated even demons with fairness.
Zaigar clenched his fist. "What kind of power did she have?"
The pen's voice lowered. The power to paint reality. The power to control destiny itself.
Zaigar gasped. "To… control destiny?"
Yes. She could shape the future with her brush. And now, as my master, you too may inherit this power. But only when the time is right.
Zaigar gazed at the night sky, his thoughts heavy. Control destiny… Could he truly bear such a responsibility?
As dawn broke, the group gathered their belongings and prepared to move once more. Their journey was far from over, and their next destination awaited them beyond the horizon.
But in the shadows, unseen eyes watched their every step.
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End of Chapter 8