"But during the battle, we must not be careless under any circumstances."
Arata Hayashi's calm voice cut through the air as he pointed forward."For example, your enemies are not that simple to deal with."
"Eh?"Kasumigaoka Utaha blinked in confusion.
"After all," Arata continued, his eyes narrowing, "they're from the Phoenix Clan — beings known for their rebirth."
He sighed slightly. "Their strength isn't that great… but they are annoyingly hard to kill."
Hearing that, Utaha turned her head toward the battlefield.The ground was charred black, the last embers flickering out in the smoky air.
Except for Riser Phoenix, over ten of his followers lay motionless on the ground.But their bodies still pulsed faintly with life — their wounds closing and burning away in an instant.
Moments later, they staggered back to their feet as if nothing had happened.
"Phoenix's Tears," Arata explained coldly."It's their family's secret treasure. It can instantly heal any injury to the user."
"There's something like that?" Utaha muttered, lips twitching. After a pause, she added dryly, "Isn't that basically cheating?"
Instant healing? How was anyone supposed to fight that?
"Boy," Riser's voice rang out, regaining his usual arrogance, "I admit the strength of your followers is beyond my expectations… but with Phoenix's Tears, you'll still be the losers."
Arata's expression didn't change."It's blind confidence," he said flatly. "So what if they can heal? They're still just weaklings."
"Master is right."Esdeath stepped forward beside him, her long blue hair swaying in the cold air, a dangerous smile curling on her lips.
"Even if they recover, that just means I get to kill them more times."
Her voice grew colder. "Besides, no matter how powerful a treasure is, it's meaningless if you don't get the chance to use it."
As soon as she finished, she raised her hand.
A storm of biting frost burst forth.
The air turned into a blizzard; the entire battlefield, the streets, even the surrounding space froze in seconds.The Phoenix Clan warriors — and even Riser himself — were encased in solid ice before they could react, their faces twisted in disbelief.
Arata watched quietly."Esdeath's ice has grown even stronger," he murmured.
Ever since she and Akame had become devils under his banner, their power had risen exponentially — freed from the limits of humanity.
"This woman is terrifying," Utaha whispered, watching Esdeath with awe — then smirked slightly.No matter how strong she was, she was still obedient before her master. That thought made Utaha feel strangely proud.
"…Is she thinking something rude again?" Esdeath muttered, sensing Utaha's expression.
But before she could act, the sound of cracking ice rang out.
The frozen Riser Phoenix began to tremble — flames bursting forth.In an instant, the ice melted into water, and he emerged once more, covered in burns but very much alive.
"Oh, not bad," Esdeath said softly, a hungry gleam in her eyes. "The next hunt might actually be fun."
An icy blade materialized in her hand, sharp enough to freeze the air itself.
"A mere reincarnated devil dares look down on me?" Riser growled, his flames swirling into a fiery vortex.The two charged at each other.
Boom!
When ice met fire, the world itself seemed to split in two.One half was a realm of blazing flame, the other an endless tundra of frost.
Ice spears tore through the vortex as Esdeath closed in.Her blade slashed again and again — each strike precise, merciless, cutting deep into Riser's flesh.
If it were a contest of raw power, they were evenly matched — but Esdeath's battle instincts were far sharper.
With a cry, Riser was sent flying, crashing into the ground hard enough to leave a trench behind.
"You…" he spat, trembling, his eyes wide. "How can I lose to a lower-class devil?!"
Esdeath's expression didn't change. "You talk too much."
Riser laughed manically, his face twisting. "Let's see how many times you can kill me! I am immortal!"
The wounds on his body began to glow — flesh writhing as his severed arm regrew before their eyes.
"You think immortality makes you untouchable?" Esdeath scoffed. "You're a high-ranking devil, yet you fight like trash."
As a battle maniac, she found this type of fight disgusting — endless, meaningless regeneration instead of true combat.
"It's not even worth my time," she said, stepping back.
"Let me handle this," Arata said calmly. "It's difficult for you to kill someone like him."
Esdeath nodded, retreating behind him.
Arata looked at Riser Phoenix, his gaze turning cold."Trash or not, you've helped my followers gain experience. That's the only value you had."
"You dare mock me?!" Riser roared, his body flaring with hellfire. "You can't kill me! I'll—"
Before he could finish, Arata lifted his hand.
Golden lightning split the heavens.
The air itself seemed to collapse as thunder filled the world.For the first time, the Original Magic of Arata Hayashi manifested in its true form.
The sky was pierced by divine radiance.The earth trembled as arcs of golden thunder descended like judgment itself.
Riser's eyes widened in horror."W-what kind of magic is this…?" he stammered, genuine fear flashing across his face.
His instincts screamed — that lightning could destroy not just his body, but his soul.
"Perish."
The flames he summoned were obliterated in an instant, swallowed whole by divine thunder.The light consumed him completely — until not even ashes remained.
Silence fell.
Even the ground stopped trembling.
Riser Phoenix… was gone.
"So much for immortality," Arata said softly, lowering his hand as sparks faded into the night.
He smiled coldly."In this world, there's no such thing as true immortality. As long as the soul can be destroyed… everything dies."
Behind him, the air still crackled faintly with golden light — the remnants of a power said to return all worlds to ruin.