Final Battle

Syrene, Celina, and Irine charged together. Yet Irine, who was far faster, managed to breach the demon’s reach first. She slid beneath his horizontal blade swing, then launched a vertical punch toward his chin.

Thud.

Despite her small and youthful appearance, the blow only pushed the demon back a single step.

Fortunately, before he regained his balance, Syrene and Celina swung their weapons together at the bone helm covering his face. Their combined strike sent him flying and shattered the helmet into fragments.

The demon rose immediately with eyes full of rage. A stream of foul green liquid trickled from the slight crack on his forehead.

"I will truly kill you."

With one pull, his sword returned to the form of a whip. Yet when he attempted to swing it, the weapon halted in place, frozen by Elysia’s ice that had covered the entire cavern.

"Tch."

"Hah. Without your weapon, you are nothing."

Syrene leapt high and swung her axe downward with full force, cracking his bone armor. She used that momentum to spin and strike again, her vertical swing landing at the same time Irine punched the demon’s head with her iron gauntlet. Their combined force sent him crashing into the ice-covered wall.

Now it was Elysia’s turn.

She clasped her fingers together, and ice spread across the demon’s body like wild creeping vines, freezing him almost entirely.

Not stopping there, Elysia rotated her hands. Jagged ice spikes erupted from the ground around him and pierced through his armor that had already been destroyed.

"Something like this cannot stop me."

"Keep talking. We will be the ones who win."

Suddenly, the tip of the ice spike Elysia had driven into him began to glow. A magic circle activated from within. Chains materialized and bound the demon, followed by poisonous smoke that seeped into his nasal passages.

"Cough... cough... what is this? How is it possible?"

Elysia smiled, satisfied.

Lanesra had previously prepared various debuffs and binding spells on top of Elysia’s ice layer. Elysia only needed to bring the circle close and touch the target to activate them. The spells were not individually strong, but once stacked, they were more than enough to immobilize him for a moment.

That was the foundation of the plan they had all created together. Yet it was still not enough. This was where Syrene’s role as the team’s main destroyer became vital.

"Let me finish this."

Syrene ran forward while dragging her heavy axe, flames still swirling around her. The demon raised his hand and summoned bone bars from the ground to block her path. Yet from behind, Arabella and the others launched mid tier fire magic, followed by Celina’s sword strike made of pure mana.

Crack.

The bone bars shattered instantly. Syrene moved freely. She spun her body to build momentum for her next attack.

"Haah!"

Crash.

Her axe struck with overwhelming power and nearly cleaved the demon’s neck. His reinforced vertebrae protected the last thread of life he still clung to.

"Hyaaaah!"

Syrene roared hoarsely, straining with all her strength to push her axe through the demon’s neck. But it was futile. Her strength had begun to reach its limit.

Everyone bit their lips, their hearts shaken by fear of victory or catastrophe. If this attack failed, the demon with his regeneration would surely reverse everything in an instant.

They would all become his dinner.

Clang.

Suddenly, behind them, Irine clashed both gauntlets together. The ringing metal drew everyone’s attention. The corner of her lips lifted with bold confidence.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

She struck her gauntlets again and again until flames burst from her hands. The rhythm and rising fire made her appear like a blacksmith forging steel.

"This is the ultimate technique taught by Sister Elene some weeks ago. I practiced it every day for a moment like this. It may not be strong, but it will be enough to finish you."

She charged forward. Flames moved from her left shoulder down to her right fist, as though being channeled into it. She punched with all her strength at the back edge of Syrene’s axe.

"[God Blow.]"

Slash.

The demon’s head was finally cut off, rolling across the ground like a ball.

Her strike pushed Syrene’s axe forward and broke through the demon’s final defense.

"We won."

Irine jumped with joy.

Relief spread across every face. Muscles relaxed. Weapons were sheathed. Syrene, having reached her limit, dropped her axe carelessly onto the ground.

