The creatures had surrounded Asmodeus.
His breathing was uneven.
He didn't even know how to hold the sword, let alone how to swing it.
One more step from them…
and it would be over.
Suddenly, a voice spoke.
"Hey, kid."
Asmodeus flinched.
He couldn't tell where the voice was coming from.
"Hey. I'm talking to you."
Then he realized it.
The voice…
was coming from the sword.
"Take me. Now."
There was no time to think.
Asmodeus lunged for Excalibur.
The moment he swung it, the air split apart.
A massive force erupted.
One demonic creature was cleaved in two.
But five of them still remained.
A claw struck from behind tearing into his arm.
Blood spilled.
And in that instant, purple mana burst from Asmodeus's body.
Wild.
Uncontrolled.
His vision went dark.
When he woke up, the forest was silent.
The ground was soaked in blood.
Demonic corpses lay scattered all around him.
He couldn't remember what he had done.
But Arthur's words echoed in his mind:
"There is a great darkness within you."
He was starting to understand.
At least a little.
His first goal was clear—
to leave the forest.
He wiped the blood from himself.
Took Excalibur in hand..
And headed toward the barrier.
"Arthur never told you this, but…"
The sword spoke again.
"There is a weak point in the barrier."
"You can pass through it. I'll guide you."
Asmodeus silently nodded.
As they approached the weak point, the ground began to move.
A gigantic serpent emerged.
Its eyes burned like hellfire.
"Tsss…"
"And who is this child visiting me?"
"I'll give you two choices."
"Become my meal…
or become my meal a little later."
"Shut up."
Asmodeus charged.
But the serpent caught him midair with its tail.
His bones groaned.
"You have courage, child," the serpent hissed.
"But courage without power is meaningless."
The serpent tightened its grip.
Asmodeus struggled to breathe.
As he was dragged toward its jaws, Asmodeus waited.
Now.
"Excalibur!"
The sword blazed.
Light exploded.
The serpent's eyes were burned blind.
In the brief opening—
BAM!
One of its eyes shattered.
The serpent recoiled in agony.
Demonic energy surged outward.
Asmodeus didn't hesitate.
He ran toward the barrier's weak point.
His entire body felt like it was burning.
His legs trembled.
But Excalibur protected him.
And then—
Light.
For the first time in his life, Asmodeus saw the sun.
His eyes burned with pain.
But he smiled.
A caravan was approaching in the distance.
The sound of hooves drew closer.
Asmodeus took one more step…
And collapsed.
Darkness claimed him once more.
But this time…
he was not alone.