The Former Demon Queen Confronts Her Sister

Mary didn't want to look back. No, she couldn't, even if she wanted to. There was nothing left for her there anymore. Now, all she could do was deal with her half-sister and make sure she didn't cause any more pain and suffering to these innocent people.

Shortly after transforming into her full form and launching into the sky, Mary burst forward at full speed, heading directly toward her target that was currently within her line of sight.

"Emilia!"

She shouted to get the girl's attention.

Emilia was still surrounded by her Queen's Guard, hovering fifty feet in the air, but Mary was quickly closing the distance.

Both of her fists were stretched out in front of her, while her wings beat harder and harder, picking up momentum as she drew closer.

Upon hearing her name, the girl turned. Her eyes widened in surprise, but before she could even reach for her sword, Mary was already there.

The former Demon Queen slammed into her half-sister like a runaway siege ram, with all the rage, sorrow, and pain that had been building inside Mary ever since she had separated from the girls.

The Queen's Guard couldn't even react in time to protect their general.

That's how fast Mary was moving.

The impact sent them both hurtling through the air, blitzing past the soldiers. Mary never stopped. She kept driving Emilia farther and farther away from the town, carried forward by the sheer force of her initial strike.

"You wanted me, huh? Well, here I am."

While they were still flying, Mary drove her fist into Emilia's solar plexus, causing the young girl to cough up blood. The second blow sent them flying even faster, and Mary used that momentum to redirect their trajectory toward the ground.

When they were far enough away from Blendingbrook, Mary finally stopped and lifted her sister slightly before sending her crashing into a thicket of trees and mud below.

Mary waited, watching to see if Emilia would get back up immediately.

But she didn't.

Mary seized the opportunity.

She flew back toward the hill where she lived and equipped herself with her full battle armor, including her golden boots, gauntlets, navy cloak, and hairpins.

The last thing she picked up was her sword, Black Steam.

With everything in place, Mary returned to the battlefield, hovering above the spot where Emilia had crash-landed.

At first, Mary was worried that she might have punched too hard and caused serious internal bleeding, killing her sister instantly. That would certainly be one way to end the conflict, but it wouldn't necessarily stop the Queen's Guard and the rest of the wild demons from attacking the town.

Only Emilia, the one who had brought them here, could give the command for them to stop. Mary needed to physically force her sister to yield if she wanted to put an end to the attack on Blendingbrook.

Besides, despite everything that had happened, Emilia was still her little sister. Mary didn't want to see her hurt.

Not badly, at the very least.

The five members of the Queen's Guard who had earlier surrounded her sister arrived a few seconds later, hovering in formation and brandishing their weapons.

Despite Mary's increased size, weight, and body mass, the soldiers loyal to the throne were nearly twice her size and nearly four times as strong as Mary in her current form.

But they weren't attacking.

They were waiting.

Emilia soon rose from the ground below, flapping her wings as she came to a stop in the air.

Mary could see a large dent in the chest piece of Emilia's armor, as well as part of the helmet had also been badly damaged.

Emilia reached up and removed the helmet, revealing her cool blue eyes and short blonde hair.

"That was some entrance, big sister," Emilia said, flashing a smirk. "You came swinging right out of the gate. I didn't even see you for a moment. Quite the heroic intervention, if I say so myself."

Emilia clapped her hands while still casually gripping her large sword, Demon Binder.

"Oh, what is this?" Emilia playfully gasped as she covered her mouth with both hands, faking concern.

"Looks like you've gotten yourself injured. Is my big sister okay? Is she in any position to fight?"

Mary simply gritted her teeth in response, trying not to let Emilia get inside her head. The injuries caused by the holy oil that had splashed across her skin had nearly healed after she transformed into her full demonic self. However, Mary was now left with scarring on the left side of her face that would remain for quite a while longer.

"So, I guess your lack of response means the reunion is over..." Emilia said, bracing herself for battle and her expression turning serious as she tightened her grip on her own weapon.

"I was getting bored anyway. Time to get down to business."

Before Mary could say a word, Emilia flew forward in a burst of motion, swinging her sword straight at her sister's head. Mary moved back, parrying the attack, as well as carefully blocking her little sister's subsequent strikes that followed as the two remained locked in a flying exchange, their swords repeatedly clashing and sending sparks scattering through the air.

Mary found an opening in Emilia's unguarded swing and quickly punched her beneath the arm, sending the girl flying backward to regroup.

"Stop this madness, Emilia!" Mary shouted. "You want me, right? You have me. Now call off the rest of your army."

"You already know how this works, big sister," Emilia responded, spitting a wad of blood to the side. "If you want them to stop attacking your precious humans, then you've got to make me yield first. And I promise you, I will die before I do that."

Mary's eyes slightly widened in shock, though she wasn't fully surprised.

Her entire plan had hinged on her sister giving up and calling a truce. If Emilia had no intention of doing that after she was defeated, then things were only going to become more complicated. They would basically be fighting to the death at this point, a drawn-out battle with Emilia and her Queen's Guard, that risked the emergence of the wild demon inside of Mary.

"So, in order to save your precious humans, you'd better be ready to kill. You'd better be ready to slaughter every single one of us. Your kind. Your blood. Or else..."

Emilia raised her sword until the edge was level with her face, the blade catching the gleam of the moon.

"We will kill every single one of you."

With that declaration, Emilia burst forward once more, and the two sisters resumed their fierce struggle in the sky.