Her breath shook weakly. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her. Irine hurried to her side, catching her before she fell.

"You think everything is over?"

Elysia flinched, and everyone turned toward the demon’s severed head. It was still alive.

"He... he is still alive?"

"Do you know about spinal reflex?" His tone resembled a quiet murmur. "Every living creature has spinal reflexes that allow the body to move unconsciously to preserve life. And our race..."

Crack.

The ice prison burst apart, scattering frost everywhere. Eyes widened in horror as the demon’s headless body stood and thrashed violently, as though still feeling unbearable pain.

Rows of sharp teeth gleamed as a cruel grin spread across the demon’s lips. "Our race has reached a terrifying stage." Malicious laughter seeped out. "Accept my final gift. Try not to die. Aha... aha... ahahaha."

Spinal reflex... A body in agony... A suicidal instinct.... Ah!

Elysia’s eyes widened. She understood instantly. His body had reached the peak of adrenaline, turning him several times more dangerous.

"Get away from there."

Syrene pushed Irine aside. She tried to grab her axe, but the headless body kicked her violently. She was thrown into the cavern wall, vomiting fresh blood.

The body moved fast and created a burst of wind that sent Irine and Celina flying in its path.

Elysia tried to stop the rampaging corpse by raising an ice barrier, but it shattered into fragments with a single swipe of his bare hand.

Imaria attempted a holy shield, but it met the same fate. One blow shattered it.

The body moved like a maddened beast, destroying everything in its path with a single strike.

It spun in an odd yet swift movement, then lunged straight toward Elysia.

"Ely!"

Everyone shouted her name in panic.

Yet just as the corpse’s claw was about to slash Elysia’s head, Mireya completed her chant. She lifted her lantern. A magical glow with star carved patterns formed beneath their feet.

Thousands of luminous stone spears erupted, piercing the headless body from every direction. Its movements ceased entirely. Elysia seized the chance to retreat.

"O stars who guard the winter season, send someone to fulfill your vow."

A massive hologram of the Orion constellation appeared on the ceiling. Then descended the shadow of a hunter with a bow across his back. Surely it was the manifestation of Orion.

The incarnation pulled an arrow and released it toward the headless body that still struggled despite being impaled by countless spears of light.

The arrow flew like a gust of wind. The spears of light detonated. Blinding radiance filled the cavern as the hunter’s arrow pierced the raging corpse.

Within the exploding light, a bone shot toward Elysia. She tilted her head to dodge, yet the bone grazed her cheek and drew blood.

When the light faded, only silence remained within the shattered cavern. Broken walls. Ice scattered everywhere. Blood across the ground. Everyone lay weakened on the floor.

Elysia wiped the blood from her cheek.

The demon’s head sneered softly. "You... and that wolf... your blood carries the same scent. Are you his bride?"

"What do you mean?"

"Figure it out yourself."

Elysia moved to question him again, but the head closed his eyes and vanished like smoke.

The wolf...

Bride...

Blood with the same scent...

The questions echoed through her heart. Her chest hurt intensely, as though pierced by a thousand needles.

Yet suddenly, thin snow dust fell as rumbling footsteps echoed from above, calling their names in panic.

"Ah... they are here."

She turned to Mireya. "Who, sister?"

"Reinforcements. Do you remember when I created that bird golem, Ely? It was actually a precaution in case Arabella fell too deep. Who would have expected they would become our escorts instead."

Elysia exhaled and glanced at her comrades who had risked everything for one another. Irine was still supporting Syrene, Arabella sat leaning against the wall while steadied her breath.

Mireya stood beside her, extending a hand, smiling softly as always.

"Let us go home," she whispered.

Even if her heart still trembled, she accepted her sister’s hand. A faint smile finally touched her lips.

"Yes."

That was right. No need to fear. No need to rush. There was still time for her to meet him. Even if she was desperate to know, the most important thing now was to return home safely with everyone.

The secret could wait until her trembling faded.